Running Is Free: Freedom Road 10K
Today's runs: Warm up. 10k Race. Cool down.
I had a dream this morning that I went to a business meeting, and forgot that I was running a 10K. I went to the park for the 10K to discover that they hadn't started it yet -- there was some problem about there being too many runners registered. At 10:30, not the 8:30 of plan, the race started, and I wasn't within 100 yards of the starting line.
I guess that qualifies as "going through the nerves of racing".
The Freedom Road 10K is a benefit for NORML (which prompted Saturday's K-Stars to joke, "what? running with a bunch of pot-heads?"). My purpose in choosing this run: it's a local 10K more or less on a day where the schedule calls for it. The route through Golden Gate Park is USATF Certified, and is documented by the diagram shown here.
The morning was cool and windy. After a 10 minute jog to warm up, I stretched, and was met by Ari. I had suggested to Ari that he might like to run a 10K, since, fast as he is, he's never run races like that. Unable to afford the entrace fee, Ari chose to "bandit" the race (race without registering, but avoid crossing the official finish line).
At 8:30, we were off.
That's the new De Young Museum in the background. Ari is in green, and I'm in blue not far behind. I tailed Ari until the 1 mile marker, when I realized I was waaaaaaaay fast for the mile. I had planned on starting slow (6:50 for mile 1 and 2), but I looked at my watch and realized it said 6:17. I focused on slowing down.
We came out of the first loop and then some of the racers peeled off to complete
the 2 mile run that was happening at the same time. Foiled, I figure, by the many runners who started so fast, and perplexed by the wheezing guy who trailed me and then passed me as we approached the split. I could see Ari about 60 yards ahead, but that was about it.
Back on JFK and heading West, the winds were strong in my face. The picture on the right is as I turned the corner to do the second loop (around Stow Lake). I was slowly caught by the gal in pink, who I thought might have been a K-Star (she wasn't). Then, I just tried to keep her in close.
I was distracted at this point that we were well past where the second mile marker should have been, but no mile marker. I was intending to get back on pace, and when I came upon the mile marker for mile 3, I was just two seconds behind my intended pace for that point. However, this would be the last mile marker I would see.
Coming out of the Stow Lake Loop, I was trailing the gal in pink and started to push. I knew the brief downhills were coming, and some uphills. But the wind was once again in my face.
I kept pushing as I worked my way into the loop boardered by Middle, Overlook and Transverse. Once on Overlook, the route became the exact same as 90% of the endings of the K-Star runs, so I knew what was left. I pushed uphill. I pushed downhill. I pushed again as I came back up JFK. I kept pushing hard, and my breathing was rapid and labored.
I saw the 6 mile marker and realized I couldn't meet my goal, but I just put my head down and gave chase.
I chased the gal in pink and slowly brought her in, matching her at the finish in 42:01. (I did not pass her at the last second, though it might have been possible, since that's bad form).
After the finish, I was greeted by Chris and Kevin (from Saturday's run), who were about to start a bike ride. Ari came around too, and he joined me for the cool down. He timed himself at around 40:15, a great accomplishment for a first 10K!
I felt a little disappointed that I didn't reach my previous PR of 41:39, and now I suspect the uncertified course that day was a bit shy of 10K. However, my reward for sticking around a bit after the race was to learn that I managed to place third in my age group.
Many thanks to my wife who took these pictures and took care of me after the race!
Update: I have long been curious about the fact that the previous 10K run had the finish line moved up from what was shown on the course maps, and that the time was so much better than anything I had done before and since. I just re-mapped the route, and I come up with less than 6.2 miles. My time that day, if extrapolated the extra 0.08 miles, would still have been a PR, but today's race would have become my new PR by around 15 seconds. There. Now I'm satisfied. (Well, I still wish I had run the first mile smarter, but the way I hauled in the last couple of miles made me feel like I accomplished something.)
I had a dream this morning that I went to a business meeting, and forgot that I was running a 10K. I went to the park for the 10K to discover that they hadn't started it yet -- there was some problem about there being too many runners registered. At 10:30, not the 8:30 of plan, the race started, and I wasn't within 100 yards of the starting line.
I guess that qualifies as "going through the nerves of racing".
The Freedom Road 10K is a benefit for NORML (which prompted Saturday's K-Stars to joke, "what? running with a bunch of pot-heads?"). My purpose in choosing this run: it's a local 10K more or less on a day where the schedule calls for it. The route through Golden Gate Park is USATF Certified, and is documented by the diagram shown here.
