My PB was 45:03 from '08, earlier this year I ran a 45:36. I really had no reason to expect a faster time, this was a tough hilly course and I have had a lingering cold for 3 weeks. I've been running mostly trails this summer, longer and slower. Still you never know, that can make you strong.
Good weather for the race, cool and sunny with a medium west wind. Several maniacs there to race with Jo-Jo along to cheer. I was hoping to give Ironboy a good race, sometimes we're close.
The course is an out and back this year. I started out strong, the first part has a big downhill. It did feel tough as predicted once we hit the long hill around 3 K. My left leg started feeling tight, usually means my shoe is laced too tightly. Even after the climb it continues as a slight incline until the turnaround. I was around 35 seconds behind Ironboy, he had passed me after 1 K and slowly pulled away. Coming back I saw my brother about 55 seconds after I turned, it seemed close but I figured he would be around 2 minutes behind at the end so it made sense. Of course I was hoping that the long downhill would be faster, but I didn't make up that much time. So far my pace was okay but it was hard to sustain on the flats. Some rollers around 8 K were tough and then the steepest hill around 9. Jo-Jo was there with a cowbell, which helped my mood more than my pace. Most of the second half, I felt like my good time was slipping away. I kept plugging away, but didn't feel like I was running a fast race. Then at the top of the hill, the worst was over with just 1 K to go. I figured if I hustled I could beat 46 minutes, which would be respectable on this course. Some crowds through the last part from slower 5 K runners, around the track like grounds of the site. I was reeling in a guy that I had been following near the end, but didn't quite catch him. Time when posted was 45:06 gun time. They never posted onsite the chip times of the first hundred 10 K people, like they did the rest of them. That being 3 seconds over my PB time, I didn't know until I saw in on Sportstats later that my chip time was 45:00, for a 3 second PB. I'll still take that as a victory considering the challenging course. Ironboy and my brother rocked it with 2 1/2 minute PBs, but I'm proud of my 3 seconds. Plus all 3 of us placed second in our age groups. Fun times.
34/445 overall, 2/15 men 50-55, 30/173 m3n overall.
It was a very social occasion, with more maniacs and family there. My youngest brother and my niece came along and took pictures. At the awards ceremony we maniacs got the loudest cheers from our fans. (you should have stayed, Ironboy!) Then it was back to town for drinks and turkey. Thanksgiving indeed.
