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The Triple Threat

August 6, 2017 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Alright, you ready for a long race report? Cuz you're gonna get a long race report. I got a lot to say.

This morning I drove an hour up to Cape Ann in northeastern Massachusetts to compete in the Triple Threat Challenge. This consisted of running a mile at 8:00am, a 5k at 8:20am, and then running a half marathon at 9:15am. Let's walk through how all this panned out.

The mile was pretty relaxed for a mile race. I was running with this dude who recently graduated from Georgetown and competed in the 400m and 800m for them. His PR's are 48.64 and 1:52.88. Anyway, he began to sprint to the finish of this mile, and although I think I could have won, I decided it better to let him get the W while I came in a second behind him in a 5:13.

Then came the 5k. My legs were feeling kinda tight and I came through in 17:02. I wasn't trying to push too hard.

The thing about this Triple Threat Challenge is that the overall winners are determined by the overall combined time of the 3 races. Going into the HM, the rankings were as follows:

1. Georgetown guy
2. Me (+:05)
3. The 3 time defending champ (+1:00) [the dude just jogged the mile, but ran the 5k in a 16:16]

Immediately after the 5k, my legs were really tight and I was unsure of myself. But after 30 minutes of rest, I was feeling pretty good going into the half marathon. I knew that I just had to keep the champ in my sights throughout the race since I had a 55 second lead on him. And since the Georgetown guy was kinda new to longer distances, I felt I good edge him by 5 seconds no problem. But I couldn't have been more wrong on all that.

Let's take a look at the mile progression:

mile 1 - 5:37.9 - tbh this felt fine and it was downhill. The champ took a 20 second lead immediately, but that was ok because I could afford up to 55 seconds.
mile 2 - 5:58.6 - This is where I dropped the Georgetown guy. Champ is still 20 seconds ahead
mile 3 - 5:38.1 - Champ is still 20 seconds ahead. He is literally looking back over his shoulder every minute.
mile 4 - 6:03.5 - Slower pace but I still feel ok
mile 5 - 6:03.5 - Champ is still just 20 seconds ahead
mile 6 - 6:12.5 - Although I am slowing down, the champ is too and is still only 20 seconds ahead

It would have been nice if this were a 10k race instead of a half marathon, as this is where I begin to take massive L's.

mile 7 - 6:10.8 - My legs broke here. There was a substantial hill and the champ opened up his lead on me to 40 seconds
mile 8 - 6:40.5 - I had a chance to take down the champ aaaaaand it's gone
mile 9 - 6:18.4 - trying to get back on pace, but I'm kinda blown mentally by knowing that I won't be able to beat the champ anymore
mile 10 - 7:15.3 - rip
mile 11 - 7:20.1 - my legs have detached from my body
mile 12 - 7:20.1 - kms
mile 13.1 - 9:50 - just fuck me up fam. Georgetown guy caught up to me in the last .1 but I outkicked him by a sec

Final time - 1:26:29

I ended up getting 6th overall for the Triple Threat. I don't regret going out kinda fast for the first 6 miles of the half. I'm an amibitious person - I had a goal of knocking off the champ so I went for it, and it didn't work out. I would rather I go for it like I did rather than be conservative and maybe get a better overall time to place 2nd or 3rd. But ya know, if you're not first you're last. This was a fun event and I am proud to say that although my HM time was garbage, I still emptied my tank and left my legs out on the course.

I had some highs after my race last week; I guess I needed a humbling experience to bring me back down.

Oh, forgot to mention that I got A LOT of "Go Green", "Go Michigan State", and "Go Spartans" from other runners and spectators. Some guy sitting on his lawn started a continuous Go Green/Go White call with me which was pretty cool. Spartan Nation is everywhere folks. I also even got a "Go Blue".