Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k - Run10k


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Richmond, Virginia
United States
Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers
55F / 13C
Precipitation
 		Total Time = 39m 5s
Overall Rank = 220/33241
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 13/1300
Pre-race routine:

I wanted this to be an 'A' race, as a culmination of my winter run training. No such luck. Since picking up injuries in tune-up races in late Feb/early Mar I've done hardly any run training for the past month. And now that's starting to show. Work hectic means that I've also not done a lot of sleeping lately. So this one was only ever going to be a race for the experience of taking part in a huge event. I didn't expect it to be such hard work, though.
Event warmup:

Some jogging around to loosen up the sore achilles, while cheering on Zoe, who was one of 2000 youngsters in the kids' race. She ran 7:38 for her 1 mile, and was pretty happy with that.
Run
  • 39m 5s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 06m 17s  min/mile
Comments:

I planned to start steady. I probably didn't start steady enough. 5:48 for first mile felt easy. Perhaps this was going to be a better day than I expected. The lack of recent run training already showed in the second mile, though, which is not a good omen. 6:01 for mile 2, and then 6:15 for mile 3. By 5k in 18:50 I was feeling a little worse for wear. Continuing to slow through miles 4, 5, and 6 (6:20, 6:27, 6:42). The last part was suddenly much slower as around a third of a mile from the finish my left calf started to try to cramp up. Not again! I've been having a similar problem with my right calf in races, and now the same happens with the other leg.
What would you do differently?:

Start slower. Perhaps. This wasn't an issue of aerobic fitness, but lack of recent experience of pounding the streets. Plus fatigue from the past couple of weeks' sleeplessness. Too bad I wasn't in shape.
Post race
Event comments:

Huge community event. Just huge. There were so many waves of runners that I was finished before most people had started. Great organization -- and there were even sufficiently many porta-potties before the start. Great support along the route, and more bands than I've ever seen on a race route. Post-race food was a bit of a disappointment. But in all other respects it was a fantastic event.




Last updated: 2011-11-27 12:00 AM
Running
00:39:05 | 06.21 miles | 06m 17s  min/mile
Age Group: 13/1300
Overall: 1300/33241
Performance:
Course: Out and back on historic Monument Avenue. Very little elevation, but gradual ramps all the way. About 2 miles of cobbles were a bit hard on the legs.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 2
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? No
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] 5