Snowman Stampede 10-mile 2009

It snowed last night. Not a lot where I live: there were a couple of inches on the ground and on my car, but none was sticking and it brushed right off. I guessed, though, that there would be snow and possibly ice on the course for the race (out at Chatfield this year instead of Cherry Creek. I still don't know why). This was reinforced by a text message I got from Runner's Edge of the Rockies' Coach David: "Run cancelled. Slick footing. Too much ice." Of course, the RER run starts at 7:30, where the race didn't start until 10; so I figured (hoped) most of the ice would be melted for me.

That sure didn't seem too likely at 8:30 in the morning when I got to the staging area, though. MAN was it cold out there. Fortunately the sun was out, and my car makes a nice little incubator when the windows are rolled up and the sun shines into the front. After collecting my tshirt, bib, and timing chip, I spent the next hour or so resting in the front seat, psyching myself up for a good race. My warmup mile helped loosen some of my kinks, and soon I was ready to start.

Last year, I ran the Frosty's Frozen 5-mile race at Chatfield. This race, also split into 5- or 10-mile options, was set on the same course. I was looking forward to seeing parts of the park I hadn't the first time. I cruised through the first mile, holding myself to about a 10-minute pace. I picked my pace up only a little for the second one, running it in 9:36. And I kept accelerating from there: except for walking through the three aid stations (at 2.5, 5.5, and 7.5), I maintained a sub-9 pace for the rest of the race.

Overall, the course was not flat. There were a few reasonably flat sections, in the first couple miles and at a brief out-and-back just before the halfway point; but some miles were almost entirely uphill (albeit a gentle grade), and mile 8, which twisted along a winding path, bounced up and down a couple of times. I was very conscious of my own breathing for the second half of the race, and focused on long, deep breaths as often as I could.

I did set a new 10-mile PR at this race, shaving about 2 minutes off my Park to Park time from last September (as a side note, it looks like there was no "chip time" for this race, only "gun time"). And the further good news is, since Coach had to cancel the run this morning and reschedule for tomorrow, I don't have to miss out on seeing all my RER friends!

Official time: 1:32:12
Total races: 4
YTD race miles: 42.5
YTD total miles: 150.5
RER training runs missed due to races (YTD) : 0!!

Valentine's Day 5k 2009

The month of February has certainly been a busy one for yours truly. I had a 5K race on the first. Every night for the rest of the week I had tech rehearsal for my show, "Harvey," at the Parker Mainstreet Theatre. The show opened on Friday the 6th. I ran 16 miles with Runner's Edge of the Rockies on Saturday the 7th, and another performance of "Harvey" that night. Then a pickup rehearsal on the 12th and another show on the 13th, a 10-mile run the morning of the 14th, and then the closing night performance for "Harvey," followed by set-strike and the cast party. And this morning, the Valentine's Day 5K at Washington Park.

Needless to say, I had no expectations of a PR. I told myself I'd be happy finishing in under 27 minutes, but wasn't going to hold myself to that. Sure, I was going to try to push myself; but if I started to fall apart I'd back off and not feel badly about it.

Not helping matters was the freezing temperature at the start of the race (although it was comfortable as long as I was in the sunlight). But after a two mile warmup jog (including some plyometrics), I was feeling much better. I even decided to ditch my jacket and vest for the race (thanks, Steve & Carol for holding on to them for me!).

I started out at a good "comfortably hard" pace that I felt pretty confident I could hold. I stayed sub-8 for the first half of the first mile, and then slowed to sub-8:30 for the rest of it. Oddly, though, I couldn't tell that I was doing that; it felt like I was pushing sub-8 for the entire mile (and I'm getting into the habit of not looking at my Garmin on a 5K--except to make sure it's started)! The second mile was a similar experience: I felt I was going a lot harder than I actually was. I thought I was keeping right around 8-minute pace, but in reality it was closer to 8:20. On the third mile, my perception was closer to the reality, as the entire mile hovered around 8:05 pace and that was about what it felt like. Then, for my last kick, I was able to push up to about 6-minute pace for a nice, strong finish.

