The race was very well organized, and it was a beautiful day to WATCH a race
. I had lots of very fast friends registered and as I lined up with them near the front I kept reminding myself, now DON'T run with THEM. My plan was a fairly even pace, around 4 minute/km or just under and see what happened near the finish. The course in Edmonton is pretty darn hilly, it starts by the Provincial Legislature along the high bank of the North Saskatchewan River. The race goes straight down into the river valley, across the river and around a rolling park, then back up the river valley and around the University. After that it descends one more time into valley with a long straight before the last steep climb to the finish line.
The start was fairly tight, with 5k and 15k starting together, making pacing a challenge. I lined up behind my buddies as I knew they'd take off quickly and create room for me. As we rolled into the valley I remembered the one thing I do better than them is run downhill, and it was a real effort not to pass my friend AJ, who is much too fast for me to race with.
At the first kilometer Mark (another friend) called out "3:30, a little fast guys"... a LITTLE... Oops.
At that point I consciously dropped back so that autopilot didn't lead me too far astray. Kilometer 2 was a more reasonable 3:51. When we made the turn onto the bridge and over the river I was in 8th position, but already feeling the heat and the pace. Hawrelak park did me no favours with a lot of open sunny road and plenty of 15k walkers to run around; I was slowly losing ground on 7th place and hearing a runner coming up from behind.
The climb out of the valley was hot and challenging; usually I'm pretty good on hills, but there wasn't much zip in my legs. Whether that was my current fitness, the heat, the pace or just one of those days is hard to say. Shortly after the hill one runner slipped by me and another moved up off my shoulder, then 1/2 a kilometer later also went by. We were around 1/2 way and I really couldn't decide whether to push harder or just maintain pace. Coming around a corner some guy offers me a water bottle, but I thought... maybe I'll just wait for the water station.
The turnaround offered me the chance to see the leaders, and unless someone was WAY ahead, AJ was clear out front. If that was true I was holding 10th, which was my 'stretch goal' for the day, along with sub 60 minutes. As I made the turn I could see I had about 30 seconds on 11th, who was the first place woman. Man, I've got to hold this spot
(residual sexist emotion...). As I head for tha last downhill I realize the guy who'd offered me the water bottle was my brother, who was supposed to be running the HBC race;this time I grabbed the ice cold bottle and proceeded to drink and pour it over myself to try to cool off my overheated body. 
I was able to pick up my pace, which had been flagging.
The run in was uneventful, as the runners were fairly spread out and everyone seemed content with their position, or unable to bridge the gaps. The last big climb was a bit painful as my attention turned to my finishing time. Cresting the hill I could see the clock and it was 59... something... better pick it up.. Damn 59:5_ there is something blocking the last digit; hit the afterburners... . Crossed just as the clock was switching to 1:00:00. Must have a second or so on the chip time, right?
As it turns out, I don't know; although I heard a beep, my chip didn't pick up on the first sensor and they'll check the other one when they have time. Fortunately there are PLENTY of witnesses to the full on sprint to the line. Still a little disappointing to look at the preliminary finishing sheets and NOT see your name. I ended up in 10th overall, 59:58 (provisional time). My friends won 1st overall, 1st 30-40, 1st 40-50, 1st 50-60, and another buddy got 1st 40-50 in the 5k: pretty good haul!
I laughed out loud at that one! 
