2 miles warm up, dynamics and strides. Started off strong. Pace felt surprisingly easy for not having had any hard effort since cross country season. Sat behind the Seattle U coach at the start and then I started to feel it a bit so he began to gap me. A New Mexico runner was there and him and some guy in a gray shirt moved up next to me. New Mexico guy made a move before the mile mark (It was a little further than a mile cause I came through in 5:30) and the coach tried to go with him. The coach began to drop off him and then the gray guy tried to go and get the coach, leaving me with some alone time while everyone ran away. The coach dropped the gray guy and I eventually worked my way up towards him, staying in position about 5 meters behind. Around halfway I passed him and immediately got passed back. Struggled to hold on a bit and then passed him back again pretty quickly. There was then nobody immediately in front of me for a while. At mile 2.5 gray guy passed me back. I just tried to hold on for dear life as my stomach was giving so many warning signs at this point and I was committed to not barfing while I was still running. He began to gap me, and then a Club Northwest guy in a hat came past pretty quickly. At this point I saw the mark for approximately 200 meters to go in the distance. Another Club Northwest guy passed me and him and gray shirt had gapped me now with the hat guy leading them by a bit. Not sure exactly when I acquired a kick, but I ate up the distance between myself and these guys and almost had the hat guy by the end, having passed one of the Club Northwest guys and the gray dude. Course ran slowly because of the rain this morning, and my fresh brooks launch shoes are no longer fresh looking. Guy in front was a 1:48 800/3:44 1500 and he got 15:20 today while SU coach ran 14:55 here last year and got 15:42 today. My time was 16:02. Additionally, I heard the names of people I beat (not sure by how much as I can't see the results yet) who were definitely sub 16 on this course earlier. More than happy with where I am after such disastrous training in the recent weeks and preseason nonetheless. I am glad to know that my glute problems have not affected my good fitness approaching the season. 1 mile cooldown and semi-alright vibes from the glute.
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