: I raced in my first non-5k yesterday – the “Born in the USA” 4 miler. It was a good day for racing – low 70’s at race time of 7:49. This is one of the more prominent races in my area – it tends to attract some pretty good competition and weeds out the casual runners because of the holiday. About 250 runners in all.

I was unsure about how to run this race, as everything in my running brain is geared towards the 5k. I was worried about bonking in the end given the longer distance. I knew the pace should be pretty close to 5k. I chose to play it safe and shoot for a 7:15 pace. I knew I wouldnt age group in this race given the competition, so I didnt have any pressure. Garmin was on board this time to help. There was also a 2 leg, 2 mile relay going on at the same time, so it was impossible to tell if you were getting passed by a relayer or not.

The course is a modified 5k course, so I was familiar with the layout – pretty flat for the most part.  I felt pretty tired before the race, having to get up at 5:45 or so, which is early for me. I jogged a half mile to warm up. Its always hard for me to get going in the morning, and I swear I always have a moment in the first mile of my morning races where I just want to stop

I laid back from the first few rows of runners and let the crowd be the governor on my running engine, as I always tend to start too fast. The first mile felt kind of rough, but I was concentrating on form and pace. The race had clocks at each mile, which was nice. I hit the first one at 7:14, right on pace.

The second mile felt slightly better, though I was worried because the pack I was running with had some regulars that were usually a couple minutes behind my 5k times. Hit mile 2 at 7:12, pretty consistent, especially since I hadnt hardly looked at the Garmin. I actually made use of the water station (which I never do in a 5k) and was able to choke a few sips down.

Third mile had some hills, but I was feeling increasingly strong. Passed a lot of people and left my pack behind. Mostly alone after a half mile. Hit the marker at 7:13. At this point, I saw the clock as about 21:40 and I felt really strong, so I decided to push the pace. I think my body finally had decided to wake up, and everything felt smoother.

Turned the last corner and saw the clock flip to 28 minutes, sprinted the last 100 meters (at 3:58 pace per my Garmin – lol) and finished in 28:24 . My last split was 6:43.  Finished 39th of 260, didnt place in my age group (though would have finished 2nd if I was 5 years younger, strangely). Overall I was pleased with the time, and guaranteed PR!
http://www.strictlyrunning.com/results/09BUSA.txt

I guess I need to be more aggressive in my pacing, though this distance is pretty rare. It was fun to try a different distance, and I’m looking forward to my first 10k (September).

Yesterday’s run was pretty brutal. I showed up at about 6:30 pm for the 7 pm start, and it was 92 degrees according to my car. Typical SC summer high humidity too. The race was at a horse racetrack in Camden,SC (Home of the Carolina Cup). The first thing I notice, as I’m walking around (this would have to qualify for warming up, because I was sweating just doing this) is that the course is all grass, and its about shoe to ankle height. I was thinking it would be a dirt track like Churchill Downs. I really started to worry about the race then, because just walking through this grass required some effort.

A horse led the field and we were off on schedule. Right away I could feel I had to adjust my gait just to get through this race. I started lifting my knees more and overstriding just to wade through the grass. This seemed to work as I passed a lot of people on the first mile. I was wearing my Garmin for the first time, and it was very nice for this race that had few landmarks. The mile markers were pretty in sync with my watch. First mile was in 7:18, which felt pretty fast for these conditions, though I felt pretty good.

Caught up with a pack of 3 and surged past them in the second mile, though we were all starting to slow a bit with the heat. Caught another guy at the end of mile 2 as he was just spent. All this passing by running a blistering 7:52 split.

I really started to feel the heat in the third mile, and really started to worry about it becoming overwhelming and having to stop. I was running free and clear of everyone until I started hearing footsteps behind me as I neared the 3 mile marker.  Split was 7:49.

The guy behind me caught up to me right at mile 3 and he surged ahead. I told him he had it, but about 20 seconds later I saw him start to slow. I decided to kick it with everything I could muster. He heard me as we were within about 20 meters of the finish and sped up. We hit the line almost in tandem, but I thought I might have just pushed past him with that last lunge.

Finished in 23:45, almost 3 minutes slower than my PR, but I was happy with the run considering the conditions. The results showed 8th place, identical time as the guy who finished with me but I did apparently outkick him by a fraction of a second, as they had him 9th. This was good for 2nd place in my age group, though they only had awards for the winners. This was OK with me since this was an inaugural race and there were only about 60 runners (20 or so walkers).  Times were super slow across the board, even some regulars had to walk some. The winning female finished in 26 minutes.

http://www.strictlyrunning.com/results/09Springdale.txt

My race today was through the streets of my childhood neighborhood, and my parents (who still live there) came out for support, so that was fun. My memory of the area was apparently pretty spotty though, because I had the idea it was pretty flat. This was definitely not the case. Mostly rolling hills, though only a couple of significant inclines.

