2008 NCRC Resolution Run 5K Raleigh North Carolina
What a way to start the new year? A brisk 5K on new years
morning! My wife was sick so I scratched my plans to find out how fast I can
run solo for the 5K. I brought my son along in the single stroller to give my
wife a chance to rest. It was too cold to bring my younger daughter along so a
quick call to the nanny(grand-ma) fixed that problem.
I registered myself for the 5K and my son for the ¼ mile
run. I knew that he wouldn’t want to run his race because it was cold but all
of the proceeds went to our NCRC organization so I didn’t mind chipping in the
extra $s.
The turn-out was actually quite impressive. There were about
250-300 people on new years morning with quite a few very competitive runners.
I was late getting there so I hurried through my warm up and got to the
starting line with my son in the single stroller.
I line up right on the starting line now. I simply can’t
stand starting behind anyone. I like to start fast so I feel like I am not
getting in anyone’s way. I had looked at the course and I knew how bad the
hills were going to be. The first mile was down a pretty good hill then it was
uphill for 1.5 miles and back down the hill for the last .6.
We started out and I was running strong but most of my friends
were just ahead of me. Then we transitioned to the steeper downhill slope and
they all held back a little. I said forget it! I am going to blow out this
first mile so that I don’t have to kill myself going up that REALLY long hill.
I let go of the brake on the stroller and started to
lengthen my stride. Almost instantly I passed the first pack. I looked up and
there was the leader, not 3 yards in front of me. I locked onto his pace and
settled in right behind him. I actually felt pretty comfortable there. The
leader was blocking some of the wind which is a huge help with the stroller.
I could tell as we made the first U-turn that the leader was
getting irritated that I was still there right behind him. He started to kick
it a little bit. Then out of no where two teenage kids came screaming by!
Remember they were passing the leader at this point and they were leaving us in
their dust. We happened to hit the 1^st^ mile marker at that point and
my Garmin read 5:22! OOPS! I guess I went out a little strong.
I thought for a minute that I should have just burned up
that first mile and went for my mile PR. I could have easily blasted it away
but that would have meant that I would be exhausted for the climb up the hill.
I was still feeling pretty good but I was settling back into
a more reasonable pace for the uphill climb.
We hit the bottom of the hill and I could really feel it.
The wind was howling and that hill really is long. I lumbered up to the top of
it just praying for it to end. When I reached the last of the 3 turn around points
I decided to give it everything I had down the last hill. I started to kick it
in and then out of nowhere what felt like a Gail force wind hit me. It appears
that the top of the hill was exposed and it was seeing the full force of what
felt like the jet-stream. I was running at full steam down a hill and it felt
like I was barely moving!
We finally got down to where the buildings started and the
wind instantly disappeared and I could feel the stroller surge forward. I was
trying to catch a buddy of mine who was about 10 seconds ahead but the hills
and wind had exhausted me.
I gave it a half hearted sprint at the end but I really was
spent. In the end I felt pretty good though. I had a 19:30 which was the first
time I had ever broken 20:30 on a hilly course with the stroller. I also got 3^rd^
in the fairly competitive 30-39 age group. Oh yea, I beat the first women
overall which I think is also a first for me.
Overall it was a tremendously fun but very challenging race.
I will definitely do it next year. I don’t have any more races until the Myrtle
Beach Marathon in mid February. I will be trying for a BQ there and this time I
am determined to get it!
Splits:
5:22
6:51
6:36
0:39
19:30 total
5:22
12:13
18:49
19:30
Garmin Report
http://tinyurl.com/yq87mt
Local news coverage.
http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/news.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2008-01-01-0006.html
