| Author |
Topic: St. Pats 8K - Bay City, MI |
tselbs
Cool Runner |
 posted Mar-19-2007 08:12 AM
   
This is the sixth year I have run this race. It's a nice race with a 5K and 5K walk option in addition to the 8K. It's point to point and real flat with a gun start and chip finish. The finish line is in downtown Bay City and, as the race ends, people are starting to congregate for the St. Pats parade that starts a little later.My daughter, Sandy, came home to run the 5K option (and go shopping with her mother). The late registration and packet pickup takes place in a junior high gym by the starting line. With about 1800 people in all the races, the gym was full of people. After getting our numbers, we wandered around to see which of my running buddies we could find. We found quite a few, including GrayDave. Others that I've mentioned in other reports were Brian, Terry, Angie, and Leonard. Brian was particularly excited as he had talked his wife and several other relatives into coming with him and doing the walk. I saw Sandy off at 11:40 and my race started at 12:00. The temp was in the mid 30s with just a little wind and the sun was shining, a nice day. I started out with Terry and Angie, not expecting to stay with them and thinking an 8:30 pace would be acceptable. As we progressed through the race, it looked like I was at or slightly ahead of that pace. About the third mile, Angie and Terry pulled ahead and stayed there for the rest of the race but were never very far ahead. During the last half mile or so, I passed a few people, including Len who I know from a number of races and who has beaten me every time except once, when he ran with a friend. Just short of the finish line, I heard Brian call my name and cheer me on. Sandy was at the finish line to see me finish. My GPS time was 41:33 for a pace of 8:21. I was pleased as this was about a minute and a half faster than last year and only 8 sec from my 8K PR. I ended up 196/332 OA and 5/9 in AG (60-64). Checking my splits later, my GPS had my pace for each (approximate) mile as 8:12, 8:16, 8:33, 8:26, and 8:17. Coming down the home stretch, while in a brain dead state, I saw the 3 mile mark for the 5K and hit the split button. I told myself that was sort of dumb, but it did show that my pace for the last tenth mile was 8:03 so I guess I had a mini kick. Sandy finished in 32:27 which was almost 3 minutes better than the 5K she did with me last month and half a minute better than the one we did together in November. Better than her time improvement was the way she felt. Last month, she thought she was going to die and felt crappy the rest of the day. After this race, she didn't feel too bad and, upon getting back to our house, packed her stuff and took off for her place (hour and a half away) saying she felt fine. Her splits were 10:30, 10:36, and 11:20 for the last 1.1 miles (pace of 10:18 for that part so she had a kick at the end - in the last race, she just struggled to finish). Her overall pace was 10:28. I was particlularly happy to see Brian after the race. He's only been running about a year. Last summer, he had the goal of breaking 30 minutes for a 5K. Since then, he has lost 50 pounds and, after a few months, his times started to drop quickly. In this race, he had his best at 23:28. I didn't see GrayDave during or after the race but a check of the results indicate he smoked me (congratulations, Dave). I'll be interested in hearing from him. It was another good day at the races. TomS
IP: Logged |
henrun
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 08:19 AM
Congrats, Tom. Good report and good race.
IP: Logged |
Labduck
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 08:22 AM
Tom, what a great race and great day all around. Excellent performance running much faster than you anticipated.And a terrific race report too!
IP: Logged |
Elaine3112
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 08:24 AM
Tom
Nice race for you and Sandy today and good times for you both. Well done and keep 'em coming. Love to read your reports about you, your family and your friends racing!
IP: Logged |
selb3
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 08:30 AM
Way to go Tom and Sandy! Nice pace Tom - you really are getting faster! Perhaps you will get Sandy hooked. Glad she was feeling better than last race.------------------
Dave The truth is you can always run faster; sometimes the truth hurts.
IP: Logged |
hermosaboy
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 08:39 AM
Nice report Tom.Way to go get it over the last mile or so!!!
