 posted Jun-04-2007 07:26 PM
  
I decided (on the spur of the moment) to run a 10K race. Basically, because it was there and I wanted to get in a solid tempo workout at medium distance anyway, so why not? It was the inaugural running of the Iron Horse 10K to go along with the 1/2Marathon. The course is exactly the same as the 'Simsbury 10K' which boasts my weak PR last year. I thought to myself that this will be a very good assesment of my fitness level. Turns out only 150+ runners were there. It was well marked and organized-except the part about the start. At race time, they told us that we were starting at the end of the road-not where the 1/2M runners were starting. So about 70-80 people started jogging down the road 1/3 of a mile to the actual race start. I was one of them. They held up the start by about 10 minutes to get everyone there and then we were off. I decided to go with my watch only-no HR monitor-and run by feel. Controlled but hard effort for the whole thing. Push it at the end. It was warm and muggy, about 78 degrees. I had a couple of miles warmup with some strides. Legs felt pretty good. No issues with injury. Training has been consistent but not spectaculiar for the last 2 months. I lined up near the front. Decided to see where I was early on and try to stay in the first 15-20 people. The race started and there were 2 people close together and a chase pack of 8-10 runners. I settled into the back of the chase pack. Wow, this is cool. I'm up near the front and can see the leaders. All the 'real runners' must be running in the 1/2 marathon! So, I keep the turnover high and my breathing is moderate. There is a guy next to me sucking wind. He cannot keep this pace, IMO, but he is right there next to me. There is a light wind but it is overcast with no sun. Not too bad, except for the humidity-which is palpable. The lead group of 2 seem to stay in order 1-2 and our chase group has split into about half. There are 6 or 7 people now. We pass mile one in 6:22. The course is really flat and I think it may be slightly downhill for the first couple of miles. We stay on course and there are no lead changes. Mr "Breathing Hard" is still next to me. There is no way I let this guy go past me. We pass mile 2 in 6:19. I'm on Pr pace but it seems we're going slightly uphill now. Rolling/rolling very softly. I'll bet there isn't even a 50 foot rise/drop. #1+2 seem to have extended to about 20-30 seconds in front of us. There are 4 of us now in the group. I am in the front of the group and am tired of listening to the breathing. I break away trying to see if I can catch the lead group. I don't hear any more breathing, but those guys aren't any closer to me. I try to pick it up and count down from 100 having solid, quick turnover. They aren't any closer. I refuse to look back. I am stuck in no man's land by myself. I pass the third mile in 6:37. Ug. PR pace is slipping...I hear the group behind me at the water station. My pace is good. I'm tired but ok. No pain. The legs seem at the point of near max tempo pace which seems right. I'm breathing much harder than I would like to, but...I'm in third place-that's never happened to me. We are 1/2 way through the race and I have a chance to place overall, so I tell myself to 'suck it up!' Despite my trying to go faster, it appears that the clock shows that I actually hit mile 4 in 6:44. I felt like I was working harder and no one has yet passed me, so I'm ok with that. Gotta keep my position. Work those legs. I pour water on my head and take just a sip at each of the water/aid stations. I can still see the leaders, but they are at least 30-40 seconds ahead of me now. It helps to be able to see them, though. I try to work harder. I'm tired. I don't want to run anymore. This is where I usually fail mentally. There is an endless conversation going on in my head. Bargaining...Offers of bodily pleasures later...massage/ice/beer/swimming...my legs are scoffing at the idea! But I hit mile 5 in 6:36. It's working. I still don't hear anyone behind me. At a bend, I brave a look backwards. I can see that I have about 20 seconds or so. This feeds the fire and I pick it up. It's just 5 trips around the oval circuit and I'm done. Push it. Push it. Push it. Finally, I make it to the last stretch before the mile marker.The last 1/3 mile is a slight, steady uphill. I start my 'sprint'. Last mile in ~6:20. Last 0.2 in 1:29. Finish time=40:26 3OA, 1AG Yeah baby! I like it when the 'big boys' stay home. That was fun.
PR by 9 seconds on the same course which bodes well for Mt Washington. http://www.coolrunning.com/results/07/ct/Jun3_IronHo_set1.shtml ------------------
My Profile [This message has been edited by dtoce (edited Jun-04-2007).]
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Thanks for the great report.
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