Jones Ten Miler in Amherst -- Sun. February 22

Early start with lectoring, but still only just time for a coffee and getting changed before I had to head off to Amherst. SRRC folks agreed to do this instead of the usual D&D mtg, and I was able to let Eddie know at the 8 o'clock (he was the only one who'd not already heard, we hope). Parked at the school and jogged down to register, to find a pretty big set-up -- 600 entrants, I was told! This was double last year, as it's now an ATF ract. Then jogged back to car, changed, and ran a bit, totalling probably a mile and a half very slowly. Felt adequately loose, if not exactly warmed up, but plan was to take it somewhat easy at the start and to get to 6 miles without getting into numb-leg pace (which seems to be sub-6:35 or so). Met the SRRC crew (Nick and John, Amy, Bill and Andy, plus me = six, not bad) and then we were off.

Good start: chatted to Sri B a bit, and generally tried to get a rhythm that was not racing. The first two miles were easy enough, and probably a bit fast (6:30 and 6:26), but the course goes uphill a bit (6:58) and then more so (7:03). I chatted a bit with Rich C, who told me he'd helped lay out the course, and it was icy-darake in mile 5. Sure enough, it was a bit hairy, and that pushed me a bit (6:49) and signs of numbing. Held it steady and prayed for an uphill (which seems to help the numb-leg, different gait and reach?) and then pushed a bit as we started downhill (6:40 and 6:03-- fastest mile for me), then with seven miles gone decided to start trying to reel in a few folks. Finally caught up with the redshirt I overtook at the end of the Feb 14 10K, Rich P, and he was alongside Mike L; said hi to latter and chugged on, but he must have stuck with me, because although I overhauled several other folk after that, Mike L was only just behind me at the end - he's definitely a good pace marker (and I for him too).

Miles 8 and 9 I was picking up (6:41 and 6:23) and feeling okay, but the last mile had a couple of uphills, and I was finally getting a bit hungry; managed a 7:07 and then with (by my GPS) still a tiny bit to go I pushed hard, with a 5:43 pace for the last 0.17 miles. Caught Celio H right in the final loop, and saw I wasn't going to get 1:06, but 1:07 is fine too, all things considered.

Time: 1:07:42 (GPS 1:07:41)
Distance: 10 miles (GPS 10.17 miles)
Pace/Speed: 6:47s/8.86 mph (GPS 6:39s/9.01 mph)

Comment: tough course, but a satisfying one, and the post run eats were EXCLLENT. The sleet and cold rain over the last 15 mins were rough, but not enough to stop me running back to ferry in John and Nick both, and then we went for a cooldown mile all six of us -- so 13 miles on the day, I think. Big Woot! PB will have to live for another day; I'm happy with my (course assisted) negative split today).