(I didn't pick it up as early as I did in my last race, though--I just didn't have enough juice. But I was able to catch up to and then pass a girl I had been pacing for most of the race. Actually, she pulled ahead of me when I slowed at the water stop at about the halfway point; but I caught up to her with about a quarter mile to go and pulled ahead of her at the 3-mile mark.)

Special shout-outs to fellow Runner's Edge members Carol & Steve (cheerleaders and photographer), Tinka and Keri, and Al and pace-group-leader Jen who both ran.

Official time: 25:59
Total races: 3
YTD race miles: 32.5
YTD total miles: 124.5
Hours of sleep the night of Feb 14: 5 (approx)

Super Bowl 5k 2009

For 2008 I had a goal to run at least one race every month. I ran 16 in all. For 2009 my goal is to run a 5k every month in addition to any other races I decide to run (and since I have a few that are on my schedule as goal marathons or halfs, and a number of races that I ran for the first time last year and want to do again, and several that are on the list by way of being traditional now, it looks like I'll average about two races a month).

My "January" 5k was the Super Bowl 5k at Washington Park. Even before I got to the park, I knew it was going to be a solid race. The set list that KBPI played on the radio during my drive over was filled with hard-and-fast song after song, including some Five Finger Death Punch, some Stabbing Westward and Nickelback, and ending with "Back In Black" by AC/DC. By the timme I got to Washington Park, I was pysched up and primed for a solid race. Even the fact that I mistook the starting time and showed up better than an hour and a half before the race (while Keri and the BKB staff were still setting up the sign-in tents) didn't dampen my spirits.

When people did start showing up for the race, I quickly spotted a few folks from my training group, Runner's Edge of the Rockies: not only Keri but also Laura, Susan, Martha, and Bret (who was there as a volunteer). I spent some time chatting with them before heading out for a 2-mile warmup. Then, after the National Anthem and a kid's race, it was go time!

With my iPod loaded up with my "Fast Race Mix" (which I'm going to have to add to after that radio set this morning . . . man there were some great songs in there!), I set off and quickly settled into a fast sub-8 minute pace. Actually I topped out at better than 6-minute pace for a little there, towards the start. It always happens, without fail: I get caught up in the excitement and have to force myself to slow down (only a little) to avoid burning out.

I had a pretty good experience with very pointedly *not* looking at my Garmin at my last 5k in December, so I decided to do that again here (although I did check at the very beginning, to make sure I'd actually started the damn thing this time). Instead I ran by feel, settling into what I thought would be a good pace for the whole race. When I started to feel myself getting ahead of myself in the first mile, though, I pulled back for the second one. I walked through the aid station just before the 2-mile mark, slapping a high 5 to Bret. It's always great to have people cheering for me on the course, and Bret's enthusiasm is fantastic.

I picked it up again for the third mile. At about 2.5, I was passed by a man wearing a bright green shirt. He was running a good pace, slightly faster than I had been (obviously), but one I felt I could handle for the last half mile. So I let him be my rabbit, staying about a tenth of a mile back. As we came up to the turnoff for the last quarter mile, I decided that enough was enough. It was time to get my lead back. So I picked up my pace a little. I figured I would do a slow build until I caught up with him, then turn it up to full and zip right past him for a solid finish.

It didn't work out quite that way, however. As I caught up to him with less than 0.1 miles to go, I heard him mutter, "Finally, a reason." Then, to my utter and absolute surprise, he turned on the juice himself! By that time I'd reached about a 6:01 pace. But he pushed me even harder. I had no choice but to turn it "up to 11" and power through. But he stuck with me like glue. It was quite literally a photo finish, and easily the most exciting end to a race I've ever had.

I turned to him and shook his hand, congratulating him on an excellent finish. He thanked me for giving him a reason to run hard. The official results show us with the same time, but even he agreed that I had edged him out in the end (although I thought I barely beat him, he said I had him by a good half-second). Thanks, Mark for giving me an excellent finish!

Official time: 25:27
Total races: 2
YTD Race miles: 29.4
YTD Total miles: 72.4
Photo finishes: 1