Mile 1 - "Watch The Cones!!"

So we started off and decided to hang with the 9:30 pace group for a bit so we don't go out too fast - it was pretty crowded to start so eased into it keep the 9:30 sign about 50 yards ahead of us . With it being so close together I didn't notice the upcoming traffic cones and almost bit it trying to avoid one. My daughter called me an idiot. :-) 9:08 first mile, right on pace. My HR is in zone 2 so this is feeling pretty easy for me.

Mile 2 - "Navigating the Harbor"

As noted above, we get to run through the Promenade on the Inner Harbor - it's great but it's also technical so we spent the second mile trying to nail the tangents and not run over anybody as we're creeping forward past the 9:30 pace group (who evidently went out a little quick). There's a short hill coming out of the Promenade past Rash Field and onto Key Highway so I reminded Kell "quick feet and scamper" up the hill. Short downhill to open the stride and relax. I feel fantastic but she's pushing a little but feeling OK. 9:07 second mile split.

Mile 3 - "False Flats and the Wheels Loosen"

Walked the aid station and downed a little water. Now we're on a relatively flat section with a bunch of false flats but no overall elevation changes. Kell is starting to struggle a bit holding the pace but she's pushing through. I reminded her this was her 5K PR like a year ago so she's doing great. As we approach mile 3 I hear her really struggling to breathe - she's a competitive swimmer so it's been tough for her to learn how to run breathe (anytime you want!!). As we hit mile 3 she needs to stop a second. No issue from me, we have a big hill coming up anyway. 9:16 split

Mile 4 - "Soul-Sucking Hill"

Now the meat of the course, a mile long uphill to Patterson Park. We ease up the pace a little bit to the low 10s and now poor little thing is really having a time of it. I keep positively pushing her along as we get passed by the 9:30 group about halfway up. My HR gets up to high Z3 as we climb. We get to the top and another aid station so we walk a little bit longer this time. Now we have a big downhill coming up so I convince her to just start jogging, relax and open the stride and see what happens. We pass mile 4 with a 10:35 split...55-flat is now in no way in hell territory, but if we can regain the 9 minute pace we can come in like 58 or so.

Mile 5 - "More Uphill??"

Mile 5 snakes through Patterson Park, a long downhill which felt great and we held sub-9 without too much problem, but then we have to climb back up some hill before exiting the park and this is where it started to come apart. We're barely holding 10-flat now and she wants me to go on without her. Oh hell no - we're going to finish tough. 9:42 split

Mile 6 - "Kinda Done at This Point"

We get to the final crest and now we have almost a half mile of downhill before start the flat straightaway down Fleet Street to the finish area. The downhill helps, but she can't get much below 10-minute pace at this point. That's OK - we'll just finish at this pace. I'm now really pacing her about 2-3 strides ahead of her and she's doing everything she can to hang. My legs are starting to finally feel a little heavy so I'm also feeling happy this is just about over. We're also running into a 15-20 mph headwind at this point.

The Finish - "Oh, So You're THAT Guy"

You know "that guy" who always jogs a local race and sprints the finish? Well that was me today. We turn the corner with a 1/4 mile to go and I ask her if she has a kick left in her and she gives me that "WTF is wrong with you?" look so I tell her I'm going to kick and break an hour. I then pick up the pace and start blowing by people. With about 100 yards to go it slopes up and we get a massive headwind and I'm in basically what passes for a sprint for me, still blowing by people. I cross the line at 1 hour and 1 second. UGH Kell finished about 25 seconds behind me - tough 2nd half of the race for her but she pushed through it for a still-decent time within a couple of minutes of her PR.

Nothing - not sure if going a little slower out the gate would have made a difference. Great training run for me.

Walked around and stretched, then walked back to the car. Later in the day hit the hot tub. Woke up the next day pretty sore but not bad.


Top-notch race by Charm City Run - great SWAG and post-race festivities and such a cool vibe. I've already signed up for next year. :-)