After running the 5,000m at the Portland Track Classic last summer I've had the desire to run a 10,000m on a track. They are few and far between but I was able to enter the meet at Willamette University this weekend. There was to be a Distance Carnival starting at 7pm with the 10,000 run under the lights at 8:45. When over 45 guys signed up for the 10,000 (I guess over 1,000 athletes entered the meet making it one of the largest spring track meets in the NW) they split the field into two heats and my heat (the slower of the two) was scheduled for 3:45. No running under the lights for me, as well as temps a good 15 degrees warmer than it would have been (70 degrees at the start, 10 MPH winds--ugh!) So it goes... I ran 3 miles around Bush Park to warm up, grabbed my spikes and checked in with a few minutes to spare before they called us to the line. My goal was to run even splits as best I could (78's) and if all went well, set a PR. 1st Mile: 78, 74, 76, 76 (5:06). Not sure why the 2nd lap was quicker but that's life. I was running in 8th place through the first mile and drafting on the homestretch where the wind was the worst.
2nd Mile: 76, 76, 77, 78 (5:12, 10:18 total). I'm on pace but the heat is getting to me and the wind is starting to be annoying. I'm not a fan of wind. I'd rather race in 30 degrees and snow... 3rd Mile: 79, 79, 79, 79 (5:14, 15:32 total). Ugh...I was consistent. That's good I guess but I was falling behind on the pace. The challenge was wanting to stay on pace but also draft with the wind being strong-ish. It was almost like 'pick your poison' between the two throughout much of the race. I had passed a couple guys here and was now in 6th.
5k 16:12. If I were to run the same 3.1 miles again I'd PR by only 6 seconds. I tried to stay positive but again, the heat and wind was taking its toll and I began to doubt I could hang on for 12 more laps. 4th Mile: 79, 79, 80, 78 (5:18, 20:50). My slowest mile of the race. The 80 second lap ticked up off so I started to pass guys and battle the wind solo. Now in 4th. 5th Mile: 77, 77, 79, 81 (5:16, 26:06). Yikes, where did that 81 come from. I can't remember... But I do know that I'm in 3rd with 1 mile to go. 6th Mile: 82, 79, 78, 75 (5:14, 31:20). It really started to be a race with 3 laps to go. I moved into 2nd place at that point and when I saw to clock with 2 laps remaining (30:06) I thought my shot at a PR was gone. I'd been struggling to hit 78's and if I did 2 more of those, I would be above 32:30. I was gaining on the leader though and by the bell lap I was just 6-8 meters behind. .2 (68, 32:28). I gave it everything I had. I passed the leader with 300 meters to go and kept digging deep to make sure he didn't pass me back. That's what happened at state track my senior year of HS--I was in 2nd place in the 3200, passed the leader with 300 remaining but then lost the lead in the final 100m It has stuck with me and now I try and finish each race with a strong push. All in all, I'm pleased with how things went. I'm pleased with the final 800m and setting a PR when at the time I thought it wasn't going to happen. I still think I can go faster. Some things you just can't control, but if the race was cooler and no wind, I'm certain I can go sub-32. We'll see if I can find another 10,000 but if nothing else, today was a good tune-up for next weeks 10 mile race in Medford. 1 mile barefoot cool-down on the infield before driving home.
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