Done

Let six is done. Apparently I had a bit left in the tank as I managed to cover the 3.9 miles in 23:27, a 6:34 pace. My best of the race.  All told I covered 39.9 miles (officially) with an average pace of around 6:55 over 4 hours and 37 minutes. Not too bad considering it dogged the first 4.4 miles.  Zac and I both managed sub 7 pace for the whole race.

Two legs left until the finish and we find out if we took the Ultra division and how we fared overall. I'm really thinking we are top five. We will see.

Dominance

That's what the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad has been doing. Around the major exchange at the end of the third leg we began to hear rumors that we were the first team. Not the first Ultra team, the first team overall. Now it was still a bit early,  there's no prizes for being the leader halfway, but this was a great place to be.

We were the ones that everyone was whispering. That Ultra team that was passing everyone. We had no decoration on the van and no identifying markers so we cruises on incognito. 

My last transition there was literally no one.  I took off without a team in sight.  We passed the final Ultra team at exchange 25. They had started 4 hours before us.

We have dominated so hard that the race director has ordered a one hour hold something that we don't arrive at the finish before the park opens.

Yeah, we're that good.

Two more

Four and five are in the books. And man, leg four was a bitch. Zac handed off to me after a brutal 8 miles straight up hill. My legs looked to be all downhill but I quickly found out that it wasn't. The severe, arm flailing downhills were matched by equally fun uphills. Wisely the race director decided to put a hill so steep right at mile 8.7 that I could almost touch the pavement as I ran. That sucked.

One time warp of a nap later and apparently it was time to get ready again. Let 5 was a gentle 8.1 which took me through Manchester.  The bad part. And once again there was a half mile hill to climb at the end where I found Jake frantically running out of the porta-let to start his leg. Good times. 

One more state to go.

Three down

Three to go.

Quick note: after one leg Zac came into the transition area saying that there was a bear in the road. I kid you not.

First of the long runs for me. 8.1 miles which kept going and going,  probably because it was actually 8.8 miles.  My bad. I pushed it hard,  maybe too hard. Finished off at 60 minutes 15 seconds for a 6:49 pace. Yipes. Let's see what that does to me later.

Hoping to catch some sleep soon beforemy longest run of the race, 9.6 miles. Long,  but it's all downhill.  Should be fine as long as my stomach holds out.  Starting to get duvet in there. 

Think of us tonight as you hoist another brew.

Second round

Second run done. 5.1 miles in 34:26,  6:44 pace. A bit quick but there were some good downhills for the assist. Next leg will show us if we have been going out too fast or not.

So far both runs have been solid but the next three are all near or over 9 miles long, so the real work begins then.  9.5 down, 30.1 left to go.

One down

At exchange 6 waiting for Ollie to get here. That will mean we have each run once. Only 5 more legs for each. So far everyone is running well and nothing has gone "sproing" yet.

Rain is on and off and it is cool out.  Should be interesting this evening as signage on the course has not been stellar.

The non–ultra teams seem to have so much energy.  Meanwhile we spend most of the time sitting. Bastards, we'll show them.

Race time

<p>The day of the New England Relay is upon me and as the rain falls down on the windscreen our van as we head to the start all I can think of is,&nbsp; this can is going to reek by tomorrow. Six guys,&nbsp; running, rain, and one can. Yipes. </p>
<p>So much I ready?&nbsp; I guess I'll find out soon. My training has been much better than ever.&nbsp; I've hit every key workout and my recent performance at the Corporate Challenge leads me to believ that I am. But then again,&nbsp; it's 40 miles over 24 hours. The fatigue will be a huge factor. </p>
<p>There is only one thing I am disappointed in myself with: I never did reach my goal weight. I got close,&nbsp; within one pound, but close isn't good enough. A 3:11 isn't a 3:10. One gets you into Boston the other gets you does calves. Something to work on. </p>
<p>Finally, the only thing that has me worried is my heel. It has been an issue since April and while it had leveled off into a predictable injury it still has the potential to be a huge problem. Time and miles will tell.</p>
<p>Off to the start now,  more later. </p>