against the wind

Flight from Buffalo, NY to Jacksonville, FL = $368.04

Airport shuttles= $75.00

Hotel in Jacksonville = $335.61

Competitive 15km = Priceless

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 Going into the race I, first and foremost, wanted a solid effort over 15km with people to run with, check that off.  I also wanted to finish in the top three and run under 44 minutes.  I didn’t get the time but, considering the wind (25mph with 40mph gusts) I was happy with 44 minuted and 25 seconds.  When the race was running through neighbourhoods and the wind was blocked we we’re able to roll  (my middle 5km was 14:27) and once the race got onto the massive bridge we ended up slowing down, myself and Fasil a little more than Carlson and Browne.  Speaking of Carlson, he deserved the win and the equalizer bonus as he led most of the race right from the gun. Overall a good weekend and I was happy to have raced my longest distance ever, that will help me out later this season when I run a 10 000m.

Because it’s a USATF championship race I was not able to receive prize money and get expenses covered and for good reason.  It also goes both ways, when US guys come up to Canada and beat me I get more prize money. I also didn’t have to pay for everything, Sam from NYRR took myself and a few other guys to dinner on Friday night and the meet Director, Doug, had the elite athletes over to his house on Saturday night for dinner and a nice reception, thanks again guys.

When I got back to Hamilton last night there was another foot of snow on the ground since I left for Jacksonville.  A good shovel workout followed a 50 minute run.  Now I’m back in Ontario for one week before I head out to Flagstaff on Sunday.

                                                                               10K        FINAL
PLACE          FINISHER                                 TIME        TIME     PACE 

1  Andrew Carlson, 25, Bloomington, MN        29:21          44:12    4:45
2  Dan Browne, 32, Beaverton, OR                 29:22        44:21    4:46
3  Reid Coolsaet, 28, Guelph, ON                   29:21          44:25    4:46
4  Fasil Bizuneh, 27, Flagstaff, AZ                   29:21         44:29    4:46
5  Brian Sell, 27, Rochester Hills, MI                29:22           44:47    4:48
6  Jason Hartmann, 26, Springfield, OR           29:34          44:57    4:49
 7  Bret Schoolmeester, 23, Cornelius, OR        29:45          45:21    4:52
 8  Fernando Cabada, 25, Boulder, CO             29:45           45:33    4:53
 9  Lucus Humprey, 26, Rochester, MI              29:49           45:35    4:53
 10  Brett Gotcher, 24, Flagstaff, AZ                 30:02         45:35    4:53
 11  Matt Gabrielson, 29, Minneapolis, MN       29:56           45:46    4:55

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I swear I’m keeping an eye on the lead pickup truck that we were passing due to the turns in the neighbourhood.