Thanksgiving Day 10K Run/Walk - Run10k

I wanted to average at least a 6:15 at the most for this race. There was not "gun" for the start, but when someone yelled go, off we went. My goal in the beginning was to not go out too hard, so I tried to find my pace and stick to it. We ran through downtown Cincinnati, weaving through the streets. My Garmin read the first mile as 6:06. Fine. Not TO fast, but a bit of time in the bank. I felt good and the pace didn't feel overly hard. I was still feeling a bit chilly, as it was 35 degrees and I was only wearing my running shorts and a long sleeved tech shirt, but I had a feeling that this would be fine as the race progressed. A large part of mile 2 had a long downhill on it and I tried to relax and see what happened. Mile 2 was 5:56. Ok..just a bit to fast. I had 4 more to do, with plenty of "bridge hills" coming up, so I needed to slow it up a tad. I tried to find a slightly slower gear. I was still feeling pretty relaxed and not hurting by any measure, but the first "real" hill loomed just ahead. I made a left turn and began to go over our first bridge, which is fairly steep, and takes over the mighty Ohio River and into Kentucky. I knew my pace was slowing up, but hoped I could make it up on the down side. Everyone around me was slowing up, so I didn't feel bad. I was passing a few here and there, and being passed every now and then, so I was doing fine. Over the bridge and down I went, picking up some speed and trying to control my breathing. Focus. Turned left off the bridge and began running in front of Newport on the Levee, my regular training area. Mile 3 popped on my Garmin 6:18. Just fine. It's usually around the next mile that MY race usually begins and I begin to "feel" the race, and today was no exception. Up a little hill, and began to run the short straight street toward the next bridge that crosses into Covington. Again, I tried my best to focus on breathing and relaxing, as this is a slight down hill, and I wanted to hold my pace. Around a "S" curve and on the little bridge we went. For such a short little bridge, it's deceivingly hard, and at this point in the race, it can take you back a bit. I KNEW I was slowing a bit now, but also knew that there was just over 2 miles left now and it was time to feel some pain and deal with it. Over the bridge and down the other side I went, trying to make up for the slowness of the uphill side, but knowing that the speed was beginning fall off. Mile 4: 6:25. Now the "time bank" was pretty much about cashed out if I wanted to get my 6:15 average. We ran less than a mile in Covington before we made a right turn on the last bridge that took us back over the Ohio River, and back into Ohio. As we neared the end of the bridge it was Mile 5: 6:38. Crap! My bank was on overdraft just a hair now. I needed to dig in a bit, but I wasn't feeling the same power reserves that I had at my disposal last year. I had just come off IMFL last year, and was 8 pounds lighter, so it didn't surprise me I was a bit slower, but that's never easy to see. I found a crumb of extra power and kicked it in, and so did everyone else around me. We made a right off the bridge and for nearly a mile we ran on the street that runs parallel to the finish street. Eventually you could hear and see the street next to you where the finishers were zipping in, but I refused to look, I needed to keep my head in this game just a couple of more minutes. We began to turn right as my Garmin hit mile 6: 6:14. Grrrrr. Not enough! My freaking pace was all over the board today, but there was not time to reflect on this, I had to push it a bit harder now. Another quick right turn and we were facing the last .2 of a mile left to the finish line, which loomed ahead. I pushed in one more gear here. I didn't sprint, but I did go hard. I hit the finish line and felt good. I knew I probably only went about 95% on this one, and for some reason wasn't willing to take myself to the brink of destruction. At the same time, I felt I put in a great effort, so I was happy. Not crazy elated, but happy. I was slower by 1:06 from last year, but I held the same division place. I say Mary and the kids a moment later and met them for a quick smooch, then found the "chip" removers and met up with the family. Another one in the books. Record amount of participants.
I must note here, I listed my GARMIN time here, not my RACE time. I ran it in 39:39, but listed my distance here as 6.33, not 6.2. By the race listings, I ran a 6:23 minute mile. I just like to list the reality of the distance and time, but acknowledge the race's time as well.

I need to find a real reason to push this harder in the future. I think I've found it now. Time wise, I wasn't really THAT far off the guy who won my division, so next year, I'll be coming off another Ironman, and I'll have that lean, race ready frame again, so with a bit more speed training, I have a shot at the top guys now. Finally.

We walked over to where they were giving away HUGE amounts of freebees, and we loaded up! Thank you!


Mind over matter.


My favorite race.