The course today was exactly what I thought it would be, tough early on. My race strategy was to run conservatively in the first half and run hard in the second. I ran the first three miles of the course before the race started to so I could see how difficult the climbs would be. When the race started I went out very slow, too slow. I was at 6:35 at the mile. If I don't have a faster pace at the start, I have a hard time picking it up later. Usually I will go out a little aggressive for about a half mile then back off. I did not fair much better in the second mile even though there was considerable downhill - 6:15. By the end of the second mile I had lost contact with the group I was running with, that concerned me a little bit, but I thought I could stay close on the climb going into the third mile. I settled into a slow pace up the climb and gradually lost a little more ground to the group in front, I came through the third mile in 20:34 - I did not get the split, but I knew that was not an acceptable effort. Upon cresting the hill I got to work, I came through mile four in 5:20. About 4.5 miles in I caught Ted and then set my sights on Cody and Taha. I caught Cody and dropped Taha on the climb out of mile 5. I wanted to catch Nate Long, but I struggled on the climb and could not close the gap any further. Mile five split 5:38. I ran in with someone whom I do not know, and Cody finished directly behind me, it was nice to finally meet him. Overall I cannot complain too much, I gave a solid effort, but I think if I had gone out in the first mile a bit more aggressively I could have finished a bit faster. I have not raced a lot in the last year and I have become a little soft. I look forward to the 10 miler and hopefully a little faster effort. Great Job to all the bloggers who were there, and to everyone else who braved the cold and course. | 