Was not feeling well that morning and debated on staying home in bed. 1 mile warmup did not help. Decided I would just hang back and take it easy at a 10 minute pace. If I started to feel worse I would just turn around and head back.

Mile one down and I guess the race excitement cured my ills because I was feeling pretty good. Decided I would just go on and pick it up a bit and see what happens.

Arrived at the park feeling pretty good and running around a 8:45 pace, sweet. No debating the park at this point and I pinned my ears back and heading in. Pretty hilly 3 miles to come but after that it's downhill, more or less, to the finish.

I had one gel with me that I planned to take at in the last 100 meters or so of the final climb by the Golf course. Picked up my pace just a bit up the hill and once I rounded the corner and could see the top I moved to the left and walked while I ate my gel. Finished right at the crest which allowed my HR to drop down to about 140 and my legs thanked me for the short break and off I went down the hill.