The race was much bigger than I had assumed, with about 200 participants. There were cash awards too, so this brought out the local “elites”. This included some of my age groupers, so I knew an AG award would be difficult at best.

I lined up behind the known sub 20’ers, and did my best to lay off the sprint everyone seems to engage in after the gun. It worked well- I didnt get passed the whole race after the initial 100 yards, and ended up passing several people in the first mile. I ran most of the race fairly isolated, which tends to be the case recently. I seem to have improved past the main group of casual runners, but not good enough to join the truly competitive. It at least allowed me to run my own race, though I didnt feel that push to go faster from competition. I did catch a 13 yr old kid in the last mile, which sounds dubious, but he actually has finished with some low 20:xx times this year, so I felt good about that. I kept my eye on one of the top females as a pacer, knowing she usually also runs in the low 20:xx range. Unfortunately she was slower today than usual!

The course ended with an unpleasant hill, so I couldnt muster a  good kick, plus I was all by myself and didnt feel the pressure to really put on the afterburners. This was particularly true after I realized I couldnt PR when I saw the clock.  Because of my separation from the pack, the event photographer took a ton of ridiculous pics of me dying across the finish – see here and push the next button for the full inglorious montage:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage.aspx?pi=1K10001Z000207&po=207

I finished in 21:36 , which I was OK with. Not as good as last week, but I’m pleased I can consistently get below 7 minute pace. Missed my age group – there were 3 sub 20 times for 30-34 yr olds. I did finish 4th though. My last race for about a month now – the summer is starting to kick in, and the heat has and will continue to be a factor now. (almost 80 degrees by race end today)
Results:
http://www.strictlyrunning.com/results/09extra.txt

JAILBREAK 5k – May 2009

Finished 21:15 today in a 5K with over 400 people, which was fun. Not much to report, given I still dont have a Garmin. The 2 mile marker guy called out my split as 13:25, so I bonked a bit in the last 1.1, which I definitely felt. I’m happy with the time, as its my 2nd best. I was also excited to get back to that elusive sub 7:00 pace. I was surprised to find out I’d placed third in my age group even though I was 46th overall. I was pretty happy about that since I saw two guys before the race that are 33 and always run sub-19. This was a cash awards race, so it brought out a pretty competitive field – winning time was 15:37, top 25 were all sub 20.
http://www.strictlyrunning.com/results/09jail.txt

Falcon 5K RR – May 2009

Arrived about 30 minutes before the gun. Already hot, high 70’s at 8 am. Not a huge crowd but I already see several known sub-20 runners, then I remember there are cash prizes for the winners. Two of the guys I know are 33 years old, which doesnt bode well for my age group. I try to refocus the race to concentrate on running a good time and placing in the top 10. I knew I wouldnt PR this course because of the hills, the worst of which is a series of brutal ones starting at 2 miles. Its a loop course so all the flat and downhill on the first half is given back to you. Race is slow to start and the gun comes around 8:45. The temp is noticably hotter and the sun is out in force.

FIRST MILE – Holding back quite a bit, I dont have a watch but feels about 7:30 pace. I draft behind a guy I know runs about 21 minutes. The no. 1 female is ahead and I decide to catch her as the guy I was drafting suddenly pciks up the pace. Having run the course two weeks ago, I know not to go all out before the killer hills. I pass the top female (I hadnt seen her before, and it turns out she finishes in over 23 minutes).

SECOND MILE – Feels pretty good at this point, its mostly flat or downhill, so I try to make up some ground. I surge ahead on a few turns and push the pace a bit, shooting for sub 7:00. I do slow down the last 400m or so in prep for the hills. I pass a few people.

THIRD MILE – Brutal hills. The first half feels good and I definitely notice the fact I didnt push the first 2 miles too much. The heat starts to get oppressive towards the top but I’m still going strong. I have to side step a kid who suddenly decides to stop and puke. This is the second straight time I’ve dealt with this and I really hate it. I reach the crest and I know its all downhill from there. I’m pretty spent at this point. Just me and 2 other guys now, nobody else within a quarter mile. I pass a 60 year old guy who looks 40 and is a ball of muscle. I know he always runs about 21-22 minutes and always finishes first in age group by several minutes usually.

The final stretch: 60 year old comes back and passes me! He is really motoring. I offer some words of encouragement and see the clock. I had an outside chance at breaking 22 but my kick just wasnt there after the mountain climbing on mile 3. Finished in 22:11, 8th overall.

http://www.strictlyrunning.com/RESULTS/09FALCON.TXT

I’m happy with the time – this was not an easy course and the heat was rough. Disappointed that I finished 3rd in age group because the 2nd and 3rd place finishers (around 19 minutes) were both 33. Can’t be too hung up on that stuff though. Still got a ribbon! lol.