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 Susan Alves 10K Report
Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Susan Alves 10K Report Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:42 pm 

This morning was my last pre-marathon tune-up race, a 10K fund-raiser for a local high school. There were a little over 100 runners there, and about half were students and faculty from the school. Lots of fit-looking bodies.

I'd been looking forward to this race all week, and I felt really springy and energized yesterday, but for some reason today I felt flat. After a 2 mile warm-up, I was already tired. The start was a little manic, and within the first mile I could already feel myself flagging a bit. Unfortunately there were no mile markers on the course, so I had no idea of my pace, but I think I probably went out too fast and then slowed to compensate.

At the 5K turn-around, everyone around me turned back, and suddenly the race got really lonely. I could see another 10K runner way, way ahead, and nobody behind. I found it tough to keep a strong pace with nobody around me to chase or be chased by, and I felt like I slowed a lot, but I probably just pulled back to a more reasonable pace after a too fast first mile or two.

At the turn-around, I was in 6th place overall, about a minute behind 5th place and with 7th place nowhere in sight. I ran the long, lonely 3.1 mile return trip struggling to keep a strong pace and fight the fatigue. The race finished with a lap around the track, where I pushed the pace as much as I could, and finished in 42:53. That was a new 10K personal best, and good enough for 1st place in my age group. Of course there were only 4 people in my age group, and 26 in the 10K race, but let's not split hairs. :-) This was also my first 10K averaging under 7:00/mi pace. Woohoo!

So when are you disappointed with a PR and an age group win? When you're an over-analytical geek like me. Recent race times at other distances predicted a 10K time closer to 42:30 or 42:00 flat, so I was a little bummed I wasn't faster. If I'd paced it better and hadn't felt mysteriously tired at the start, maybe I would have been. Still, I'm pretty pleased with the result, and now I can look forward to two weeks of relative rest before Boston.


OldManRunner
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Rochester, NY
Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 262

Re: Susan Alves 10K Report Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:18 pm 

Ouch, I don't think I've ever run a race before where the 10k and 5k runners were intermingled. It's got to be a bit like half-marathoners mixed in with those running the full distance. You can't tell whether you ought to be trying to pace off of them, or whether doing so would just burn you out. And with no mile markers, I know I'd be pretty lost...I've got a lousy sense of pace. So congrat's about the PR and age group win, and don't worry that the time didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I bet with a) mileage markers, and b) more runners around you to fire your competiitve spirit and guage the consistency of your pace by, you'd have come much closer to your goals.

Enjoy the next two weeks of comparative relaxation!


Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: Susan Alves 10K Report Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:45 pm 

The absent mile markers were definitely a headache. I think this is the first race I've ever done that didn't have them.

I did take a split at the 5K turn-around, although that wasn't the 5K half-way point due to the 400m lap at the finish. Doing some math to account for that, I averaged about a 6:35/mi pace during that ~1.5 mile initial section. Since I ultimately averaged 6:54/mi for the race, I definitely slowed way down in the later miles. Arghh, jumping out too hard at the start yet again.

For Boston, I must make a promise to myself to run the first mile super slow, ultra slow, slower than slow, molasses in January slow.


Rustyboy

LA, CA
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 225

Re: Susan Alves 10K Report Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:40 pm 

Nice finishing time! I Sounds as though you had a fun, final tuneup race, and that new PR has got be encouraging. I'm such a geek, I can't wait to hear both your and Bricks' RR for Boston!

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: Susan Alves 10K Report Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:03 pm 

Excellent race Richshaw! No point in over analyzing the race. It sounds like your ready for Boston. It's been about four years since I first did Boston and still clearly remember the down hill start. If you can start slow and also minimize the downhill pounding on your legs during the first half of the race you should be in good form to kick butt in the second half. Be careful running through Wellesley not to get pulled in by the girls and get off your rhythm. But then, if you are running ahead of schedule, this is a great place to catch a breather and a hug at the same time.

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