A little trouble figuring where the packets were and what the course was but beautiful course. Loop back thru forest trail to far side disc golf course (there's a pond in there) thru parking lot, field, onto track under stands thru forest trail and around again then home. Don't really remember all the details, which means I was zoned in but passed a few in the first mile til I caught my 10 year old female nemesis running with her dad. After that things seemed to stay the same, we passed a few, who would then speed up to pass again, but then when consistent pace would bypass them again they'd concede. Girl's dad was encouraging her to break 20. One guy had the courage to stay with us. On the 2nd loop we put distance on all behind, I was preparing for a sprint to outkick a pre-teen girl. I loved the forest trail, and probably was faster on the hard but the grass is my friend. Probably because it feels easier to run on and being less consistent doesn't feel like one is pushing so much.
There's a point in every race where you give up, give out or give on. I started to get that dead leg feeling in the last mile. As Nate says, "Hitting the line and not knowing how long you can keep it." I fazed out a little by the bleachers getting Phin to watch us, and was 20 yards behind future female state champ, I felt like I picked it up thru the forest and around on the grass, and did have a sprint in that left me gasping and grasping my knees, but 10 year old Shalane Flanagan still won. (Shout out to NY marathon winner.)
All in all good race on a cross country course. This lets me know I'm in decent shape. There's two more levels to my best shape but I'm not sure I'll run a PR in a 5K, but there are still so many levels where I can push myself more.
May the God of all comfort give grace to you as you trust in Him.
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