Running of the Green 7k 2011

In 2009 I had a huge breakthrough at this race. Coach Manthey of Runner's Edge of the Rockies had emailed us an article called "Go-Zone Racing" that really inspired me, and I went into the race two years ago determined to succeed in a big way. Which I did, setting a four-minute PR. That wound up being the first of 8 PRs I set in 2009, including two in the marathon! Then, when I ran it last year, I didn't do quite as well. Not that it was a bad race, but I just wasn't feeling it last year.

This year, then, I was determined to get my edge back. I missed my PR in New Orleans by 5 minutes, and as of yesterday was 0-for-3 (although, to be fair, the first two races I ran in 2011--the Frosty's Frozen 5 mile and 10 mile--were run as part of a 22-mile long training run, not as fast races). I was determined to have a very fast 7k race and set a new PR.

I knew I had the strength and endurance to push myself faster than I had in 2009. At that race I held a 7:47 pace. Since then I'd run a half dozen 5ks at 7:47 pace or faster. I knew my body could handle it. My mind, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. So for about two weeks leading up to the race, I worked on psyching myself up. I read and re-read the Go-Zone Racing article, and focused my energy on visualizing my success. Even the changes to the course layout, including an out-and-back on the north side along Water Street (before crossing I-25 again for the final mile), weren't going to be enough to throw me off my game. I knew I could hold between a 7:30 and 7:45 pace for the whole race.

Adding to my excitement about this race was the fact that it would be my first one as a member of the Runner's Roost Race Team. On Wednesday at Run Club, I'd gotten my new team singlet and shorts--bright, eye-catching orange. According to the team captain, almost 60 members of the team were going to run the race; and between that and the fact that it's built into the training schedules for everyone in Runner's Edge, I knew I'd have plenty of friends out there with me who would offer encouragement and support.

So this morning I made my way to the starting line, seeding myself fairly close to the front with a couple of friends, brimming with confidence and eager for a hard and triumphant race. I cranked my music as the announcer counted down the seconds to the start, and then began to run.

One of the course changes this year was in the start line: where in years previous we started down Blake to 18th, then turned and turned again before hitting 20th, this year we started on 17th and took that to Market to 20th. The practical upshot of this was that the crowd would be able to thin out sooner, since 17th is much wider than Blake. I took advantage of the wider street to push my way forward, keeping my pace between 6:30 and 7:00 for the first half mile. One of the recommendations from the Go Zone article is to "attack the first mile," and I was certainly doing that. After those first three and a half minutes or so I dialed my pace back a bit, settling in to between 7:00 and 7:30, still a bit aggressive but I felt within control. I passed a few friends in orange jerseys, waving to them as I went.

At the end of the first mile the course begins to climb up as 20th St crosses over I-25. My pace started to slip a bit, but I was still keeping myself under 7:45. I sailed over the top of the hill and took advantage of the downhill to coast along Central before turning on 15th and heading into the Highland area. Now in years past, the course has described a good-sized loop through this neighborhood before picking up Central again and doubling back towards the start. This year, due I understand to some construction in that area, meant the course was a bit different. We still made a loop up 29th to Zuni, but then to make up the difference an extra out-and-back was added just past that point. I'll get to that in a moment, but I want to talk about the hill on 29th first.

This hill on 29th is just short of the 3 mile mark. I'd been maintaining my 7:30 to 7:45 pace for this entire second mile, but was definitely starting to feel it. In desperation, frustrated with myself, I pulled over to the side and slowed to a walk at about 1.8 miles, up this hill, just to catch my breath. I kept an eye on my watch, and told myself that as long as I finished the second mile before I turned over 15 minutes, I would still be on pace for a 7:30 race. I'd been running for 13 minutes at that point, so I figured I still had plenty of time...

Of course, several of my friends whom I had passed earlier in the race almost immediately caught up to me. When Bret Stevens came running by, he shouted a few words of encouragement at me that were enough to spur me back into running. More, the two minute walking break, unplanned though it was, was sufficient to reenergize my legs. I was soon back on speed, finishing that second mile in 8 minutes and still on pace for a 7:30 average.

Halfway through the third mile, after making the smaller loop through Highland, I ran over the next course change. Instead of turning back onto Central, the course kept down 15th, crossing over I-25 a second time before picking up Water St for a quick out-and-back. Again, taking advantage of a slight downhill before going over the highway, I pushed myself to between 6:45 and 7:00 pace, trying to bank some time. My pace slid around a lot on the return spur of the out-and-back, but I was still on target for my goal until I had to climb up and over I-25 along 15th street again (yes, for those of you keeping score, this is now the THIRD time the course has crossed over the highway!). Again, with my legs feeling heavy I pulled off to the side and slowed to a walk, and as before it was the shouted encouragement of Bret Stevens that got me going again. Up and over the bridge I went, then back along Central towards the fourth and final highway crossing at 20th. Unfortunately, my pace had slipped to between 7:45 and 8:00, and I wasn't sure I had enough in me to recover back to my previous speed.

Salvation came in that last half mile in the form of a few friends from Runner's Edge of the Rockies: Jenny Smith and Laci Dearden, and also Jim Lynch. Between my blazing speed along 20th in the first mile, my two unintended walk breaks, and my recovery efforts, Lynch and I had leapfrogged along the course. I drew up behind him after crossing I-25 again, but just as I pulled up alongside him he poured on some speed and soon left me in his dust (I teased him about this afterward, claiming that he was tired of playing tag with me and wanted to put me in my place. He maintains he had no idea I was there). I didn't think I had enough to catch him, though, so I let him go. Soon after that, Jenny and Laci pulled alongside me. We exchanged breathless congratulations, and I think Jenny said something like, "Come on, Doug, you've got this" before she too pulled ahead. It was just enough to force me to keep going, as was seeing Coach Manthey and a few other Runner's Edge and Runners Roost teammates cheering at the 4 mile sign. I poured everything I had left into my legs, and pulled my pace back to between 7:15 and 7:30.

Another piece of advice from the Go Zone article is to start the finishing kick a little sooner than usual. I didn't think I had enough in me for a quarter-mile sprint, but thought I could hold the 7:15 pace for a bit longer. With less than 100 yards or so to go, the course turns onto Wazee. I was satisfied that I'd run a good race, and was definitely going to have a new PR. I would have been satisfied with that, but just as I rounded the corner I saw the familiar back of Jim Lynch just ahead of me. Tired as I was, I couldn't resist pouring it all on, leaving nothing behind me, and with maybe 20 yards to go I tore past him at a blistering (certainly for me) 5:08 pace!

Then it was all over but the drinking. And congratulating. All my friends and teammates had very good races. Several new PRs were set--including my own--and the Roost Race Team represented itself very well. I spent several minutes catching up with my teammates, exchanging high-5s and congratulations before heading over to Delaneys for some post-race celebratory libations.

My friend Erin Brumleve commented later that my new orange singlet clearly made me faster. I think she's right, and I can't wait to wear it again at my next race!

Official Time: 32:53
YTD Race Miles: 45.6
YTD Total Miles: 267.6
Yes, Yes I Did: As I walked back to the train station on my way home, still wearing my singlet and number, a passerby asked me if I'd won the race. I told him I had, and as far as I'm concerned, that wasn't a fib.