| Author |
Topic: The Crim - good and not so good |
tselbs
Cool Runner |
 posted Aug-25-2007 07:06 PM
   
This was my fifth Crim 10 mile race. The first I did in 1:35:38 and improved each year through last year which I did in 1:30:04. I hoped to break the 1:30 mark (9:00 pace). I figured it was possible since I was so close last year and since brother Dave and I did 8 miles a few weeks back at an 8:52 pace. Alas, it was not to be as I ended up with my Crim PW of 1:35:53.Now that's out of the way, I'll get to the details. My wife, Ann, did the 10 mile walk and my daughter, Sandy, the 8K run. Ann and I thought we left plenty of time but got stuck in traffic and arrived too late to meet up with the Boomers before the race. It was probably about 70, humid, and threatening rain. We did get a few sprinkles but not too many. The course wanders through Flint, hitting, downtown, working class residential, high class residential, and some areas that look a little rough. The course is known for it's hills, the main ones being at about 3 miles and several from about mile 5 to 6. There is a lot of crowd support, bands, spectators, people with sprinklers and ice, and the opportunity for Krispy Creme donuts and beer along the route. As usual, there was a lot of congestion at the start. In the past, I've figured on a slow first mile and then have things open up a bit. I missed the first mile marker but, based on a water station nearby, it looked like I was slower than 10 minutes. The congestion stayed bad for the second mile. My time for the first two miles was 19:58 for just under a 10 minute pace for the first two miles. I didn't feel the congestion cleared for about 5 miles. I did miles three through five in 9:41, 9:32, and 9:27. It wasn't looking like a fast day. The sixth mile had the worst of the hills and took 9:34. I don't know if it was the humidity, the forced slow first miles that got me locked into a slow pace, or just one of those days, but I just didn't have any "steam" to pick it up. I missed the marker for seven miles but averaged 9:30 for miles seven and eight. The ninth mile was 9:29 and the last mile 9:09. My overall pace was 9:35. I found rochrunner and MarkGuy in the refreshment tent, visited a bit, and went looking for my daughter and wife. Sandy's 8K started an hour and a half after my race. She rode to the race with twins Megan and Meredith who she grew up with. She figured she'd do about 11 minute miles and was hoping to finish around 55 minutes. She did significantly better, finishing in 53:06, a 10:42 pace. Ann figured 15 minute walking miles would be good and that 2:30 would be optimistic. She smoked that estimate by finishing in 2:23:54, a 14:23 pace.
We met up with Megan and Meredith who were happy with their races (5K and 8K). We also saw Ann and Jack who I know from a lot of local races. I also saw our ex-mail lady, Debby, who is a nationally ranked race walker.
When the results were posted, I found that I was 3314/7254 OA and 54/186 in my AG. Ann was 202/635 OA and 23/71 in her AG. Sandy was 435/712 OA and 19/31 in her AG. Even though I hoped to do better, it didn't bother me and I was real happy for Ann and Sandy who exceeded their expectations. The brief visit with Doug, Mark, and the others I mentioned helped make it a good day. TomS ------------------
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DaveinAA
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-25-2007 08:41 PM
Tom, sounds like the getting stuck in traffic didn't end when you got out of your car. Still a respectable time on a day when you were at less than your best. Glad you got to share the day with family and Boomers, and I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I'm looking forward to celebrating your course PR with you next year under the big tent.
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anachrotech
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-25-2007 09:01 PM
Nice report and race Tom. I do think the humidity had a lot to do with the slow miles. No matter how much I breathed there just wasn't any air - if that makes sense.
Hopefully we'll have a chance to get together next year.
The congestion you experienced was pretty much nonexistent near the back with me - should have been there.  ------------------
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Karl Rysted
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-25-2007 09:52 PM
Congrats to the whole family! I'm glad you weren't too disappointed because you shouldn't be. Although I've never run a 10-miler, I would be very happy with your time. By the way, I understand the 9-minute pace thing, that's my goal for my upcoming 10k. But something tells me you will want revenge on the course next year.------------------
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millbot
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-25-2007 10:49 PM
Tom, sorry the race didn't work out the way you had planned. It sounds like you were prepared to make your sub-1:30 goal if conditions had been better. Still, you made an enjoyable day of it, and that sub-1:30 will be waiting for you. 
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mariposai
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-25-2007 11:54 PM
What a great family event tselbs. It seems like all you enjoyed the race. My dream is to have my boys join me in one of my races some day.
