GHI Workforce Team Challenge

So according to my last post, I was looking to go under 22:00 for this 3.5 mile challenge.
I decided to run with my Saint Rose team this year. We ended up putting together a pretty good effort.
The race started underneath the bridge at the NYS Museum in Albany,NY. This year saw a record 7200 runners line-up at the starting line. I (not by choice) ended up right at the front of the race for the start. I did a couple of stride outs before the gun and when I did my last one (8 minutes before the race was to go off) I was hurriedly herded back in by the volunteer worker. I was only able to stuff myself in with the crowd right at the very start.
So there we stood for 8 minutes, as cozy as sardines, mmmmmm.... sardines.....
THere was some pre-race strategy. A teammate of mine wanted to go for the win on the women's side. She had a very good shot at winning the whole women's race. I told her I would be going out at roughly 6 - 6:05 for the first mile and then hopefully negative splitting (under 6 minutes) the rest of the race. She said that she was going to stay with me and try to use that pace for the race... Big mistake on her part.
The gun goes off and I get out very well. That goes without saying, however, because I was at the front.
I look around and see the usual people at the front. THe only difference is that I am right next to them instead of behind them. Uh-oh! I start thinking to myself, "Are they going slowly today?" "Am I doing well?" I continue with my pace because I don't feel like I'm pushing at all.
I make it up the hill and enter Washington Park. I'm still hanging with some of the people that beat me on a regular basis. What the Funky Chicken!! I look up to see if there is a full moon visible at 6:30. Why am I with these people? I keep on plugging.
I hit the first mile marker and look at the clock... 5:40!!!!!!! Oh Shitake mushroom!
My teammate! I hope she's not on my back at this pace! She's going to kill me! Did I just ruin, not only my race, but her race as well? I keep plugging along.
I take inventory at the bottom of the hill after the mile marker. Legs feel good. Lungs feel good. I look around and still see some of those elite type runners.
I decide to pull back the pace, just slightly.
As I make my way through the park on my second mile, I pull up on a guy that always beats me. I run on his shoulder and next to him for about 1/2 a mile. He looks over his shoulder to see who this guy that is breathing on his shoulder blade is. I smile, he sneers (jerk). He then starts to move over to the side of the road to attempt to cut me off. I put my hand on his back andpush him while saying, "watch the cut!!" I should have said, "move your hairy ass over you....hairy...uh....ASS!!!"
But, alas, my mother didn't raise a foul-mouthed sore runner. She did raise a son that likes to get even, however. I ran by him and got infront of him and then slowed my pace to annoy him. It worked, as he had to change his pace to get around me. We don't always have to be friends with everyone!
I cam through the second mile in 5:50. That was a little better. My third mile would not hold up. I could feel it.
I came through in 6:00 and held pace to the end.
My final time was 20:26.
I finished 31 out 7200.
The College of Saint Rose finished its best finish ever. 3 out of 172 male teams.
THe female teammate that tried to win came in 2nd. She yelled at me, I bought her a beer afterwards. There is, once again, peace in the world.

Next up, Lake Placid Half Marathon.
Goal time: 1:28:30
Until next time...