"Mile 1 - Getting into the Groove"

Pretty much what the title says...went out and stayed right next to the 8:30/mile group who were chit-chatting about all their famous race adventures, and were also managing to go out too quickly. We eventually settled in, and I did notice my HR was a little high for this pace so probably some race nerves. 8:31 split...spot on.

"Mile 2 - Hey Slow Down!!!"

Now we get to run on the Promenade with fewer turns but a couple of short ramp-ups leading into a small hill, so some HR spikes. Wind is starting to blow pretty good so I'm trying to draft but I'm 6'3" so not the easiest thing. Oh and my pace group is ripping along at 8:20 so I start to let them go. After the short hill we get a nice downhill into a flat so I tried to get my HR down. I'm now like 10 seconds back of my pace group but still in view. 8:29 split...I'm rollin'.

"Mile 3 - Ouch This is Starting to Hurt"

Now I'm struggling to keep up with the 8:30 group so I let them go and focused on managing pace vs. HR on this pretty much flat mile down Pratt Street...a little bit of false flat but still held a decent pace but finally had to back off as my HR was in high zone 4. Stopped and walked about 50 yards to settle down. 9:01 split - ugh not great.

"Mile 4 - What is this Hill Thing?"

Mile 4 is straight up a hill of varying inclines, but not much in the way of relief. I haven't been on a hill in months, so this went about as you might expect...a mixture of running, jogging, a little walking until I get to the top and now the 9-minute group has caught me (but they're also a little quick). 9:44 split - so much for my VDOT prediction.

"Mile 5 - Hangin' with the Niners"

Mile 5 is a steep downhill, then a normal downhill, then a turnaround, then a decent rolling uphill section so I decided to just hang with the 9-minute pace ladies and chit-chatting a little to get my HR down and my breathing settled for the final push to the finish. Walked the aid station and finished off my nutrition and mentally checked in for the finish push. Sub-54 is out of the question, but a good final mile should get me under 55. 9:04 split - I paced them nicely. :-)

"Mile 6 - Hang On, Ouch This Hurts, Hang On..."

Mile 6 of a properly-paced 10K is about getting into a kick pace and just hanging on for dear life, and that's pretty much what I did. Got a head start on the pace clock with a nice 1/4 mile downhill section then flat all the way in. Tried to hold about 8:25 until I could see the final turn and started kicking. More or less accomplished the mission and this was my fastest mile. 8:27 split.

"The Sorta Sprint"

Last year I paced my daughter so basically sprinted the final 400 but that was not happening this year, but I was able to lengthen my stride out and glide in, sprinting maybe the final 20-30 meters uphill. 8:10 pace.

54:40 final time
35/177 M 50-59 AG
612/2170 OA

Go out a tad slower and get in some hill training, but I more or less executed The Plan and adjusted as to how I felt.

Walked around and stretched a bit - I'm locking up pretty good. Got home and got some food in me and was kinda wiped out the rest of the day. The next morning while I'm picking something up I aggravate my back, pretty much meaning my core muscles weren't doing their jobs.

Two days later still walking around like Fred Sanford.



Old age and missing five years of run training, but hopefully I'm back to stay now. Sub-55 is a good result and I'm thrilled to be healthy enough to do this.


Charm City Run's signature race and they crush it. Good swag, plenty of volunteers, good post-race stuff with a band and beer. I'll do this race every year I'm healthy and in town.