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 03:57 AM
How wonderful to have the family all racing with you, and meeting up with friends there, too. Although you didn't meet your goal time, it still sounds like you had a great day, and so did your family - well done!------------------
Holly
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smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 04:37 AM
More than anything, your reports focus on fellowship and encouragement. Thay are always a joy to read.------------------
Never regret anything that made you smile, SteveP My User Profile
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JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 08:04 AM
Tom, I always enjoy reading about your family runs. You've got a good thing going. Maybe you didn't hit your goal pace but you struck well into the topside of the AG.
Good job
jjj
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 09:59 AM
Well, two out of three isn't bad for the tselbs family, so overall it was probably a worthwhile trip. I read later what a problem the organizers had with getting those power outages the night before -- cancelling some pre-race activities -- and generators were in short supply due to the tornado cleanup in Fenton.I'm sure you'll meet your goal next year for sure! ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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GrayDave
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 11:02 AM
Hey Tom. Nice running. I have had similar things happen in a race where I start slow and then can't seem to speed up like I expected. That's kind of neat that your wife walked the whole thing. Does she walk a lot?Side note: I caught the end of the coverage on TV and they were interviewing a woman from Fenton who's husband was running. They talked about the storm damage and then asked what her kids' names were. I don't know how they spell it, but the little boy was named after ESPN. They called him Espen (like Aspen, Colorado but with an "E").
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Tramps
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 11:13 AM
Great family day and a nice run, too. Well done.(It makes such sense that a postal carrier would be a great race-walker!)
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MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 12:47 PM
Tom, it was great to see you again. I'm sorry your race didn't go so well but it sounds like your wife and daughter made up for that. Like Dave says, next year!Mark
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Elaine3112
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 02:25 PM
Tom
It may not have been the time you wanted today but one thing is guaranteed, your family made another great day out racing together. I'm sure the congestion and humidity played a part in your race today. Congrats to your wife and daughter on beating their goals and thanks to you for sharing another fine RR with us!
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timlooney
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 03:13 PM
Tom,It sounds like despite the PW you had a good day in Flint. I have yet to run this race but it sounds like a great place to have a Michigan Boomer meet up in 2008. Thanks for sharing your report. Congrats to your family as well!
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tomwhite
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 04:26 PM
......tselb//......so cool the Family got to do it..........
......you all had good races, and if not PR's the Together Time makes up for it.............nice running.....
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 04:31 PM
Sometimes a slow start like that just takes all the aggressiveness out of you and sets you back a bit, especially in those conditions. But you had a great family day of it and seemed to make the best of the event, as you always do. Great report Tom. Spareribs
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littlerockgm
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 05:29 PM
Great perspective on the race Tom. Nice that the family got into the events also; and that they exceeded expectations. I know that the heat and humidity is taking it out of me here so don't beat yourself up that you are experiencing the same there....next year could be better for the new PR.....or the next....or the next. Great results, nice family time.Good running Selbs, Jim
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Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 09:27 PM
(taking tselbs aside and speaking quietly) Do you need a little help with crowd control next time?Your helpful pal,
Econo
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FlyingFinn
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 10:21 PM
Tom, sorry the race didn't turn out as you expected, but you still did well in your AG. And you can't beat running with family and friends. Your race reports and run reports in the daily are always so upbeat and, as Steve mentioned, a joy to read.
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selb3
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-27-2007 08:43 AM
Congrats on another fine Crim. Sometimes there is an off day, and I am sure it was the crowded start coupled with the humidity, etc. Congrats to Ann and Sandy.dave
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Lil Engine
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-27-2007 12:09 PM
It's frustrating when the fates seem to conspire against you, and nothing works out like you'd planned. But it sounds like you managed to have a good time anyway, and that's really the point isn't it?So congrats to you, and to DW and DD as well! ------------------
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"I think I can, I think I can"
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TammyM
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-27-2007 12:15 PM
I'm sorry you didn't get the outcome you had hoped for in respect to your time (although to me that is still a very good time)j, but mostly importantly, you still enjoyed the day with your family. ------------------
Tamalina
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mrpat
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-27-2007 12:28 PM
Tom, I hate to say that you are predictable but . . . We all knew that even with your PW you would be happy that others did well.Next year you will have to start a new streak of PR's. patrick
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choover
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-27-2007 04:14 PM
Tselbs, you always have the best attitude about your running and racing. While it might not have been the best of days time-wise as usual you focused on the other highlights of the day including spending time with family and friends.Great report!
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