So, the day approached, and I slept poorly last night. Our St. Bernard woke us up almost on the hour from midnight until 4a.m. She's had a bad foot so has been sleeping inside but I think it was too hot for her so she kept wanting to go out.
Got to Schenectady around 10a.m. and most of the runners had already checked in and got their bibs and shirts as the gun was set to go off at 10:30. Having been "boxed" out in the congested starting area last time, I did a .75 warm-up over to the starting area with Jonn and we lined up in the 7:00 pace area. I looked at him and asked, "So, we going to start with 8's?" He goes, "Yeah man, but don't worry about the pace man. Just race." If anything stuck in my head the entire race, it was those two words.. "Just race."
After a brief introduction of the mayor of Schenectady and a mention that Bill Rodgers would be joining us in the race this year [ he was supposed to be here last year but decided not to race because of a nagging injury ], the gun sounded at 10:32 AM.
Temp at the gun: ~43 with sunny, blue skies. Perfect day for racing. Definitely the best weather for the race in the past four years.
The first mile was flat and reentered Central Park, going under the finish line banner.
Mile 1 - 7:20 Jonn, "Man we're going to fast." Me: "Yeah, let's slow it down some for the next mile."
Mile 2 - 15:35 Downhill and flat.
5k - 22:30 Felt remarkably fresh, and only noticed the time because there was a clock. By now we had fallen in with a group that seemed to be going the same pace as us. I just concentrated on my breathing and took in the scenery, if there is any in a post-Industrial city like Schenectady.
Mile 4 - 28:57 This is always a nice mile. It's rolling gentle downhill slopes that goes in front of a hospital and a Liberty Insurance building, where the same guy each and every year is out there banging away. Definitely a memorable part of the race.
Mile 5 - 36:50 After winding through the historic 17th century stockade, it is around 5.5 miles into the race that the beast of a hill State Street Hill looms. Actually it's not a bad hill to run up at all, and Jonn and I flew up it maintaining our rhythm. It was here he started to edge away however, and gradually increased a lead to about 20 meters which stayed constant until the final mile.
Mile 6 - A new addition to the race route this year, it took us inside Veil Cemetery, which I think was included this year because its the 200th anniversary of it or something. I forget the split at the 6-mile.
10k - 44:47 So close to a PR! (10kPR = 44:30) I think it was here that I realized, "Hey, Benn. You're actually doing it! You're holding your own! Keep up the work. 5k to go!"
Mile 7 - pushed up a side street and then the last significant hill of the race. I pushed it towards the top and hit the mile marker in 51:0x. Jonn pulled away on the downhill. (He's definitely mastered the art of downhill acceleration, whereas I tend to hold back on my heels; Though this could be attributed to his naturally good biomechanics). Mile 7 marker is nice because you overlook the finish area and can see some of the top runners bursting around the cinder path.
Mile 8 - reentered Central Park and then took us backwards on the original route to reenter for a lap around Duck Pond in Mile 9. About mile 8.5 a guy came up on the shoulder, running in the shade with a white tshirt that said "Biomechanics..." on it and then a logo for a store. He wore a wristwatch, black running pants and a pair of trainers. He looked to be in his 50s and was cruising almost on autopilot. I was holding steady and allowed him to accelerate, happy that at the current pace I was in for a significant PR! Well he got about 30 yards on the group I was in and a guy goes, "Come on folks! Don't let Billy Rodgers beat ya!" Well after hearing that I was excited knowing that for more than 8 miles I had been ahead of the legendary NYC and Boston marathon champ, and discouraged that I had let him pass me. I struggled to accelerate, but saw Rodgers' was making a move of his own.
Mile 9 - came around the Duck Pond and the crowd was cheering in everyone. (another reason to do this renowned 15k). I put on a little move during the last .3 and passed a few people, passing the finish line feeling remarkably fresh. I couldn't believe that I'd done it. I'd run the best 15k and best Stockade-athon of my life! My finishing time: 1:07:40, shattering my previous best (2006) 1:16:15 - an 8:35 PR
The shock of running such a wonderful PR today is still sinking in. Even if my kid brother beat me, I can't help but feel some accomplishment. After all, biomechanically I'm a train wreck. I think that all the running the week leading up to it definitely helped, and I think that I learned a lesson today. Though I can wear a wristwatch when it comes down to race day I need to learn to "Just Race."
PACE FOR TODAY'S RACE: 7:15 per MILE!!
After snagging a ton of bananas, juice, and some milk, I coerced Jonn into doing a 1.5 mile cool down. I still feel like a million dollars, and I can't help but wonder if I could have even sustained that pace for a half-marathon!
Total Mileage for the day: 11.3 Miles
