 posted Apr-02-2007 10:10 AM
   
Chip Time: 10 miles in 2:02:27: for an avg. 12:15 m/mGarmin Time: 10.29 miles in 1:57:28 for an avg. 11:24 m/m (10 miles=11:44 m/m) Goal was 12 m/m It was the 35th running of this road race and this boomer got to listen to some of the past greats speak at the expo the day before. Bill Rodgers, Kathryn Switzer and others shared their insights on running and the race. As if it couldn’t get any better, I was able to meet up with PDR and WRFB for dinner and had a delightful, conversation filled (boomer meetings are fun, fun, fun) pre-race meal of burgers and fries. Oh oh, would that be a mistake. As it turned out that was not the mistake I made for this run, but I will get to that later. The morning dawned cloudy and cool (48F) and as long as the rain held off it would be a perfect day for running 10 miles. And the rain did and it was perfect. With 10,000 other runners trying to do the same thing I was, I expected long waits to get to the start and much crowding on the roads. The CUCB decided to try a wave start this year, and I believe it helped. As this was the first one of these I had done, I have no history to look back at, but I will say that once we got to the start line, I was able to keep my steady pace. But I get ahead of myself. FR: CW-x black tights, Enell boob crusher running bra in a cool beige, short sleeve blue/orange and white Miami half tech tee-shirt, my team jet lightweight wind/rain jacket in white, red and pink, Asics Gel Nimbus VIII in orange and white, white Miami half tech cap and my so very trusty Garmin 305 FR. My ultimate race belt with one 24 oz. water bottle filled with water, and 2 GU’s and 3 tissues in the pocket. I felt a bit fashion hodgepodge (pink, red and white with orange, white and blue, what was I thinking), but I ended up tying the jacket around my waist as I didn’t need it once we got started, so I was very fashion right when I was on the course. I was assigned to the purple corral, which was the next to the last, and it took us approx. 12 minutes to get to the start. Back of the pack is where I belong as I am neither an elite nor sophisticated runner. I run for fun and to see where I am in my training overall. My goal is to run without injury, if at all possible. And this was my goal for today. I told myself I was using this run as a training run for a 10 miler I am doing on the 22nd of this month. That worked until the last 2 miles. I ran a good race for myself, and it was a nice course. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and so beautiful. I enjoyed the bridge and rock creek parkway, but I mostly savored running these roads and not having to worry about cars. I did not expect to use the aid stops, and was pleasantly surprised that there was water/Gatorade still available when I ran by. I took just a little from each station but the last. Water at the first, water and gatorade at the 2nd. Now, for the mistake I made. One too many cups of coffee before the race as I was forced to stop at the port a pot at mile 5. I have done many 9 mile runs in preparation and not had to stop for a pee break so I was frustrated by this rookie error (and it did cross my mind as I was savoring that extra cup). And while it didn’t take long, I knew that I would now have a chip time that didn’t reflect my true time. But my Garmin would know what I actually did. Mile Splits per my Garmin 305: Mile 1: 12:25
Mile 2: 12:06
Mile 3: 12:41
Mile 4: 11:43
Mile 5: 11:25
Mile 6: 11:23
Mile 7: 11:24
Mile 8: 11:16
Mile 9: 10:21
Mile 10: 9:31 Yes, I was smoking the last 2 miles and I felt it. But once my ITB made it past mile 8 I took off. When the finish line came in sight I had no energy left to kick it up. I wondered why, and was a bit concerned (I try not to focus on the garmin too much while running, I like to run by feel). But once I saw my data, I knew why. I was already kicking it, for 2 miles and I was “done”. I still had water left in my bottle and eagerly sucked it in as I was walking to get the chip taken off. I am glad I had that. I was so tired all day Sunday that I couldn’t do anything I planned to do. But as I stepped out of bed this morning, catious as to how I would feel, I was able to walk about with no “unusual” aches and pains. I am stoked. I can’t wait to get out and do my 3 mile recovery run today. The “guys” over on the 50+ thread really helped me to reach this goal. It was just a short time ago that I was fighting an ITB that continually failed around mile 8. Their guidance helped me to get ready for this run. And ready I was. Whoo hoo…Next goal races: GW Parkway Classic 10 miler on April 22, and then the 1st annual Hibiscus ½ Marathon in Honolulu Hawaii on June 17th.  ------------------
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