Race Report: Buffalo Corporate
Challenge or YIPPY!
This year’s Chase Corporate
Challenge was bigger than ever and also had some positive changes. I don’t know how they managed without it at a
12k person race but this year they went to chip timing which was very exciting. They also initialed an “elite” coral to make
the start smoother. If you seeded
yourself at a sub 7 min/mile pace you got a red bib and got access to the
corral and they were VERY strict about it so that made the start so much
smoother. Like always local companies
rent a tent, get food/beer, participate and generally have a good time.
Some of the teams are hyper-competitive and some just drink a lot and stumble
the course. This year there was over 12,000 participates from 500
companies.
I ran with the University at Buffalo
on a team that the assistant track coach stacked with some uber-fast people so
we had a very good shot at winning the Male Team division (total lowest time
from the top 4 count). Based on my 5k last weekend my goal for the 3.5
mile (out and back) was something sub 21 and to make the 4th place
runner on the UB team.
Mile 1 (5:33). After my warm-up, I get to the corral and
talk to a couple of friends before the race, see my competition a couple rows
in front of me and we are off. Even 3 rows back, the new start made it go
very smoothly, no bumping or issue. The
first mile is kinda downhill and I felt good despite the fast start and was in 4th
place for my team.
Mile 2 (6:06). The second mile is a
slow steady uphill and it’s obvious looking at my pace. Still felt pretty good. The 5th place UB runner passed me
and I tried to hold him but he slowly pulled away. I tried to keep him in sight.
Mile 3 (5:58). After turning back home all the placed were
pretty settled. I passed a few and a few got away. One this I was proud of that a runner from
our club tried to get by me with a surge and I managed to hold him off. Feeling the burn I was ready to be done
Finishing 0.5 mile (5:52 pace). Finished strong to come in at a time of 20:40
and 30th overall for the men.
The top three guys for our team were under 19 minutes and the 4th
place guy beat me by about 30 seconds.
It’s pretty obvious that they won the Men’s team division and they (the
top 4) will get a chance to go to the Championship in Germany this year.
Overall I was very happy with the
race. I hit my time goal and was well
faster than were I expected to be. I was
a little disappointed I didn’t manage to be top 4 on my team, but they were
gunning for the win and stacked it so there’d be little chance to lose. I think this puts me in good standing to
break 18 (super special goal of 17:30) at my A race in 6 weeks!
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