The morning was cool and windy. After a 10 minute jog to warm up, I stretched, and was met by Ari. I had suggested to Ari that he might like to run a 10K, since, fast as he is, he's never run races like that. Unable to afford the entrace fee, Ari chose to "bandit" the race (race without registering, but avoid crossing the official finish line).At 8:30, we were off.
That's the new De Young Museum in the background. Ari is in green, and I'm in blue not far behind. I tailed Ari until the 1 mile marker, when I realized I was waaaaaaaay fast for the mile. I had planned on starting slow (6:50 for mile 1 and 2), but I looked at my watch and realized it said 6:17. I focused on slowing down.We came out of the first loop and then some of the racers peeled off to complete
the 2 mile run that was happening at the same time. Foiled, I figure, by the many runners who started so fast, and perplexed by the wheezing guy who trailed me and then passed me as we approached the split. I could see Ari about 60 yards ahead, but that was about it.Back on JFK and heading West, the winds were strong in my face. The picture on the right is as I turned the corner to do the second loop (around Stow Lake). I was slowly caught by the gal in pink, who I thought might have been a K-Star (she wasn't). Then, I just tried to keep her in close.
I was distracted at this point that we were well past where the second mile marker should have been, but no mile marker. I was intending to get back on pace, and when I came upon the mile marker for mile 3, I was just two seconds behind my intended pace for that point. However, this would be the last mile marker I would see.
Coming out of the Stow Lake Loop, I was trailing the gal in pink and started to push. I knew the brief downhills were coming, and some uphills. But the wind was once again in my face.
I kept pushing as I worked my way into the loop boardered by Middle, Overlook and Transverse. Once on Overlook, the route became the exact same as 90% of the endings of the K-Star runs, so I knew what was left. I pushed uphill. I pushed downhill. I pushed again as I came back up JFK. I kept pushing hard, and my breathing was rapid and labored.I saw the 6 mile marker and realized I couldn't meet my goal, but I just put my head down and gave chase.
I chased the gal in pink and slowly brought her in, matching her at the finish in 42:01. (I did not pass her at the last second, though it might have been possible, since that's bad form).
After the finish, I was greeted by Chris and Kevin (from Saturday's run), who were about to start a bike ride. Ari came around too, and he joined me for the cool down. He timed himself at around 40:15, a great accomplishment for a first 10K!
I felt a little disappointed that I didn't reach my previous PR of 41:39, and now I suspect the uncertified course that day was a bit shy of 10K. However, my reward for sticking around a bit after the race was to learn that I managed to place third in my age group.
Many thanks to my wife who took these pictures and took care of me after the race!
Update: I have long been curious about the fact that the previous 10K run had the finish line moved up from what was shown on the course maps, and that the time was so much better than anything I had done before and since. I just re-mapped the route, and I come up with less than 6.2 miles. My time that day, if extrapolated the extra 0.08 miles, would still have been a PR, but today's race would have become my new PR by around 15 seconds. There. Now I'm satisfied. (Well, I still wish I had run the first mile smarter, but the way I hauled in the last couple of miles made me feel like I accomplished something.)
posted by Brent at
1:26 PM
2 Comments:
Good job on the race. I did 12.5 miles today, with miles 3-12 at 7:30/mi pace, so both our legs should be nice and tired for our easy MLR tomorrow.
Re: Saturday's finish, I prefer to think of it as "finish strong or die trying". Andy Bupp (among other better runners than I) recommends leaving something in the tank for the end of long runs and trying to make the last 2-3 miles the fastest. I've been trying to follow this as a means to lessening the pain and suffering of the last few miles of my marathons. It seems to be helping, although maybe only in that it keeps me from going out too fast.
Don't worry too much about the aches and pains. You should expect to be hurting some at this point in your first marathon training program. Much of the taper's purpose is to allow muscles to recover, minor aches'n' pains to heal, and more serious injuries to abate to where they won't hamper your race performance.
By
Anonymous, at 8:32 PM
Congratulations on the PR. You can't really report uncertified PRs so this is official. This course is not among the fastest, btw. Last year I ran it at least a minute slower than what I would have on a flat easy course on the day, and checking the other top finishers' times, it looks like they did too. So don't beat yourself up over the time, just appreciate the race rehearsal you got out of it. Lesson #1, don't start too fast. In a 10K it'll cost you seconds, on a marathon it's quarters of hours.
Oh, and get yourself a singlet and some split shorts. Over 26.2 miles, that outfit is a quart or two of sweat, that you not only have to replenish but also drag with you in soaked fabric. It's the little things....
By
Anonymous, at 4:43 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home