 posted Mar-18-2007 05:51 PM
   
Wow, this one is hard to write up. Everything was pretty much a blur.Down and dirty:
83rd out of 944 OA
82ND out of 591 gender
7 out of 90 in AG Finish time of 28:36 -- a new PR by 1:35.  Longer version... The race starts late (1:;20), so I decided to try something that I read about in Running Times -- a shake out run. Got out @ 9 this morning and ran 15 minutes just to get everything loosened up. 9:00 pace. Drove to the race and did a little over 2.5 as a warm-up. We have a crosswind on the course -- this means that there will be about 200 yards of tailwind, 200 yards directly into the wind and a fight with the wind the WHOLE WAY --YIKES! Talking with my coach, he wanted me to TRY to go out @ 5:35 and then settle in around 5:40 and kick at the end. I didn't think this was doable (and my self-fulfilling prophecy was correct -- but I digress). Fashion report -- same old story. From the top:
Oakley silver sunglasses
MN RED Singlet
180s Combo gloves
Garmin
MN RED Tattoo pattern shorts
Black MUG
Nike Marathoners and Balega socks At the start, saw the veteran runner that I was able to beat last weekend. Was going to try to hang with him again. Although, my self talk was doing a number on me (he ran 27:30 ish last year). So, the horn sounds and we are off. Let me say this now and get it over with -- the wind BLOWS (or sucks?). Fighting it constantly. Can't find a group running the right pace to draft off of, so I am fighting it. During the first mile, pass several people and a couple pass me. Big race, so lots of jockeying going on. Keeping the other runner in sight -- about 10 yards back. Hit the mile in 5:47 HR 156. Not bad considering it is a gradual uphill most of the way. Time to pick it up a bit. Mile 2 has a bit of a downhill and I take advantage of it. Make a move on a few people and come through in 5:38 HR162. I am working -- feel like I am right on the redline. This is going to hurt!!! My "competition" has about 30 yard on me and is pulling away. Have a nice day! During mile 3, it starts to thin out a bit. See comment above about the wind... Hit the 3rd mile in 5:42 HR 164. Self talk is telling me that I have a big PR in the bag, why are you pushing so hard? Standard comment # 1 -- Shut up and RUN! Mile 4, not sure what happened. I think I passed 4 or 5 people, but the split came in at 5:51 HR 167???? This was a bit uphill, but it didn't seem that bad. Well, now it's time to try to start stepping. First half mile, I am on about 5:28 pace and then it happens -- I catch a stitch/cramp right under the last rib on the right side. This is not going to help me. I try to adjust my breathing, focus on other things and just keep stepping. About 200 yards from the finish, I am head to head with another runner -- he says something to the effect of go for it -- I grunt, this is all I got! We end of finishing in a dead heat in exactly the same time. Last .97 (1 mile according to my garmin) came in 5:37 HR 167. So, that's the results. Not going to complain about a hugh PR, but I really would have liked to be under 28. Next time... Changed shoes, put on some pants and a dry shirt and headed out for about 5.5 cool-down -- that really hurt! So, that's my story and I am sticking to it. Thanks for reading! BTW -- The person I tried to stay with ran 28:10.
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