Big PR today. Knocked about 30 seconds off of the official best time for 10 miles. I have had splits in half marathons quicker, but never on a fair course.
Decided to wear the Garmin in a race for the first time. I think it worked out well, especially by keeping me from going out too fast. It did measure the course at 10.09, but I will trust the official distance on this one.
Went out with the idea of not passing a guy from my club who is consistantly a little faster than me. I ran behing him for the first mile (5:46). Good start for my planned pace of 5:50 which would have tied my PR. Felt great. Passes the guy that I planned to stay behind and never saw him again.
Ran through mile 5 with some other guy who also wanted to run 5:50's. We were going a little too fast, but I felt good. At the turnaround I did a 5:42 mile and dropped him.
Spent the next two miles slowly cutting into the 20 yard lead of the next guy. Then dropped him with another 5:42.
In the last 2 miles I tried to catch the next gut who was 20-30 yards ahead, but he maintained his lead. I think the 5:42 was a little too ambitious and the last two miles were tough.
Mile splits: 5:46, 5:44, 5:42, 5:50, 5:48, 5:44, 5:48, 5:42, 5:50, 5:51.
Final time: 57:49. 14th place?
Finished on the 50 yard line of soldier field. Kinda cool. Would have been cooler if it was in the middle of the field rather than the sideline.
First big race that I wasn't passed in the last few miles. I usually die because I go out too fast.
Weather helped, 55 degrees and less wind than usual for Chicago. Mostly a cross wind than became a headwind at the end.
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