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NYRR Gridiron Classic - Run4 Mile


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New York, New York
United States
New York Road Runners
33F / 1C
Sunny
Total Time = 32m 3s
Overall Rank = 1260/4929
Age Group = M 40-44
Age Group Rank = 153/355
Pre-race routine:

Woke up around 7, had a pb on ww sandwich & a cup of coffee. My stomach was still feeling the dinner from the night before, so I didn't finish the sandwich. Had an accellerade about 45 min from the start. I had a gel with me, but forgot to eat it.
Event warmup:

Dropped off my knapsack, hung around looking vainly for marymosc until I started to shiver, then gave up and jogged over to the start, about 250 yards or so.
Run
  • 32m 3s
  • 4 miles
  • 08m 01s  min/mile
Comments:

I really wanted to break 32:00 for this race, because I wanted to prove to myself that I could run sub-8 in a short race. I positioned myself near the front of the 8:00 corrall, and, when the gun went off, I found myself in a sea of much...slower....people. Maybe all of them were starting easy and planning to negative split the race, but more likely, they were just kidding themselves. I spent most of the first mile+ dodging around people, and finished just over 8:00 for the first mile. Mile 2 was the easiest, mostly flat or downhill, and I was in a good position for a long sweeping left turn. There was a water stop, but I passed it up.
Mile 3 was really hilly, and, again, I found myself having to slow up in order to avoid running up people's backs and swerving in and out of people. The hills weren't a problem at all, just the number of runners.
Mile 4 was hilly, too, but I knew I was near the finish and in sight of the goal, so I pushed all the way through, and kicked hard the last 100 yards or so. My Garmin went off with about .25 miles to go, saying I had run the 4 miles in 31:46, but I guess I added .25 miles and 17 seconds of time just weaving in and out of people.
In terms of HR, I spent almost the entire race above my LT, which was cool. I had my HRM on, so I knew I was out of my LT zone, but kept my pace up.
What would you do differently?:

I would have started a little further up, for starters. I also had a gel w/caffeine that I planned to take 5 mintes before the gun, but I forgot to take it. I wonder if it would have sped me up by 3 seconds. Maybe.
Post race
Warm down:

Not as cold as last year, but too cold to stand around. I hurried back across the park, had 2 cups of hot chocolate, dressed, and went home.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I think this race told me a lot about what I'm capable of. I haven't trained as much this winter as I could have, and I still reached the goal I set. Big confidence booster going into the season.

Event comments:

This is a really fun race, especially when it isn't bone chillingly cold, like it was last year. Lots of people (almost 5,000 people for a little 4-mile race on a Sunday in February!) great energy, and lots of good-natured pre-superbowl smack, even during the race. I think I've found a Super Bowl Sunday tradition. NYRR really puts on a great event--super organized.




Last updated: 2008-01-30 12:00 AM
Running
00:32:03 | 04 miles | 08m 01s  min/mile
Age Group: 153/355
Overall: 1260/4929
Performance: Good
Mile 1: 8:12 Avg HR: 154 Mile 2: 7:43 Avg HR: 170 Mile 3: 8:01 Avg HR: 173 Mile 4: 7:49 Avg HR: 174
Course: About 3/4 of the lower CP loop. Lots of rollers, a few long, shallow climbs, and a few long flat sections.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2008-02-03 9:03 PM

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Champion
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Brooklyn, NY
Subject: NYRR Gridiron Classic


2008-02-04 9:34 AM
in reply to: #1192547

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Master
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Clifton, NJ
Subject: RE: NYRR Gridiron Classic

jmk-brooklyn - 2008-02-03 10:03 PM

sorry we didn't meet - we got there a tad later than i'd wanted to and damn if there aren't a ton of handsome under 40 looking men in black at a nyrr race!

great job - i though of you around 32 mins into the race and wondered if you were finished and you were!

i think this is a great super bowl tradition to have - congratulations! 

2008-02-04 3:24 PM
in reply to: #1192547

Pro
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AZ
Subject: RE: NYRR Gridiron Classic
Sweet pace!! Nicely done...even for an old man! HAHAHA!!  jk! You know I luv ya!
2008-02-05 10:33 AM
in reply to: #1192547

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Pro
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Sous Mon Diadème
Subject: RE: NYRR Gridiron Classic
Way to go, Jonah!  Congrats on meeting your goal even with having to dodge all the moving human obstacles.
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