Bloomsday - RunOther


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Spokane, Washington
United States
Bloomsday
50F / 10C
Overcast
Total Time = 48m 2s
Overall Rank = 300/44490
Age Group = M - 28
Age Group Rank = 15/291
Pre-race routine:

Had a bowl of oatmeal, and milled around the house, debating about what to wear.
Event warmup:

My wife held my gear bag while I ran a couple miles to warm up. I added a few pickups and had a chance to stretch well. While I was warming up, I saw a group of 8-10 elite Kenyans (is that redundant?) cruising together. They're so compact and quick!
I took off my extra clothes and checked my bag, then stuck myself in the middle of the Second Seed (Brown) starting area.
Run
  • 48m 2s
  • 7.46 miles
  • 06m 26s  min/mile
Comments:

It was a such a blessing to be back in Spokane for the weekend. I really enjoyed this race. 12k is a pretty awesome distance!
As the gun sounded, we all surged forward. Then just 10 seconds later, a groan from the collective group as we are all forced through a bottleneck at the start line before the road widens again. It took me about 25 seconds to get to the start line.
My targets for the first 3 miles was to hit 6:20's, and somehow, that's exactly what I did. 6:20, 12:40, 19 -flat at the 3mile mark. That was to ensure that I banked some time before the nasty hills, and it worked well. It was time to simply hold on!
I promised myself a couple things for this event. 1. That I would race as hard as I could under the circumstances. 2. Truly have fun and enjoy the race. I accomplished both of those things. A couple beers and Crown Royals the night before at my daughter's/Dad's/Grandpa's birthday party and lots of cake be damned, I still ran my heart out! And not only that, but I rocked out to every band, played some air guitar, gave a dozen kids a high-five, and cheered for the wheel-chair racers struggling up Doomsday Hill. I had a great time!
But back to the action... I survived Doomsday, but it took another half mile to get a quick, smooth, stride back. We were in the homestretch by that point and I was pushing as hard as I could but I wasn't going much faster than a low 6min pace. The important thing was I was giving it my all, and keeping my breakfast down. Woohoo!
I was aimlessly wandering on the bridge after the finish and a guy came up to me who I had gone back and forth with 10 times during the race and said, "Brandon? Hey, I'm so-and-so." It was a high school classmate of mine who I never would have recognized, but my buddies had warmed me that he got really fast. He must have grown 4 inches, and dropped a bunch of weight because he really looked different. It's funny that I secretly had a goal to beat him... and I was racing shoulder-to-shoulder with him and didn't even know it. Spokane, in particular, can make the world feel like a very tiny place!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. I love the whole weekend. I love packet pickup. I love playing golf at Indian Canyon the day before. I loved the birthday party with drinks and junk food. I love the massive size of Bloomsday and the incredible volunteers. No changes neccessary to the event, or the way I approached it after a 12 year hiatus from it.
Post race
Warm down:

Got a massage in the tent, and grabbed some grub, then headed outside to meet my wife. We walked a few blocks to our rendezvous point for a ride home, and then stretched for a while.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Only training, I think.

Event comments:

Top notch event. It's such a spectacle to see people lined up far and wide downtown to participate. It's inspiring, even!




Last updated: 2009-03-31 12:00 AM
Running
00:48:02 | 07.46 miles | 06m 26s  min/mile
Age Group: 15/291
Overall: 300/44490
Performance: Good
Course: A big loop through downtown, Browns Addition, Cemetary Hill, Spokane Community College, DOOMSDAY!, and then back over the Monroe St. Bridge.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
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: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5