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Comments: I hadn't raced this distance in almost 3 years, but I was going to race it just like I did a 5 mile three weeks ago: first two miles M Pace, three miles at T, then see what's left. Execute the race plan. Execute. Execute. Execute. First 1/2 mile is straight uphill, so I started out slowly. Crowned the hill and the next 2 miles are downhill, so I held roughly an 8 mile pace throughout, pushing the flats a bit. Hit the hill that turns into the wind a little after mile two an I thought I was running in place. 40 mph wind gusts?????? WTF??? I'm cold. \ I knew I just had to get past that and it would settle down (and be downhill or flat for almost a mile). Hit mile 2 at just under 16 min...tough to tell because I started my Garmin a few seconds after the start because the stupid 210 went into sleep mode. The downhill calmed me down and I ran the next 1/2 mile strong. Now the climb. First we climb about 20 stairs, then a short break with 200 yards or so flat, then we repeat the first climb. I decided to burn some matches here and pushed a little up the hill. It was depressing seeing the Garmin around 8:30 but I know I could make it up on the downhill while recovering. Crested the hill and knew there was only one more tough patch left. I picked up the pace, trying to hold maybe 7:30 or so through the next mile. With about 1.5 miles left, I thought to myself, "this will the last time you're going to run hard for a while, you're gonna crush your PR, now HTFU and pick it up!!!" (I think I actually said that out loud) Once mile marker 5 hit I had that awful uphill, smack your face with wind 1/4 mile section, and I was suffering for the first time. I remember something Daniels said in his book...when you are hurting, speed up. I did. Up the hill into the wind, pushing to keep sub-8 on the Garmin. Hit the crest and felt awesome. Now it's time to kick it home. Unfortunately this is a small race so I was pretty much running a time trial, but I focused on the runner about 200 yards ahead of me and while I had no delusions of running him down, I could at least try to close the gap. I ran the final 1/2 mile sub 7 and gave a light sprint to the finish. 46:45ish. A PR by over 2 minutes. 2nd AG and 7th overall. Garmin had me around 6 miles so I ran the tangents about as well as you can. MapMyRun has this at about 6.15ish so it's a bit short. I'll take the PR anyway. :-) Strava splits: Mile Pace GAP Elev (ft) Cadence 1 8:04 7:53 14 82 2 7:48 8:06 -68 83 3 8:07 8:00 8 82 4 8:06 7:45 43 82 5 7:43 7:55 -54 83 0.9 7:17 7:16 -5 84 What would you do differently?: Sleep in and stay warm. :-)  Post race
Warm down: Try not to freeze to death. What limited your ability to perform faster: Crazy hilly course, freezing azz cold, windy as all get out. Perfect running weather. :) Event comments: The volunteers were awesome in this race...they were just standing around directing people. I thanked every one of them as I ran by...good karma and all. Last updated: 2013-11-19 12:00 AM
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United States
Bishop Events
28F / -2C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 7/80
Age Group = M 40-49
Age Group Rank = 2/8
This race wasn't even in works six weeks ago. I had planned on finishing up a successful return to running by running a PR 5K at the Baltimore Running Festival. Mission accomplished, and then "The Plan" was to enter the off season and start up again in January.
I had been following Daniel's Running Formula through one of Switch's many challenge groups, and after the 5K PR and bouncing off the walls only three days into my off-season and being gently nudged (nagged :) ) by Salty, I kept up the running plan. I signed up for a 5 miler in early November and this race three weeks after.
Three weeks later I ran my first even 5-miler so I SO PR'd that. :-) I felt strong throughout and felt like I could've kept up that pace through 10K so I looked forward to this race. I had to back off the mileage a bit (was around 20 mpw) because my feet were acting up a bit but I entered this race fresh, about as healthy as a 44 YO runner is going to get.
I much prefer Saturday races, so for this Sunday race I mixed up my pre-race routine by running a little bit the day before. Pre-race dinner was steak and green beans. Got to bed early.
Side note: I had been peeking at the weather forecast this week for today, and all week the forecast got worse and worse...went to bed with 30 mph winds and falling temps.
2nd side note: I don't like running in cold weather.
Up at 5 a.m. It's 24 degrees out and the wind chill is 15. It's a hilly course with areas really open to the wind. Sounds like fun!!
Did my usual pre-race routine: 15 min bike right after waking up, foam roller and some stretching. Light breakfast and coffee two hours out. Walked across to the race site (roughly 1/4 mile from my house...no way I couldn't do this race!). Picked up my race packet and just felt the bitter cold and wind. I felt really bad for the volunteers; at least I'd be moving the whole time.
Went back home and got ready for the race: thermal running tights, UA cold gear top plus a couple of t-shirts. Did a quick warm-up outside up to T pace and jogged back home. Stretched inside where it was warm. :)
Walked back over to the race start, stripped off the layers, and off we went.