SRRC club run -- Sun. February 15

Amazing to note we were TEN people today: me, arriving almost late as 9th, and Ken to make 10, after Andy, Jay, Bill, Amy, Steve, Savanna, Nick and John (two women, three highschoolers, one semi-pro, two out of towners, and me the oldest there). Decided to start together, and we ran as a big mob to along Jackson to GeoHannum and then onto Hamilton, where Andy (with Yarrow) and Steve started to pull away. I figured it was time to follow, or I'd lose them, so I chased and then we reached Allen; Steve waited for the others and Bill overtook me, so I was chasing them both. Yarrow, with 10 miles earlier in the day, was tired, and slowed down so Bill got ahead, and as we reached 202 I called to Andy and said I'd take Yarrow. He handed the lead to me and went off after Bill, and Yarrow perked up, certainly to my pace as we went up the rest of Allen's hill. Andy just caught Bill at the "townline" of Brandywine, but Bill was aiming for the summit a bit further ahead. I handed Yarrow back and we jogged round waiting for the others--Ken was next, then Jay and the HS boys, who responded to a call for a sprint to the townline (John got it). Then recovery pace all down Enfield as we plotted the push up Jabish. Jay took Yarrow and we three (me and Andy and Bill) ran together across 9 and as far as the river, then it was go! I was mid-story about something, but Bill said, "We'll continue a the top!" I hadn't noticed we were at the start. I followed the two of them, then thought I'd better go for it if I wanted to lead at any point: sprinted past and led them round the first corner, as far as a mailbox, then faded back. Andy had it by about 10 yards pretty much all the way, and while I was gasping a bit it felt pretty good; kept a good pace. Then Ken and Jay and the lads appeared, and we continued down Old Spfld to the high school, then back to D&D to let Yarrow have a break, and grab a drink--Ken et al. stayed, but Bill, Andy and I headed out for one more quick go--Howard and Jackson, another hill. I started it hard, but then faded. Bill took a left and headed home at the top, and Andy and I went back through town and down 202 back to D&D, picking up speed for a fast finish. Felt great!

Time: 1:29:00
Distance: 11.53 miles
Pace/Speed: 7:43s/7.77 mph