View Workout (Anthony Belber)

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19th Annual Alumni Run

August 21, 2021 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: low 80s, felt like upper 80s, very humid and sunny

Comments:
Arrived around 9 and did the usual marking of the course and placing of the signs. Got a bit more jogging than usual and even some leg swings while directing runners towards the gathering spot. Two distracted striders before we got underway. A big crowd this year. 58 finishers, maybe five more walkers, and about 10 parents/spectators... Maia Stern and child started us off and Berenson set the pace. I dropped out of the top five approaching the ramp to the CCT. Settled in beside Abe Doroshow, although fell back about 900m in. First mile was me neither feeling loose nor lousy. I suspected I was going too fast, but didn't actually feel like I was straining yet. Abe was catching Daniel Otto-Manzano at the stairs and I closed to within two strides of them, but quickly fell back off as we passed the mile mark at 6:10. Next half mile was mostly me calling out to runners going out on the CCT and me not doing a whole lot to push myself beyond the edge of comfort. Last half mile or so was me realizing I dug in, I could catch a few of those strung out in the next 20 yards ahead of me. Pushed the effort and caught and passed Daniel and Aaron Rennert. Closed up on Abe some, but didn't have the speed nor hunger to hunt Abe. I was working hard, though I held my own against his kick finishing 3 seconds back. My watch had 12:10, but Lew's timer recorded 12:11 for the notebook (although she admitted she hit it late). Writing this in the afternoon, my claves are wondering why I insisted on getting up on my toes, but it was worth it. 23 seconds faster than 2 years ago. Haven't checked last year's virtual race time yet. Pretty consistent with the 12:07 and 12:09 of 2017 and 2018, so that is reassuring. Validating for the steady miles I've put in this summer and a reminder that some speed would help get me under 6 pace. Nice to see so many alumni in good shape and a good number of current runners showing up, even when others couldn't weren't able to get back to DC for it this year. I was 7th overall and can sleep well tonight (even if I was running 10:41 exactly 11 years ago.)