double d mountain runner: April Fools 4 mile

I kicked off the month of April with a return to Salisbury for the April Fools 4 mile. I'd run the Winners race four times previously (and done a tempo run over the course 2 years ago) so I was familiar with the flat and fast certified course. Originally, I'd hoped to run under 23:30 and maybe take a shot at my 50+ PR (23:19) but I felt lousy all week and my training runs were all 30-45 seconds a mile slower than normal. Not sure if I was fighting something or just in recovery mode from lack of sleep and all the driving, I'd done the previous week. I reset my goal to sub-24 and then when Saturday dawned, I thought even that might be quicker than possible given the stiff wind.

I got to the Circle a 9am and met up with Jim Pawlicki. We gathered up Paul Young and Sean Conway for a warm-up and fellow CMSer's Daniel Raboin and Mike Dunlop joined us for a nice warm-up run on the Ghost Train trail. I switched into race flats and got in another mile (bumped into John Molvar, Buddy Bostick, and my sisters Rose & Denise), I'd also chatted with Mimi & Jimmy Fallon and had a rare Leslie Behan sighting. So many familiar faces!

About 300 lined up but no one wanted to get up on the starting line, I just don't get that. I didn't want to get trampled so I got on the line on the left side (since we'd take a 90 degree right turn about 100m into the race). I got out with no issue and watched 11 year old Michael Struder nearly get trampled in the turn. About 200 meters in Ruben Sanca rambled by pushing a baby stroller and his kid yelling "go Ruben" which was pretty funny. Brian Struder (Michael's dad) came by next and I latched onto him. He is fairly evenly matched with me right now and a lot taller than me. Perfect for sitting behind into the wind on the main road. I hung behind him until we turned then made a move and could hear his footsteps fall back (along with Sean Conway who I knew was back there but would not look since that'd let him know I was worried). By the mile (5:55) I was on my own. The next guy in front of me was at least 10 seconds up and moving away. I focused on closing the gap but didn't make any headway into 2 miles (5:58). Dang, it seemed like the wind was in our faces again. Maybe it shifted? I got a few nice shouts of encouragement from people as I made my way back on the out & back course. I hit 3 miles (6:09) and noticed the guy in front of me suddenly slowing. I ended up catching him at 3.5 miles and that recharged him (he told me afterward that he had run a personal best through 5k and was just going to finish it up until I came by). He went back by me on the final turn and put 4 seconds on me over the last 100 meters (Yikes!). I watched the clock rollover as I crossed the line, just missing a sub-24 with a 13th place (1st 50+) in 24:00.4.

I went right into a 1 mile warm-down and then headed straight to Lawrence for VITA.