View Workout (Anthony Belber)

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NXR SE, Community Race 5km

November 26, 2022 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 60ish

Comments:
A lovely day in Cary, NC. Team closed out a good season with a strong showing and they convinced me I needed to race, even though I was ready to pull out. Legs had felt dead and motivation was quite low as I ran around the course during the three student races we were in. I knew the fatigue might be in my head, but I also know how tired I get doing my coaching fartleks and figured there wouldn't be much freshness if I tried to race after three hours of coaching. Still, I paid my $25 and slipped on my spikes 2 minutes before the gun went off. No striders or drills, but I was plenty warm and was able to cheer the GDS girls into the chute before turning to my own race.

Went out controlled without any butterflies. Humbled by the large number of runners in front of me. By the time we reached the base of the hill, I was passing quite a few runners, and likely passed 20-30 over the course of the first 1.5 miles. Felt controlled, but was working with focus. Was pleased to note that I felt strong and wasn't feeling the fatigue I'd felt while cheering. Caught a leaf without breaking stride while entering the woods (which brought the season final number to 96 -Zero caught on the 13 minute cooldown). 1/2 mile mark was 2:50 (thanks to the downhill start) and mile mark was 6:01 with some uphills slopes mixed in. Didn't love the uphill slope past the start, but didn't panic or tighten or break form much. Buoyed by the GDS girls cheering past the finish line corner and tried to be aggressive in the flats and downhills following. Hill at the 2 mile mark (12:30) was affecting me a bit, but I kept momentum and tried to work the downhills. By this point I wasn't passing people anymore and was trailing a person or two for the rest of the race (passed one with 100 to go and nearly caught two others at the line.) Wolin was at the 800 to go and various other hoppers appeared from time to time which helped a lot. I stayed focused up the long final climb, despite the frustration of getting passed (first time all race) by a 20something about 100 meters into the climb. I did pass someone with 100 to go and nearly got to the passer and another dude as my final kick was effective. 18:43 at the 3 mile mark and 31 for the .1 final flat. Finished plenty empty, but found a smile when Ellie was smiling at me in the paddock. Satisfied with the effort and the time (despite the ghosts of the past) and pleased that I raced. Writing this the next day, feet are decently sore from the spikes, but I'm satisfied with the work I put in this fall and still hold out hope I'll be in solid shape come 50. Will log warm up and cooldown in a separate log.