Spencer Mountain 10 mile Race Report
Last minute add to the schedule since my son has been itching to race and it finally worked out. I was undecided if I'd race or just watch but decided to give it run on the trip out. Impromptu goal was a 9:00 pace.
This was a small event with 136 signed up. We were just standing around when everyone started running. Pretty funny as there was no gun or go annoucement. Had to dodge a couple of people facing the wrong way.
Mile splits are based on the course, not the gps. Course was long.
Mile 1 - 7:58, hr 170 (not accurate), 9 ft up, 9 ft down - First time I haven't Sanded the start, but I probably took 15 secs to get to the start line which didn't have a mat.
Mile 2 - 8:06, hr 152, 9 up, 19 down - Just fell into a nice pace and was trying to bank time. One guy passed me, the last of the day.
Mile 3 - 8:10, hr 153, 19 up, 39 down - Passed two people I was pacing. Realized I matched my best recent 5k pace and was worried about the price to be paid.
Mile 4 - 7:51, hr 155, 29 up, 118 down - This is getting stupid fast now. Got some rabbits in front I can't catch
Mile 5 - 8:31, hr 156, 88 up, 19 down - First sign of a hill and I attack it reeling in a couple. I'm sitting at roughly 8:10 pace on my watch and start thinking a 8:30 stratch pace is possible.
Mile 6 - 8:36, hr 155, 118 up, 137 down - I don't know if the uphills or downhills hurt more. Gobble up some more on the road up. Decided here that I wouldn't let anyone pass me the balance of the way.
Mile 7 - 8:12, hr 157, 127 up, 118 down - Pressed the throttle down a bit more.
Mile 8 - 8:57 (1.05 gps mi), 156 hr, 127 up, 118 down - Mountain running paying off, cum pace not bleeding away too bad.
Mile 9 - 8:34, hr 161, 108 up, 19 down - This was the signature climb and their were uphill targets ahead. Did pass one cop on the climb, lifted my shirt, and said fat boys representing. Thankfully he checkled instead of shooting me. Passed about 5 and had two more in sight.
Mile 10 - 7:34, hr 164 (174 at the line), 0 up, 59 down - Crested the hill and it was a gentle downhill to flat in. Looked flat to the eye. Caught up with one guy and he picked up the pace. I hung as long as I could but my hammy was arguing about it the whole way. We got within 5 yards of the next guy with a half mile to go and I told him to have a strong finish. I was at a pace much faster than my speed work and knew my only hope was to lay in the weeds. That wasn't to be as my new buddy caught the next guy and they found another gear. They put 20 seconds into me and I put 45 seconds into the two youngsters I passed towards the end of the previous mile.
Finished at 1:22:26:26, good for 59th overall. I had the course distance at 10.08 for a 8:09 pace. Official time had me at 8:15 pace. Either way, a huge result for me, especially with the hills on the back half. Surprisingly enough, me and my 220 lbs did most of the passing on the hills. Ran in my new INOV-8 155 gram minimalist shoes and loved them.
Now of to the best part. This was my son's road race debut. Age the age of 14 he knocked out a 1:15:15 good for a 7:33 pace. Won his age group and finished 23rd overall. He's been flying high over the result and can't wait to race again. He actually used some nice race tactics letting the guy he passed around mile 9 re-take the lead and set the pace. At the end he dropped the hammer and beat him by 2 sec at the line.
In a matter of less than a year it's gone from me having to slow up for him to me needing a bike to keep up.
] Gotta give you something to do (the trimming, not the rip-outs).I'm on a break period - doing nothing for a couple weeks. In part it's because of this week - my doctoral Comp Exams. Every waking moment this week is researching and writing on three assigned topics. I'm treating it like an endurance event ...just hitting my marks as I go along, which will get me to completion by Sunday night. 
I am doing it but I cant say I am into it as much as I was a month ago. I think Halloween candy and shift away from healthy eating is also affecting my attitude. I do think what we eat has a lot to do with attitude.
Tonight's do something: A 
Hard ride tomorrow.
