Re: Monday Morn Check in (just a bit early)
monday - off
tuesday - 5k easy
wed - busy
thurs - busy
fri - busy
sat - busy
sunday - 10 mile race
total = 13 miles
The season is winding down and it is hard to find the gumption to get out. Sunday was the last race of the year. I was planning to go for a pr. Until I got lost on the way to the race. I pulled into the parking lot about 100 yards from the start and heard the starting gun go off. I ran to the registration table, got registered (this is a scholarship fundraiser, they would take anybody's money at any time), then ran to the start line and began about 4 minutes late.
No prepping other than the run from the truck. All the runners were out of sight and I raced to catch up. I catch 2 before the first mile marker. Mile 1 in 7:12 watch time, 11:40 race time. Much too fast, 7:40 pace would give me a new pr. Still, the adrenaline is flowing and I start passing a bunch of people. Mile 2 in 7:22. Still too fast.
But it is fun weaving around dozens of slower runners. Mile 3 in 7:45. That is more like it, though I can feel the strain. Mile 4 in 7:52. It is becoming work now, and we are hitting the hills. I start passing fewer runners. Mile 5 in 8:15, mile 6 in 8:17, mile 7 in 8:15. We are out of the hills and back to mostly flat. Adrenaline kicks in again and I pick up the pace. Mile 8 in 8:05, mile 9 in 8:02, and mile 10 in 7:32.
I am not sure yet how many I passed, but only 4 of them passed me back, and 3 of them looked like 6 minute a mile guys who jogged the first half and raced the 2nd half.
Watch time of 1:18:39. Race time in the 1:22 range. The weather was near ideal, though as a clyde I would have liked it a few degrees cooler. And there were only 2 water stations.
Last year I blew up to 1:39 because of blisters. The year before I went out at pr pace and crashed at the end for a 1:19:26. This year was a good run, but about 1:20 behind my pr. With better prep and pacing I might have beaten that. Still a fun run and it proves I am near pr shape. I will be trying for some track prs until the snow flies. Hopefully I can get in 120 miles yet this year and break my yearly total pr (1105).
Good running, everybody.
