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Nookachamps

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Location:

WA,

Member Since:

Feb 10, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

I was an 800/1500 runner in high school and college, with PRs of 1:55 and 4:08. I've run as fast as 16:15 for 5k and 1:20 for a half, but my bests in recent years are 17:07 5k (Dec. '11), 37:40 10k (Jan. '12), 1:23:49 half (Sept. '08), 2:53:12 marathon (September '10), and 4:45:06 50k (March '10).

Short-Term Running Goals:

Late 2015/2016 races: 

— Seattle Soltice 10k (Dec. 19)

— Nookachamps half marathon (Jan. 16)

— Toyko Marathon (Feb. 28) 

Personal:

I'm an editor at a newspaper in Bremerton, Washington and head coach of the Bremerton Jaguars youth track and field team.

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Race: Nookachamps (6.2 Miles) 00:37:50, Place overall: 5, Place in age division: 2
Total Distance
10.00

Nookachamps 10k and Half marathon, this is a pretty big one for Western Washington in January. I last ran it two years ago, and it's kind of a special race to me because it's at Skagit Valley College, my "home" course growing up. 

Weather could not have been better. And I mean, weather couldn't have been better if it was April. Probably 50, brilliant sunny skies, mountains were out and it was unreal. At least one runner went without a shirt, everyone else in shorts. I ditched the gloves halfway through. 

A few hundred at the start so I started in the first line. Let a group go as the 5k/10k/half started to separate. Hit the first mile in 5:58, which is a touch fast because that includes a slight uphill of 400-600m. Second mile was 5:39, again kind of fast but that has a nice long downhill. The 10k and half split at 2.5, so I turned the corner to head back uphill in 6th, with everyone ahead strung out in a line, and in view. I focused on the 5th place guy and let him pull me up the one significant hill. I was real happy of how I stayed connected with 5th and 4th through that portion, didn't lose a step. After cresting I surged to catch them both and made up some ground between 3 and 5 (miles were 6:44 and a 12:08 for the two -- missed a split there, but rolling out of a hill with back-to-back 6 min/miles was encouraging). There's a short, steep stretch (maybe 250m) heading into mile 5, where I focused on passing somebody. The plan worked, I nailed the guy right as the hill started to crest and zipped by him into the downhill. Really picked it up there and left him in the sawdust (literally, it's a sawdust trail). I had 4th in sight but he had a good surge as well, and weaving through the woods I lost contact.

Headed into the finish smelling a sub-37, but I misread one of the painted turns on the ground and mis-timed my final kick. When I went for it I was looking for the 5k finish, and the 10k had another 200m or so. So I backed off just a bit, content to finish in that place with a good time.

Legs felt great and light, much better fitness than I expected. I wore the Cascadias, which taxed my calves and achilles because the heels aren't up quite as much as with the supernovas. But no big problem there. Bettered my time from 2008 by more than a minute, so that's a great start to 2010. Hung out with friends from the Slugs after the race, and some people from Skagit Valley I knew from growing up. Just a great, great morning.

brooks cascadia -- 59

Comments
From Paul on Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 13:15:49 from 65.103.252.214

Nice job. Sounded like a beautiful day.

From Burt on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:48:05 from 206.19.214.144

I tried to comment on this last night, but something was wrong with the blog. I think Sasha was doing maintenance or something. Anyway, I can't remember what I typed, but I know it was awesome. Great job on the race. That is a great start to 2010.

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