View Workout (Justin Connell)

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DC Cities; last race of XC

November 4, 2017 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: Cool

Comments:
I can't believe this season has flow by so fast.

I was really excited to get out and race. All week my calves had been feeling alright, my head was in the right place, and I was eager to get on the line and see what I could do. That said, the cold weather that morning made me more than a little nervous. Thankfully, I procured a pair of gloves that somehow made everything warm and got me back to where I needed to be.

I couldn't have asked for a better race or a better team to have raced it with. I went out at quick but comfortable pace and finally got to race with Nathaniel, who I definitely couldn't have done this race without. I stuck with Rosenberg for somewhere around a mile and a half, during which the two of us and Amory worked really well together, passing a bunch of people and wearing several more out. My legs started getting tired so I fell behind, but never got more than a dozen of meters behind Nathaniel. I started to pick it back up in the third mile, pushing along the last straightaway along the trees with around 1200m to go. I started to build into a kick at around 600m left and ended up catching a guy on the hill, but I didn't have much left for a final, glorious sprint, which I'm fine with. I ended up finishing just a place or two behind Nathaniel and with a PR, and feeling incredibly happy with my race. I felt great and worked hard, and most importantly I'm pretty sure I was grinning like a madman for every meter of it!

Its hard to believe that this is it. I'll repeat what I said at the campfire so many weeks ago: I've been running cross country for only a few months, but this team has a way of making me feel like I've been running for four years. From my perilous aquajogging attempts at Manidokan to the wonderful bike-on-bus shenanigans on the way home on Saturday, this season, and more importantly, this team, has been incredible. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has and will continue to make this team the wonderful thing it is.