Timp Trail Half Marathon PR Dave Taylor

This is one of the best races of the year and I wanted to give it my all, so I did double Dry loops for the last two weeks in preparation. I think it paid off, because I got a 2 minute PR! And I can tell you, any PR after age 45 is a big win in my book. Adam showed up so I knew I would have to try for second, but I went off zippy at the start anyway and was immediately joined by Adam and Trevor. We got up to the flat and Trevor dropped back, but Adam stayed with me. I thought for a vain moment that I was staying with him, but every time I pushed it a tiny bit to see what would happen he effortlessly matched. Then we climbed to the basin and he opened it up a tiny bit and was immediately 100 feet ahead. Both of these guys were smoking me on the uphill but I could smoke Trevor on the flat or downhill so I knew that as long as I could stay ahead of him to the middle of Dry I would be OK. I got to the top of the second climb up to the upper road and Adam was .25 miles ahead and gradually pulling further away. So I just focused and pounded the flats (6:46, 6:37) and the downhill to the gun range (5:44) in hopes that he might get lost for a bit like I tend to do :) Now the climbing miles were upon me. I felt decently strong and able to maintain, but I still got smacked bad in Dry (7:50, 10:46, 15:00). About halfway up Trevor snuck up on me and we enjoyed a coke together at the aid station. Then we bailed before Amber could catch us. He pulled ahead, but he couldn't get more than about 50 feet on me, so I knew it was mine to lose. Sure enough at the top I was able to close the distance quickly, although he passed me again when I had to tie my shoe. I always have to tie my shoe in this race. Next time I am using safety pins. I quickly blew him off the trail again just before the start of the Mario Karts, then went full tilt down those because it was looking possible to get in the 143s which was my goal for the day. I was doing 6:20 on the flat at the bottom which was very encouraging, then on to the lower trail. Coming over the top was 7:14 and Mario splits were 6:11, 6:17, 6:28. I got on to the road and did a 5:04 pace for the last .4 miles. I ended up 2 minutes ahead of T and 3 from A, great day for everyone! Nathan and Lars tied and got the course record in the marathon, 3:29.