Weather - 61 degrees, cloudy, windy.
Race day conditions were not too bad, a stiff 15mph wind, but it was pleasantly cool. I did not feel at my best, my energy level was a bit low due to poor sleep the past couple of nights. I should have been more careful about getting to bed early, but that is the way it goes sometimes.
Last year I ran this race in 33:46, so I was 44 seconds slower this year. Pace was 6:54, which was the same pace as the 12K two weeks ago. One factor not in my favor was the course was quite muddy in places, and besides the swollen creek crossing, there was a 20M length of standing water at the 3.5 mile mark, causing a slowdown. I held about a 6:40 pace for the first 3 miles, but slowed to a 6:55-7:00 pace in mile 4, and mile 5 I fell apart on the long gently sloping uphill straight into the wind. My lungs were maxed out with 800M to go, and I just kind of meandered in, losing quite a bit of whatever speed I had left.
I was proud of the fact that nobody passed me in the race, but with 200M to go I looked over my shoulder and saw a runner closing in, he was only 5 meters back. He had been following me at a 100M distance for the final 2 miles, but with my crash he was ready to take me down. With 100M to go he was on my heels, and even though I felt like crap I started sprinting. I was confident that I could hold the lead, and when I turned to look behind me with 50M to go he was still on my heels - he was not going to let it go so easily. I ran even harder and I was able to get into the chute first - ahhhhh, that hurt!
Today is the 6 month mark of consecutive days of running, I'm going to eat some Ben & Jerry's frozen yogurt to celebrate.
#183
z.m. - #96
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