Boston -51 -- Sun. Feb. 28

The day of the Jones ten miler dawned chilly, dusted with fresh snow, but warming. Out early for lectoring, then home to change, pack and head in to Amherst. Parked at the high school, then registered (somehow I'd forgotten to do this!) with my new USATF number--last night, realised that to count as a runner for GSH, which I'm now a member of, I needed a USATF membership too; $30 for a year--for my first race as a "professional amateur" as it were. Not that I'd be able to place for GSH, as there are probably 10+ runners in my age group who'll place ahead, but what the heck.

Off to warm up, a mile to UMass, where I stretched, and then a mile back and a bit more running up and down (should have done strides too, and a bit more distance, I think; next time!), then it was start time. Chatted with Wheels a bit, and Rob L, but didn't see any other SRRC runners, alas. About the same number as last year, nearly 700; off more or less on time at 11, and the first mile was hillier than I remembered but I was swept into a pretty fast pace--chatted with Billy R, then moved up a bit to try and track on Mike L. Mile 1 = 6:09, despite hills; in the long run that was what hit my back, I think. Mile 2 (easier) = 6:14, then mile 3 = 6:57, including the one serious hill (short but sharp). After that, still feeling good and moving up, but figure I can slow down a bit, so mile 4 = 6:55. Then numbleg starts to appear, and by mile 5 = 6:51, I'm losing sensation in right leg, just as I've caught up to within 20 yards of Mike L. Somehow (inshallah) I stagger on as we finish the easy flat by the reservoir, losing Mike and with everyone speeding up as we hit the downhills: mile 6 = 6:32, and mile 7 = 6:39. Those two were torture as I tried to stay upright and had to let people stream by, but by the end of mile 7 I had pretty much regained function, so mile 8 = 6:36 was more fighty. I was holding off a couple of challenges in mile 9 = 6:31, and the final mile (uphill and tough) I had Mike L back in my sights, sort of, but too far to reach. Ended on 6:44 for this total:

Time: 1:06:16 (GPS same)
Distance: 10 miles (GPS 10.02)
Pace: 6:38s

Comment: Congratulated Mike L afterwards; he's also training for Boston. I came in 180th, 45/131 in M Masters, and 13th for GSH overall (Landry and Wheels were 7th and 8th), so I'm happy with that. Also, beating last year's time by over a minute -- okay, the conditions were better, almost ideal, but the numbleg was lousy! Turns out, in fact, this is a new PB for the distance for me, beating my 2006 Marlboro 10 miler: w00t!

Eats afterwards were excellent, w/ pizza and soup and fruit and yogurt and snack bars and bread and brownies and coffee. Chatted with Wheels and Billy R too, and watched the results being posted, but then headed out before hearing the team standings. We had gone for a cool-down run together (me and Wheels and Landry), and after going down to UMass I foolishly I took us up the hill to the Clark Monument -- that's a crazy hill. Still, it got us the remaining distance to make today a 15 mile day for me. Then I went home and slept for over two hours...