Mission 10 Miler, a Race for Recovery - Run


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Frederick, Maryland
United States
Frederick Rescue Mission
38F / 3C
Precipitation
Total Time = 1h 11m 45s
Overall Rank = 17/497
Age Group = M55-59
Age Group Rank = 2/15
Pre-race routine:

It's very different having a running race in the early afternoon and I found myself a bit unsure about when/what to eat. This was after lunch time but I kept things light as I didn't want to feel heavy with a big midday meal. So, ate at least a banana and pretty sure I had a whole wheat tortilla with apple butter. Plus some Gatorade. A definite issue was what to wear. Weather was rainy and it was supposed to get colder unfortunately. I started to hear reports of snow and sleet from points west of town - UGH! The weather was definitely going to add to the challenge today and I don't particularly like running in the rain but what are you going to do? So, settled on wearing arm warmers, gloves, and T along with my normal running shorts and calf sleeves. I debated taking and wearing my wind vest. Left it behind and discovered this was a definite mistake though it probably wouldn't have made much difference in my results. More on that in a bit. I brought leg warmers as well just in case which was a good decision.

I get to the race site in plenty of time for a parking space and make my way over to packet pickup. It's unfortunate that it's rainy and windy as it was supposed to be the first event where our club could display its new tent at. I thought perhaps it might be under the event tent, but couldn't do it there. Instead Helen, a tri club member, along with her family, have set up a grand table under the event tent and they're all supporting those of us who have come out to race in the this dreadful and deteriorating weather. And considering the weather, my tri club friends who were also running were wondering just how many folks would show up. Turned out that nearly 500 raced! Just goes to show we're all insane :)


Event warmup:

I did a bit of jogging here and there plus stretching in an attempt to warm up. But, the weather really negated this I think.
Run
  • 1h 11m 45s
  • 10 miles
  • 07m 11s  min/mile
Comments:

After a little while of chatting with folks both who are racing and others who are supporting, it's getting near time to start and I start to prepare. This would actually be a first test of using my Garmin 910XT in an event and it was going to be my first race of the 2014 season, albeit only a running race. So, I was curious to see how well the Garmin and myself would do. Thought I could at least maintain below 8 if not around a 7:30 pace.

Progress to the start line and it's nasty and cold out! We all want to get started but there's a short delay for some timing issues I believe. At last we're given the all clear, get ready, and GO! As I was thinking of a fairly good pace, I started up near the front but not too far up as I didn't want to get overrun by any speedsters. After we started, I just leaped forward and and ran! While most of the course is lightly rolling to flat, I first have to get over a couple of hills which go over the Interstate. Will have to tackle these again on the way back too, which should be "fun". Now, amazingly, my Garmin said I was at just under 7 min pace for the first couple of miles and I geared back slightly after that, finding that I was fairly "comfortable" and running well in the low 7s for miles 3 and most of mile 4. I was running in I guess you'd call a chase group if this was cycling because a couple groups of faster folks were ahead and I was running with a group of guys ahead of the main gaggle of folks. Actually, I was wondering how this one guy was maintaining this pace as he looked a bit on the heavy side. Still, I was using him to keep pace for the first 3 miles. Now, just before mile 4, we come up to a right turn and look over. Well, the snow and rain are horizontal and coming from the right! We all at nearly the same time exclaim "Oh, $h1t!". Make the turn and are blasted by this nastiness. And folks, let me tell ya - it is BRUTAL! I mean the winds were gusting with rain, snow, and sleet pelting me head on! The worst part was that I didn't wear my wind vest and my upper body was getting very cold to the point that it hurt. And now my group has fallen back behind and I think they used me as a shield though I didn't see nearly any of them later. This might've just been too much for them to maintain any sort of decent pace against. Fortunately, this part didn't last long and I made another right turn after mile 4 so that I wasn't running directly into the weather. So, my pace slowed due to the headwind along that section. Fortunately, I was able to pick back up to the low 7s and near 7 for the next 4 miles. I did have one guy pass me along this section and asked what I was shooting for. I replied that I didn't have a goal, just seeing what I could do and at this point, just finishing would be fine. He agreed and moved on ahead of me. Nearing the turnaround now and my friend Mark N is helping with the race yells out that I'm doing great and my halfway time of 36 min (turned out to be 35:44). I thank Mark, make the turnaround and thankfully head back knowing I only have 5 more miles and 30-some minutes to go.

