Headed up to ankeny today to test my fitness again. I was told this race was flat and so I was looking for another good time. After warmups, my legs felt tight and actually a little sluggish which is weird given the easy last few days. I met up with a good friend who i talked in to running it and so it was good to see him there. Race started and I knew I had to lay back and pick people off. First mile flew by--5:26.2. Right where I needed to be. Then I started picking off a few of the younger kids who go out fast. But after about 1/4 of mile 2, i was on an island--no one around me. I kept trying to run down the person ahead of me but just wasnt happening, my legs were not turning over that great. 2nd mile was 5:48.3. I tried to pick it up to bring it home. I ended up passing one more high school kid at the end, we battled all the way to the line and I beat him down the stretch, but my last mile was still sluggish--5:49.9, with the last .1 in 31.7 which was a pretty legit .1 so I am happy because I had to kick it to hold onto 6th place. I had a little much in the tank at the end, but I really didnt have much the whole race--kind of weird. Overall, I clocked a 17:37, not a bad time, but not super fast. I am pretty happy with that time given how I felt after warming up. I think I was sluggish because I didnt run yesteday, I have noticed the few times I have taken the day off before a race I end up with significantly less "pop" in my legs. Cant be too hard on myself though, as there was not much I could have done to avoid not running yesterday--simply no time. Better luck in two weeks, and after all I did place in my age group.
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