Really a very tough race. I started out too fast as usual Mile 1 - 6:05 Mile 2 - 6:34 Mile 3 - 6:51 Mile 4 - 6:39 - In 1st Place till the end of this mile Mile 5 - 6:47 - Took a little potty break on this mile too
Mile 6 - 6:54 Mile 7 - 6:19 Mile 8 - 6:53 Mile 9 - 6:57 Mile 10 - 6:53 Mile 11 - 7:00 Mile 12 - 7:04 Mile 13 - 7:19 Mile 14 - 7:35 Mile 15 - 7:59 Mile 16 - 8:53 -- Really I was having a little trouble eating a bar I brought and I walked to try and get it down. I was passed by 2nd place here. Mile 17 - 7:04 Mile 18 - 7:12 Mile 19 - 7:13 - Included walking up the end of the steep portion where I was passed by 3rd place.
Mile 20 - 7:35 - Meet my friend the WALL! I was struggling here Mile 21 - 7:27 Mile 22 - 7:40 - Still Struggling on both of these miles stopped looking a the watch just hanging on. Mile 23 - 7:16 - Actually got a little inspired and passed some half marathon runners, felt pretty good on this mile. Almost enough inspiration to make a move on 3rd place but not quite.
Mile 24 - 7:30 - Hanging in there pretty good, now I know I can finish just trying to hold the pace and not give in. Mile 25 - 7:51 - Really a little mental lapse, struggling a little and looked a my watch too many times on this mile to see if it was over. Mile 26 - 7:33 - Ok, so I picked it up a little because I knew this was it and I could finish stronger. Overall 4th Place, pretty sure I won my age division, the course was even tougher than expected really, probably the toughest course I have experienced. I was pretty disappointed that the awards ceremony was cancelled. Considering how stressful this week has been and how tired I have felt I am pretty happy with the result.
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