45F, S 16-22 mph. 6:42 AP.
So I've never run a point-to-point course before. This one looked good. The first 2 miles drop about 300 feet! From there it's basically a fair course -- goes down another 200', then up about 200' over the last 4 miles, with rolling hills sprinkled in.
Here's the issue - The first 12.3 miles go due south (into a strong wind).
I did a couple miles warmup, then saw April and we ran a little more and then it was time to start. She thought the race went the other way and was excited about the tailwind. I tried to break the news gently...
Anyway, off we went. Obviously an effort-based race. The first 2 superdownhill miles were 6:07, 6:02. I was seemingly locked in 5th place.
Miles 3-9 were 6:34, 6:39, 6:31, 6:32, 6:22, 6:43, 6:51. The 7th mile was where I caught up to Lime Green guy and I sped up to dissuade him. Everyone I talked to after the race agreed that the wind started to really kick hard around mile 8. I agree. It went from just a really bothersome headwind to a comical headwind right around there.
The rest: 7:15, 7:22, 7:24, 6:47, 0:50 for 0.14 (5:52). Now it was time for uphill AND upwind. Lime Green had been hanging close, maybe 100m back. But I must have completely devastated him with my 7:20s because I put several minutes on him here, apparently.
So anyway, the time tells me nothing, but it was still a great workout. Got to hang out with April for a bit afterward (surprise surprise, she won!), then headed home. |