I said I would be happy with a 1:30:00 or better... although I was sort of hoping for a 1:28:xx.

We started out in a huge cluster****. The Organizers tried to prepare for it this year and had everyone seeded by finish times in A/B/C/D corrals. Unfortunately people still seem to have no idea how fast they really are. The first few miles were jockeying for some open area to just run.

Miles 1-3 or so were fast. I had to continually check myself (before I wrecked myself) to make sure I wasn't burning too much gas too fast.
About mile 4-6 you're in Sequoya hills, and that's when the first taste of the up/down hills TN is known for come to test you. Still feeling pretty ok, had to keep myself from running too hard up the hills. At mile 7 you see the real soul crushing "climb" of the course. It hurt. Bad. One foot in front of the other.

After collecting myself (and covering myself in Powerade) I started feeling a little better again and tried to keep my miles even and under 7'. All was going well until the turn back onto campus (mile 11) which is just a long gradual incline. Pace earlier in the race caught up with me a bit and I struggled to hold it together. That mile was in the 7:17 range(!) my slowest mile of the race by nearly 20 seconds. As my Garmin beeped for mile 12 I realized I was going to need to run a FAST last mile to break 1:30 and even then it would be close. I ran my fastest mile of the race from 12-13 and felt like passing out every step.
Dig Deep time...

I came through Neyland Stadium biting nails. There was the finish line and the counter... I crossed the line on 1:30:03.
NOOOOO!!!!

Pacing was just a bit off, and I should not have depended on the 6mile rest stop to have GU. (Advertised they did, got there they didn't... so I was probably underfueled the last of the race.) Otherwise things went pretty well.

Got my pictures taken and searched down official results.
Chip Time - 1:29:55

WHEW!

Found Jenny and the Parents and headed to the car (it was cold!) Then off to get breakfast :)


Just keep chipping away at my running ability. Running sub 7 minute miles for a 5k was a dream a few years ago, so I'm happy of how far I've come. Still a long way to go though ;)


This is a great race. Always on time, well supported and through some very scenic areas (if you have time for that ;) ) Post race party is a good time too.