I started out running with Rob (Youngren), Tim (Vinson) and Erik (Debolt) for the first 4 miles but the pace was a little slow, so while I would have preferred to run together, I had to stick on pace just seconds ahead. Tim and Rob pulled even and we ran together for the next 3 miles. Tim pulled ahead, but I stayed on his shoulder and after the cone turn around, I didn't let him get too far away. I knew that it was going to be close to 1:19, and with a 6:23 split in mile 12 climbing uphill, I all but lost it. But I didn't give up, to which I am very proud. I ran a 5:48 final mile to pull even with Tim and together we kicked hard to the finish. I was just ahead at the finish line but he was able to stay on my shoulder so he pulled me early and I pulled him late; great to work together with friends and teammates.
Course
I easured 13.20 miles despite running the tangents. There are 35 turns, a cone turn around on the greenway, two way traffic for 3 miles and an uphill finish into a parking lot. Worse course ever.
Results
Finished 6th OA gun (ahead of Tim) but 7th OA chip time (behind Tim) and first in M35-39. 75 seconds better than I was in early October in Winchester but 3 minutes off of my late 2011 half time. Hoping this foot thing passes so the hard work and training I've logged (most disciplined to a schedule I've ever done) pays off.
My splits
5:59 (5:59) 5:57 (11:56) 5:58 (17:54) 6:01 (23:56) 5:54 (29:50) 5:59 (35:50) 6:01 (41:51) 6:07 (47:58) 6:07 (54:05) 6:09 (60:15) 6:11 (66:26) 6:23 (1:12:49) 5:48 (1:18:38) 0:37 (1:19:15)