IP: Logged |
pfriese
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 09:29 AM
Nice run TomS. Sounds like you had a great day with friends and family. Your splits look pretty good, too.Paul
IP: Logged |
smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 11:39 AM
Thanks for the great race report TomS! You've embraced the fellowship that exist in races. Nice run too!!!------------------
Today is the day, SteveP My User Profile
IP: Logged |
hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 12:16 PM
How fun to be able to race with your daughter and friends as well. Great race and report!------------------
Holly
IP: Logged |
Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 01:20 PM
You always seem to have such fun at these races Tom, and I know it must be particularly enjoyable to have run with your daughter.I hope you saw from this last mile time, how much more you could shave off your five mile time, and even better than that is how fast you can probably do a fiveK. Very well executed race and great report. Spareribs
IP: Logged |
rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 01:57 PM
A good and enjoyable run for you, Tom, as usual. You're making quite a habit of having a good time at the races. Keep it up!------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
IP: Logged |
Karl Rysted
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 02:11 PM
Good race for you and your daughter Sandy. Nice to hear stories like this.
IP: Logged |
Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 03:30 PM
A fabulous race, and such a cold day too. You make it sound so homey and fun. Thank you for this great report Mr. Selbs. 
IP: Logged |
tallrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 04:03 PM
Tom,Congrats on a great race. You train diligently so it's great to see you have a great race and to run with your daughter...
Hopefully I will get to do that as my daughters get older. Take care
Tall
IP: Logged |
JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 04:12 PM
Congrats to the Selbs Racing Team.
Sounds like a fun day all around.
Thanks for the nice report.
JJJ
IP: Logged |
FlyingFinn
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 06:11 PM
Congratulations Tom and Sandy! You are running very well. I enjoy your reports because you write of the camaraderie among you and your running buddies. I especially liked reading about Brian this time. Keep up the good work, Tom!
IP: Logged |
Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 06:21 PM
Tom, it wasn't long ago you had a somewhat unexpected breakthrough run ... and now this terrific result. A great start to the racing season. I know you would never say it -- so allow me -- but Len better watch out!  I'm so happy to hear Sandy has reached the point where the result of racing isn't complete exhaustion. It's so nice when that happens. Congratulations to you and Sandy. It's always so heart-warming to read your RRs.
IP: Logged |
John2635
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 06:22 PM
Congrats Tom, good race and good report and only 8 seconds off your PR time. I envy you being able to run with your daughter, as my two seem to have lost interest for now. Good job passing Len as well.John
IP: Logged |
nighthawk42
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 06:38 PM
Great job Tom!! I think they way you include other runners in your report is so cool. You are a great ambassador for the sport.Mike
IP: Logged |
piejones
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 06:59 PM
I always enjoy your reports. The enjoyment you receive from running and the fellowship of other runners certainly shines through. Making this one a family affair was a bonus. Great job.
IP: Logged |
cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 07:37 PM
Sandy and you both have really made significant improvements! You are both to be congratulated! I always enjoy reading your RR's Tom. Take care, Cindy
IP: Logged |
MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-19-2007 07:56 PM
Tom, nice job, just missing your PR by 8 seconds. Your training has been solid and this is well deserved. That's a great treat to be able to run with Sandy.Now for some warmer weather! Mark
IP: Logged |
littlerockgm
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-20-2007 01:20 PM
Tom, great run. You always find the positives in any situation, which makes reading your RR such a happy affair. Nice to race with DD and great results....8 sec. off your PR. Way to go Tom, way to go.Good running Tom,
Jim
IP: Logged |
TammyM
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-20-2007 01:25 PM
What a fun report to read, Tom. Not only did you race very well, but I can tell you really enjoyed racing with the family and friends around you. You are one of my favorite peeps on the board one of the folks I wish I could run with someday.
IP: Logged |
Tramps
Cool Runner |
posted Mar-20-2007 05:45 PM
Len goes down in the smackdown with Tom! Ah, just kidding. This must be a great race since it's had you coming back year after year. Glad it's been so much fun for you.
IP: Logged |
