Time Finished: 30 minutes, 3 seconds (6 minutes, 41 seconds per mile)
Mile Splits: 6:19, 6:46, 7:10, 6:40, 3:08(6:16)
Type of run: Race
Miles this week: 22.42
*Does not include warmup/cooldown mileage
If there's one thing to conclude from this race, it's that I have the speed, but the endurance needs work.
For January, there couldn't have been a better day to run. At the start of the race, temps were just hitting the freezing mark and getting warmer. There were patches of ice in places but they were out of the running way for the most part. The wind stayed light enough to not produce any significant windchill.
The number of runners were modest - I believe there were 27 or 28 finishers this year which is on par with 2008, the last time I ran there. Everyone was friendly, down-to-earth, and supportive. There are the types of races that, for runners starting out, would create a perfect environment for a first race.
My own goal for this race was simple: Get 30 minutes or better. In the last two races I've run I've gotten better than a 6:40 pace which would be what I need to obtain that time. A variety of factors would pose a challenge for me - recovery from sickness and injury, lower mileage, and speedwork done less than 48 hours prior to the race. (I had completed a speed workout Thursday.) Getting below a 6:40 pace wouldn't be an issue - maintaining it would be.
We started on time - perhaps a couple of minutes early - but everyone was ready and anxious to go, so no problems there. As soon as the race started, 5 of us jumped out ahead of the pack and set the pace. As the first mile marker loomed, a runner passed me but I ended up passing someone as well and stayed in a solid 4th place, which remained that way through 2 miles as well.
Toward the end of mile 3, I was starting to labor and could physically feel myself hit a wall. A variety of factors probably contributed to this. First off, mile 3 is a long, gradual uphill that takes away energy by subtle means. You don't really start to feel it until about half way through the mile and there really isn't relief until the mile is over. The top 2 women finishers managed the mile far more efficiently than I and glided past me near the mile 3 marker.
I fell to 6th but that would be the last of the people to pass me and I was determined to make up for lost time. For 3/4 of a mile, from the start of the 4th mile, the road was all downhill. Most of it was gentle and made a great platform for acceleration. I regained my momentum and found my second wind even through the stomach cramps and dry throat. The small hill and sharp turn leading up to the 4 mile marker felt like nothing as I hit 26:55 with a half mile to go. I gave everything I had up to the finish to try and beat 30 minutes. I had en excellent half mile but fell short by a mere 3 seconds.
I know I still have to build up my running stamina but I can take some positives from this race. Aside from my 6th place finish - 1st in my age group - I also got myself under a 6:20 pace for the first and final half mile. The speed is there. I just need to build myself up to thhe point where I can maintain such a pace through a longer stretch.
