I had some concerns before starting that I might pay for a harder last couple weeks of training, but I also knew I could only do what I could do. Realistically I thought I could run around 1:13 on a good day, but the late start did not help my chances. The heat may have contributed a little, but not enough to hurt the performance by more than maybe 30 seconds. After my third time warming up, the race finally started. I went out with Chad for about the first mile - 5:20, I felt good and thought I might be able to hang for a bit, but he continued to put time on me in the second mile. I at least wanted to keep him in sight for most of the race, and I did until about the 8 or 9 mile mark. I did have someone run up on me about 3 miles in, and we ran together until about mile 9 and then he started putting a little time on me. I felt solid until about 9 miles and then I was starting to hurt a little, by 10.5 I was just surviving. I was on track to run 1:13 through the first 10, but quickly faded. Steve H, caught me with about a mile to go and I just tried to pick up the pace to stay close, but he put 20 seconds on me in the last mile. I finished feeling pretty spent and only managed to cool-down a couple miles. I would have hoped for a little better day today, but all things being said, I will take it. | 