After having my bib number lost by the volunteers, then replaced, I got a later start than I was hoping. Without backing off the mileage the week prior, I was hoping to go a bit longer, which seems to help work out the kinks, and even though it was on the short side, I was pretty happy with how my legs felt.
I lined up next Neil, and when the gun went off, it was a pretty narrow and hectic start. After that first turn, I was able to find some room and Neil and I started to settle in. The first mile was surprisingly slow in 5:55, and I felt a little sluggish. We both opened it up on the second mile to take advantage of the downhills before the start of the big hill at mile three. Though we had a quick 5:36 mile, I felt like I was pressing. Oddly enough, once we hit the hill I was happy to have no expectations on splits.
I started to pull away from Neil just a bit here, and I ended up passing a lot of runners from here on out. In pre-race discussions, Kevin had mentioned that there are a lot of people who go out hard and are red-lining at the start of the hill, essentially ruining their race. I think that for Neil and I, that slower first mile worked in our favor. From mile three onward I was passing a lot of people. And there were two Janji runners who passed me around mile 8, but I repassed one of those two and was able to run a lot of people down.
One of the highlights was, somewhere around mile 7, someone was gaining a bit of ground behind me, but I could hear the breathing and it was very labored. I slowed a bit so I could see them out of the corner of my eye. I realized that, yes, they were working hard and breathing loud, but I took stock of how I was doing and I felt great. My legs were finally feeling loose, and my breathing was fine. I was able to keeping turning the screws just a bit, and close well.
Coming into the turnabout for the finish, I had my eyes ahead on someone who was maybe 50 meters up, but fading. I timed it so just as I was coming around the 180 degree turn, I'd be about even with him, and I was able to put in a kick to get a bit of separation and finish well.
Post race wings with some of the CSUers and a solid race - this was a great weekend!
Amherst Splits:
5:55
5:36
6:04
6:04
6:02
5:42
5:37
5:31
5:49
5:55
CSU Photos
Scott Mason Photos
The stuff:
| 26-Feb | Amherst 10 Miler | 0:58:17 | 10 | AM: Amherst 10 miler. Not bad. | ||||
| Off | 0:52:02 | 5.84 | This was the warm up and cool down total. | |||||
| 27-Feb | Easy | 1:04:32 | 8.28 | AM: 8+ at 7:45ish. | ||||
| MLR+ | 1:49:49 | 14.01 | PM: 14m at 7:50/mile. Just kept finding little ways to extend the run. Happy to get in a decent MLR though. | |||||
| 28-Feb | Easy | 1:03:37 | 8.09 | AM: 8+ at 7:52/mile. Wow, really sore today. | ||||
| Easy | 0:45:59 | 6 | PM: 6m to pick up the Subaru. | |||||
| 1-Mar | Moderate | 1:01:06 | 8.15 | AM: 8+ at about 7:30. | ||||
| BU Track | 2:02:14 | 15.07 | PM: 10m tot over to the track. 1000x3/200x3/800x2/200x2. 5k & mile pacing (supposedly). Total dead legs for this. Pacing was off, but I gutted through it. I'm fine with it all. | |||||
| 2-Mar | Easy | 1:04:14 | 8.31 | AM: 8+ at 7:40ish. Knees are achy from the recent mileage and quality. Headwind sucked too. | ||||
| Moderate + Long Drive | 0:45:03 | 6.14 | PM: Afternoon 6+ at 7:21/mile. | |||||
| 3-Mar | Easy | 0:53:11 | 7.01 | AM: 7m at 7:35/mile. Down in DC/Maryland. | ||||
| Off | 0:00:00 | 0 | PM: Off. | |||||
| 4-Mar | Easy | 0:43:59 | 5 | AM: 5m with Eli and the pooch at 8:48/mile. | ||||
| Off | 0:00:00 | 0 | PM: Off. |
Splits:
1000-3:23.2
1000-3:19.7
1000-3:24.8
200-36.0
200-36.3
200-34.8
800-2:38.1
800-2:39.0
200-35.2
200-32.4
Total: 101.9
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