Run 4 Kids 33:13 Earlier this week I had been saying that I wanted to run a race, but I just don't ever have a weekend to race anything. Then yesterday this weekend's invitational was canceled due to weather (that's a whole other story), so I was reminded of the Run 4 Kids and called up Steve O. to see if I could get in and it worked out. Ran over to Coral Canyon to get warmed up. Ended up being right at 5.5 and I added another half to stay warm in the rain and cold. Felt really good, hip had absolutely no issues, and was warmed up good. The race is a smaller fundraiser and usually any of us locals who run can come out with a top place. So I wasn't really expecting a lot of competition. To help me work hard, I made the goal of pushing really hard for the first 4 (the first 3.5 are friendly, with two hills, but more downhill than up - then .5 to 4 has a little incline up the Telegraph section of CC); and then try to do what I could on the final 2.2 which are a tough climb (mostly in 5) up to the Junction and then back into Coral Canyon. A fair loop course with some ups and downs. 1-5:15, got out strong. For about 100 meters I thought I might have some competition as a guy went out strong and he looked real (a guy from Austria, he ended up 2nd), but I quickly went by him as we rounded the first turn up toward the elementary. 2-5:09, Quite a strong mile here. I felt good and pushed up the elementary hill and across its top section and back down. I knew the race was over, but it was all about the goal of pushing 4 miles, so I tried to keep focused. 3-5:21, This section had the biggest downhill, and I thought I might go sub 5:00 here. But, I misread the uphill past the park and clubhouse - it was a little longer and steeper than I thought; so by the time I peaked out I was at 5:30 pace and had to work really hard to even bring it back to 5:21 ave. I may have lost a bit of focus here also - probably cost me the sub 33. 4-5:26, Continued to push strong on the bottom of CC. The incline back up Telegraph at the end of the mile cost me some time. 5-5:57, Goal of this mile was to stay sub 6. This is an all uphill mile with one major climb surrounded by minor climbs for the rest of the mile. Tried to keep focused on the idea of going sub 34 which I thought would be pretty solid. Told myself I could do it with two sub 6's on the final 2 miles. 6-5:32, The final push up Telegraph was tough as I was tired and lungs burned and a side ache was setting in. Then turning at the Junction the wind picked up right into my face, luckily it wasn't way bad, but tough at that point in the race. But I was pleased with how I recovered and was able to get a decent time out of a tough mile. .2-5:11 pace, pushed the pace in pretty solid as I was pleased with my effort and feel I could have had a lot more if I had been pushed. Plus it is a new course record by nearly a minute, so... cool deal.
Pretty happy about the effort. I had run this only just once, back in 2008, and it was my first race after recovering from bilateral pneumonia. I had been in very good shape, but the sickness really sucked it out of me. So maybe not a great comparison, but somewhat useful because I went on to run 2:49:10 at Salt Lake the next week and doing some numbers equates that to a 2:33'ish equivalent for this race (Not too bad and I think I could bring that down more with competition and a lot more since I was coming off being sick then and I am feeling great now - just hypothetical, but something to go off of). 2008 times: overall-35:19; (splits) 1-5:25, 2-5:21, 3-5:36, 4-5:40, 5-6:22, 6-6:02, .2-5:24 pace; So stronger throughout, especially at the end.
Ended with a just over 5 on the cool down back home with Steven. (Boston 534.75) Happy with the week. Was able to run hard today, get mileage in and feel healthy and strong. Goals for next week: Like usual this time of year, make it through the track meets and try to get my workouts in.
| 