While I had planned to run 3-4 miles prior to the 3 and 2 mile distance races, I had to settle for 2 warm up miles instead. In addition, I knew I had to leave pretty much right after completing the 3 mile race and before running the 2 mile distance. Oh well, after the 20 mile day yesterday I was okay with a little less running today.
Instead, I dialed back my pace even more than usual during my warm up, allowing myself to chat with Cary Long without having to struggle for air while running and carrying on a conversation at the same time. Just when I had resigned to a slow and easy day, Cary told me that he would try to really push the pace during the 3 mile race today. Heck, I was going to run a lot less today that the previous weeks and I hadn't really pushed myself during the races in the last 2 weeks, so why not.
I lined up in the second row when RD Carter gave the signal..."GO". I had checked out the race results over the last few weeks and noticed that Duane Ricketts was pretty much a minute ahead of me every time. Since none of the usual suspects, my Tuesday night posse of nemeses (e.g. Jason, Mike and David) had made it to the races, I decided to latch on to Duane and see how long I can hold on. As it turned out, I was able to hold on all the way to the finish and if Duane had had a better day, I believe I could have broken 20 minutes (see how I managed someone else for my shortcoming there;-). Just kidding, I ended up finishing just behind Duane for a new PR on this course of 20:14 beating my previous PR on this cross country course by more than 30 seconds (Thanks very much Duane, I couldn't have done this without your pacing...yes, you were pacing me even though you didn't know it, sorry;-).
Since I'm not sure what shape I'll be in next Tuesday after running in this weekend's Laurel Valley Whitewater 35 Miler, I figured I'd go for broke during potentially my last chance to do so before the 2012 Summer Cross Country Racing Series comes to its conclusion next week. However, Jason, Mike, David, you know who you are, let's see if one of you can break 20 minutes next week as I failed to do so tonight. Good luck, I'll try to be there either way;-)
Instead, I dialed back my pace even more than usual during my warm up, allowing myself to chat with Cary Long without having to struggle for air while running and carrying on a conversation at the same time. Just when I had resigned to a slow and easy day, Cary told me that he would try to really push the pace during the 3 mile race today. Heck, I was going to run a lot less today that the previous weeks and I hadn't really pushed myself during the races in the last 2 weeks, so why not.
I lined up in the second row when RD Carter gave the signal..."GO". I had checked out the race results over the last few weeks and noticed that Duane Ricketts was pretty much a minute ahead of me every time. Since none of the usual suspects, my Tuesday night posse of nemeses (e.g. Jason, Mike and David) had made it to the races, I decided to latch on to Duane and see how long I can hold on. As it turned out, I was able to hold on all the way to the finish and if Duane had had a better day, I believe I could have broken 20 minutes (see how I managed someone else for my shortcoming there;-). Just kidding, I ended up finishing just behind Duane for a new PR on this course of 20:14 beating my previous PR on this cross country course by more than 30 seconds (Thanks very much Duane, I couldn't have done this without your pacing...yes, you were pacing me even though you didn't know it, sorry;-).
Since I'm not sure what shape I'll be in next Tuesday after running in this weekend's Laurel Valley Whitewater 35 Miler, I figured I'd go for broke during potentially my last chance to do so before the 2012 Summer Cross Country Racing Series comes to its conclusion next week. However, Jason, Mike, David, you know who you are, let's see if one of you can break 20 minutes next week as I failed to do so tonight. Good luck, I'll try to be there either way;-)
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