And we are off! I am towards the front of the middle group. As I past where the starter was I started the Garmin. There was no start marker and something in my head told me there was something wrong here. Goal for first mile was a slow 10mm, Garmin said I was going too fast even with all the traffic (purposefully didn’t pass some folks just to slow me down).
Mile one and I am at 9:18 pace. Oops too fast but I feel good and I can feel this is my stride. As we come up to mile 2 and the aid station some guy is talking to a friend and says “always take the drink” and then yells it back to those behind him. I am not sure if he was part of a running group or not but some guy next to me asks “really, should I always?” I tell him, run your own race, and drink when you need to, not when some guy in a crowd says so. He passes on the aid station as do I. Mile 2 is at 9:14 pace. Still feel like this is my pace and keep going.
Hit mile 3 and my pace is at 9:21 and feeling fine. Stop at the aid station for a sip of water and I am back off. At this point my mind is wandering and I start the name game (start assigning names to runners based upon what they look like). There is cute butt girl (self-explanatory), basketball dude (really tall, huge shoes), and runner chick (she had great form and made running look effortless), etc. Hit mile 4 and it’s a 9:05mm but keep going at that pace. At this point it is warming up pretty good and those in the long sleeve running shirts are looking a little miserable.
I have been slowly passing people and I come up to a guy and a girl. The guy is breathing pretty hard and sweating pretty hard. The girl is breathing hard (not as hard as the guy) and I realize I am not breathing hard at all and decide to push the pace. Mile 5 comes and I am at 8:52. 1.2 miles left, time to pick it up. Now about this time I recognize another runner. I had passed him on the first mile of this race 2 yrs ago! (not sure why I remembered him) He and his girlfriend had just started walking just before the one mile mark. Not really understanding the whole run/walk concept at the time I had encouraged them to keep going (yes, I understand it now). Now, two years later I am passing him at mile 5. Good for him. Mile 6 comes and I avg 8:21 pace and feeling pretty good, I am going to PR! Just about that time that guy goes flying by me! Okay sprint time and chase after him. Don’t pass him before the finish line but was right behind him. Last .2 mile was at a 7:49 avg.


Took it too easy until the end. Next push harder in middle segment.

Clock said 56:07 but confident that the official chip time will look more like my Garmin time I head in. Finally find my buddy who took 3rd overall with a blistering ~37min run. First thing he says is “Man, too bad they didn’t have a start mat. All times are gun based”. Oh bummer! Oh well. Still a PR and I feel real good. I didn’t push this and still had a good run. Beer and food and I head home. HIM here I come!!!