Holmdel
This entry was posted on 11/5/2011 1:25 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
I have never liked running at Holdmel, and today was no different. But I did run pretty well. It was maybe 40 degrees while I was warming up, that works for me though. Once I got warmed up, I was down to shorts and strappo + gloves. That first mile is such a killer, heart pounding and out of breath before you've even run a half mile. At the mile I was @ 6:19. The second mile is down into then up out of the bowl. I hit 2 miles @ 12:20. That last few steps out of the bowl always sucks, I can barely call it running. But I flew through the last 1.1. I passed one guy right as we got back into the woods, then another guy just before the downhills started. Since it was clear and dry I flew down the hills at terminal velocity, arms flailing to keep balance. The second guy I passed was right on my tail as we sped out into the final stretch. I was all out at that point just hoping to hold on, but he had more and started his kick with maybe 50 feet to go. I tried to go with him but I was done. He nipped me in the end, so I had to be satisfied with a big Holmdel PR. 18:25, which means I ran that last 1.1 @ 6:05, that's about 5:32 pace! Today I ran 15 seconds faster than I did back in 2007, which was probably the best shape I have ever been. This winter and next spring I may have some FAST races coming!! 8 miles for the day.
Plus, I was 3rd overall in the series standing and Shore AC won, so we retained the Woodland Elf. Walter let me take him home saying I was this season's "MVP" All in all, a great morning.
