Standing at the start I noticed the entire Wayne Sate (MI) cross country team were there. they must have come down for a spring break race (the RD is a Wayne State Alum I believe) I mention this b/c I figured they might take it out a little fast and I wanted to avoid getting caught up in that.
I went out at what felt comfortable and what I thought at the time was 5:45 pace. I was a touch slower than that, going through the mile in 5:52.
Coming up to 2mi I joined two Wayne State kids and a guy named George. George said he wanted to go 75 high, so I thought I would stick with him.
I stayed tucked in behind the 2 from WSU and we got to 5mi in 28:50 so just a smidge slower than 5:45 pace, but right at 75 mid pace.
From 5 to 6 we went 5:48 then 5:49 and I was a little concerned that the pace was headed in the wrong direction. George went to the front briefly to try and get it back on track but 7 to 8 was a 5:50.
At this point I figured I would need to go to the front to push the pace a little. I threw in a 5:39 from 8 to 9. This increase got rid of George and after keeping up that tempo I dropped the 2 WSU guys about half a mile later.
I was thinking that if I could get to 10mi in 57:30 and could then run a 18min 5k I would have a 75 mid finish.
I got to 10mi in exactly 57:30 so it was time to bring it home. I was starting to work and going into the last mile I was barely holding it together. I am not sure I was looking to graceful at the end, but as I came around the corner at 13mi I could see the clock was in the low 74's. I dug for just a little more and was able to get under 75. I ran the last 5km in 17:22 (5:36 pace).
I think I ran a really solid race with a good negative split. 1st 5mi (5:46 pace), 2nd 5mi (5:44 pace), last 5km (5:36 pace)
My watch said 1:14:52, but I see in the results they gave me a 1:14:55.
I was really happy with the time and it helped that I got $100 for winning the masters race.(nice to see them giving more than just a mug to us old fogies)

I don't think I would do anything different.

walked around and did some light stretching of my normally problamatic calves.


Just don't have a substantial enough aerobic base.


I am grateful that the WSU team was there to add depth to the event which really helped me out.