10k in Oberursel/Germany

As many of you know, this was my first race in a new age-group. I had talked to my stongest opponent before the race, his name is Michael, we warmed up together, then went to the start. I followed the leaders, he stayed back, following my usual strategy. The first two k's were downhill, but with a few sharp turns, then a long climb started. Michael and one more guy passed me, and I thought I was never going to catch up with them. Shoot, stupid me had over-paced! Stomach felt odd because of jet-lag, and I was suffering from the hills. But at about 5k I noticed they were not gaining on me anymore. I knew the last three would be steep downhill. I went though 7k in 29:10 (!!) and we changed to downhill. it was a forest road with a lot of roots and steps, but downhill, and I'm fast on downhills. A youger guy passed me, and I hung in. We passed the other guy in my age-group, so it was only Michael ahead of me. I got closer, and at 8.5 I was right behind. At 9.2, there was a steep downhill, and I know tall guys don't like steep downhills. So I went for my Malcolm Phillips Memorial KIck (named after my deceased HongKong firend) and blew past. Did the last k in 3:33, opening up a 10sec gap. Kept my record intact, won my first race in this age-group, too! Finish time was 40:02.
Thanks to my running mates in Namban Rengo!