This is my first race since April and my first miles that were sub 6:30-ish. I didn't really know what to expect from myself today so the plan was to just kind of go with the flow of the race and speed up in the last 2 if I felt like it. I guess was also kind of afraid of how poorly I'd do. Given all that, I wasn't too agressive at the start and just picked a pace that felt good. I ended up with a group of people I know and tried to keep an even pace from there. After 1.5 or so, I caught one of the guys I ran with during the Silver Comet 1/2 last year. I know he is reasonably fast and someone said he was shooting to start at 6:15 and speed up from there. I ran and chatted with him until .25 to go when he split off for his final lap. We just kind of hung between 6:00 or 6:05 pace. It was just what the doctor ordered. I got to talk running and it kept my mind of the pace. I didn't really kick it too much at the finish but I didn't have much in the tank anyway. 1 - 6:12 2 - 6:22 3 - 6:06 4 - 6:03 5 - 6:03 Ended up winning my AG with a unremarkable 30:41. On this course, I really should be in the 29's at least, but I'll get there. As a bonus, it was great to meet fellow blogger JG and his son. It is always nice to put a name to a face and to have a new running buddy in the ATL area. Next week is another ATC race, a 10K. I've never done it, but at least I will feel a little more confident.
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