Capital City Classic 10K

C.A.R.S race number 3 was hosted by Runner's Alley in Concord, NH with the Capital City Classic 10K. The 8AM start was met with warm and muggy air under bright sun. A strong field of 300 plus enjoyed a mass-start, my first of which,  post-Covid. I started 12 rows back. Jumped out at the start and settled in with no sense of urgency. 

The 7:00 flat opening mile gave me no confidence that I was going to run any faster for the next 5 miles. Each mile thereafter slowed down. After 4 miles, there was a hill that seemed to break some or make some. A few began to walk. I had dead legs on the backside and saw my slowest mile of 8:08. I rallied a bit in the last 400m to find 73rd place and find a 7:39 pace, 47:29 chip time. I grabbed a water and had a seat in the shade for a few minutes.

I went for a slow cool down with the Duct Tape and Spit guys (Dave Dunham, Doug Deangelis, and Darren Brown) who placed 2nd as a team. My right calf cramped so bailed before another mile. Looking forward to the next race but a few degrees cooler or with a lower dew point.