I was really packing in the miles and the races in this short stretch. I had just done a half marathon a few weeks prior and I was training for Chicago in another month. So this race was sandwhiched between 20+ mile weeks as well.
Brian Hendrickson and I were talking before the race while we warmed up. The weather was unseasonably warm, and the winds were sure to be a factor.
I went out a little too fast then had the same leg probs at mile 7 that I had at the Bannerman Trail Half Marathon a few weeks prior.
The winds over by Hwy 441 and BW3 were brutal. I was running alone and it felt like I was standing straight up and not moving forward.
I had to stop to try to walk it off at 8.5mi (went from 6:22 ave to 6:28 with this stop) then again at mile 10.5. I remember getting a little motivation when I heard 'Beat It' on a boom box and telling a spectator that was the song on my phone as a ring tone!
I did finish very strong the last mile, despite lots of concrete at the end. I ended up passing 4 people in the last mile. I felt decent afterward. I managed a new PR, despite the walk, and finished 1:24:57, 3rd in M30-34 and 21st overall.
Splits were:
(307+306) = 6:13
(307+305) = 6:12
(309+315) = 6:24
(311+315) = 6:24
(309+312) = 6:21
(313+321) = 6:34
(312+316) = 6:28
(315+324) = 6:39
(342+313) = 6:55
(310+309) = 6:19
(313+325) = 6:38
(313+309) = 6:22
(307+305) = 6:12
1:27