Upon turning around, I now see the large gaggle of folks who have been behind me. And I saw several of my friends as I passed by and most gave me words of encouragement as I passed with me offering the same. Turn left where I was on mile 4 inbound and now I get a respite from the elements for the most part with them hitting my back. I felt for the folks heading the other way and you could just see the discomfort in faces in attempts to shield themselves from the elemental onslaught!

Turn left again and now it's just me and another guy. There are a few folks ahead of him too but I find I'm maintaining pace with him fairly well and just keep going along like this. Have to be careful with footing since some of the snow has left a few slippery spots on a few metal surfaces. Plus, there're large puddles everywhere it seems. I'm slowly catching up to this guy as well as at least one other. Now, after mile 8, we got hit again by the elements again, but more from the side now so it wasn't quite as bad. Still, pace slowed for mile 8-9. Fortunately, I picked it back up again since I knew I was only a mile away from finishing. The two overpass hills loom ahead and I believe I passed the guy I'm using for pacing here. Then I pass Bill H, a new tri club member who's in my AG and primarily a runner. He encourages me onward.

After the fast pace I've set along with the elements, getting up these 2 hills is proving to be quite challenging and I'm panting getting over the second one! But make it down the other side and speeding ahead to the finish. The guy I was pacing and passed now starts his kick and passes me. He encourages me by saying pick it up but I'm just holding on to this until the finish and let him go. Last left turn and finish line is coming into view! Push with whatever I have left and....cross the Finish! Hear my name being called by Lisa Racine, Ken's wife, who's doing timing today.


What would you do differently?:

I should've worn my wind vest. But overall, I had a good run. Fast time for me!
Post race
Warm down:

Take a moment to recompose myself while congratulating the guy ahead of me along with Bill H who came in shortly after. Since I'm still warm from the run, I take a bottled water to sip on since I didn't feel the need to drink anything on the course. Also congratulate Jake F and Dan F who also came in not too long after me. I know I had a good race and one of the front runners judging by the large numbers of folks I saw still heading to the turnaround as I was on my way back. Went back to the event tent to grab perhaps a bit of snacks.

Unfortunately, as I'm quite wet from the elements and I'm cooling down, I'm now starting to get very chilled. And I'm shaking...a LOT! Can't seem to get warm. This is NOT good! Since I'm writing this report a bit later, not sure about sequence of events. However, I do know that I went back to my car and found a place to change into the dry and warm clothes (several layers too) I had brought. I was still not as warm as I wanted but the shivering and shaking had stopped for the most part. Coffee and something warm were definitely in demand and I took lukewarm coffee just to try and warm up a bit more.

Checking results I've taken 2nd in AG! What's even more incredible is that I took 17th OA! I find that amazing and am in somewhat disbelief at both results. I just keep getting faster and hopefully I can continue to do so. I find a few other friends have taken AG awards and congratulate them as well as others for just finishing in this weather. For my AG award, I got a nice glass mug with 2nd place painted on it. I always like practical awards a bit more.

Not too long after this, it was time to leave and get a well-deserved hot shower! Think I stood under the shower for like 20 min before finally getting warm.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Weather was definitely a limiter but not sure if it would've mattered too much more.

Event comments:

I wish I could've enjoyed this race more, especially afterwards. I did like the fact that this was an early afternoon event and that I didn't have to get up early for it. That's a definite plus. The weather just detracted from the event though the organizers compensated the best they could. Still, there really wasn't much to do afterwards and not sure what would've been there had the weather been better. Volunteers were super though I didn't take anything from the aid stations. I also liked the course which is pretty fast despite the double overpass hills. Perhaps I'll be back next year but I'm not sure considering the running races detract a bit from tri training as I'm finding out now writing this months after the events. Still, it was a great start to my 2014 season! I do recommend looking at this if you're moving into longer distances from 10K and want to get a feel for how well you'd do. And even if not, it does support a good local cause. So check it out for 2015 and beyond!


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Last updated: 2014-01-13 12:00 AM
Running
01:11:45 | 10 miles | 07m 11s  min/mile
Age Group: 2/15
Overall: 17/497
Performance: Good
Course: This is a mostly lightly rolling to flat out and back course with two hills that are interstate overpasses.
Keeping cool Good Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4