General Discussion Race Reports! » Elizabeth River Run Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply

Elizabeth River Run - Run10k


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Portsmouth, Virginia
United States
Tidewater Striders
80F / 27C
Sunny
Total Time = 36m 30s
Overall Rank = 7/674
Age Group = M30-34
Age Group Rank = 1/43
Pre-race routine:

Up at 6:15, had a banana and Cliff Builder bar, loaded the car with my biking gear for later in the day and headed off to the race. Made a pit stop at 7-11 for some java. Got to the race and found that they had given my number and chip to JOHN Bell so I had to fill out another reg form and get a new number assigned...no big deal.
Event warmup:

Easy ~2 mile WU run with Ryan then some drills and strides just before the start.
Run
  • 36m 30s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 05m 53s  min/mile
Comments:

Things started out fine. I was sitting in at a mod-hard effort in a pack with 5 other guys through the first ~3 miles. There were some sections where the wind was blowing hard enough to make running in a pack worth while. My racing singlet was getting soaked with sweat and water and it felt a bit constricting so I decided to pull it off. When I did my hat also came off and fell so without even thinking I stopped and went back to grab it. Even though it was only maybe 10ft I lost my momentum/rhythm and also fell about 50ft off the pack in a windy section. From that point on I was fighting with myself about whether to keep pushing at 100% or just drop it down a gear and finish out the course. I spent the next 1-2 minutes convincing myself to keep pushing and eventually got back on the effort, although now going solo and carrying my drenched singlet in my hand. I went through 2 or 3 other short segments (maybe 10-20sec each) where I backed off and tried to tell myself it wasn't worth the pain and why bother. My mile and 5K splits tell the story...6:04 and 6:14 for miles 4 & 5 where I took a few mental vacations and backed off. Physically I probably could have put down at least 5:50s. I ran the opening 5K in 17:49 and the back end 5K in 18:41. I figured at the 5 mile mark I'd make a decision...if I was under 29:30 I'd try to dig in, over 29:30 and I'd just hold steady at 95%. I figured I might be able to break 36min if I was under 29:30 at 5 miles. I ended up being about 29:20 but I didn't really have much left to give. This is where lack of any speed work in the past 2+ months comes back to get me. With about a mile to go I ditched the singlet in the bushes and gave it what I had to the finish. Now that I have a chance to think it over it appears that my "on the fly" math was a bit off. 29:30 at the 5 mile mark means I would have needed to run 5:25 pace for the final 1.1 miles to break 36min...wasn't gonna happen even if I had some legs left. In the end I still logged a decent PR but I know I left 45-60sec out on the course between stopping for my hat and then fighting with myself for the next 2+ miles over how to finish out the race.
What would you do differently?:

I could have left the hat and went back later which might have kept me more positive on the situation...or I could have just stayed focused and gotten right back into the race. Unfortunately a good opening 5K doesn't get the job done when it's a 10K race.
Post race
Warm down:

Got about 2 miles of very easy jogging in while I went back to recon my racing singlet from the course.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

My head.

Event comments:

Nothing spectacular but nothing to complain about either...except that they had no water/Gator at the finish line. All the post-race stuff was a few blocks away at the Amphitheater. I realize they didn't want people to congregate at the finish but I don't like the choice to not provide some water.




Last updated: 2007-04-29 12:00 AM
Running
00:36:30 | 06.21 miles | 05m 53s  min/mile
Age Group: 1/43
Overall: 7/674
Performance: Below average
Mile splits: 5:33, 5:46, 5:40, 6:04, 6:14, 6:01, 1:14 1st 5K: 17:49 2nd 5K: 18:41
Course: Flat course through downtown P-town and along the Elizabeth River waterfront.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 2
Physical exertion [1-5] 2
Good race? Ok
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] 3

{postbutton}
2007-05-26 3:00 PM

User image

Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: Elizabeth River Run


2007-05-27 7:11 PM
in reply to: #818198

User image

Expert
1168
10001002525
Subject: RE: Elizabeth River Run
Congrats on the PR and AG win Joel!  Nice job pushin yourself despite the winds and heat.  Eeaaawwww!!!
2007-05-29 6:53 PM
in reply to: #818198

User image

Regular
56
2525
Subject: RE: Elizabeth River Run
Joel, You motivate me. Nice job accurately describing the mental games we play that keep us from being just joggers. You raced! Nice Race.
2007-05-31 12:03 PM
in reply to: #818198

User image

Champion
6962
500010005001001001001002525
Atlanta, Ga
Subject: RE: Elizabeth River Run

Yet another reason I need to work on my speed work!!  Great job on pushing yourself even though you left some on the course. 

I've got to figure out this whole effort thing.

General Discussion-> Race Reports!
{postbutton}
General Discussion Race Reports! » Elizabeth River Run Rss Feed