I had played with all sorts of paces and goals in my head, but after the warmup lap, I really didn't know what was realistic. I worked harder on the warmup lap than I should be or have, but it was also at a pace that would crush last years time although conditions and the course were both different. Got going at the start, passed more than passed me in the first 400m or so. There was already a gap ahead of me and behind me by the creek crossing. I saw it was bunched up and by the time I got there, just one "kid" was still trickling across, slowed me a bit. Got to the first K in 4:17 - faster than my optimistic goal, especially on this terrain. Went by some more folks in the first half of K-2 and two more right near the end of 2K and hit 2k in 8:48 so 4:31 - about even with my optimistic goal, but faster than the "realitic optimistic" pace. Passed one more person about 1/2 way to the 3K mark. After that I was neither passed nor did I pass anyone. While folks were off in the distance, most of the rest of the time I was on a tempo training day by myself. The 3 K hit 5:40 which was slow by any standards and finished up lap in with a 4:53 which included a water break before embarking on lap 2. Lap 2 I was 20, 18, 17 and 7 seconds slower on each K, for a 20:25. Lap 3 I was 2, 10 and 8 seconds slow of lap 2 and 21 seconds faster for the last K. I missed out on a sub 1:00 but was glad to be done.

Start a little slower? wear different shoes? hydrate better the day before. Based on how I felt the rest of the day, I think I gave what I had available today.

Changed, otherwise not much today, maybe that was part of the problem.


Terrain, weight, off-season, I think I spent most of the race right below LTHR so it is what I had for today.