Joined
·
12,917 Posts
<p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:small;">As usual the short version is at the end.</span><br><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Well, this was an interesting race for me. I had a great 12 mile run <span class="yshortcuts" id="user_lw_1290809035_0" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">on Sunday morning</span> and I thought I was all set to do really well. I woke up and went outside to grab the paper and I was greeted by FOG. I knew then I was in trouble. I checked the weather on the computer and it was already 60 degrees out and I figured it was going to be a tough run. I got to the race start and I found my running buddies and we spent more time just hanging out waiting for the start. </span><br><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">The cannon went off and we shuffled our way across the start line. After mile 1 (8:59) the course split with the 6K runners heading one direction and the 1/2 marathon runners heading another. Now that the crowds thinned out some. Myself and 2 friends tried to settle into a comfortable pace. I warned them I wanted an 8:45 or 9 minute pace and they were cool with that. Well as we started knocking off the miles we kept on running well below that. (8:20, 8:20, 8:22) I wasn't really worried since I was feeling pretty good and I knew I had run a similar distance at similar pace <span class="yshortcuts" id="user_lw_1290809035_1" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">on Sunday</span>. I passed through mile 5 (8:36) and then I saw my family and waved to them, Of course my kids refused to high five me or anything since I was to sweaty. :-D </span><br><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">I then started what I call the return trip. The next couple of miles I deliberately backed off the pace a little, (8:32, 8:39, 8:37, 8:44), since I was really starting to warm up and I knew I still had about 5 miles to go. I hit mile 10 (8:43) and I was really beginning to feel the first hints of slamming into the wall. I grabbed the water and gatorade like usual and now I was struggling to keep my pace at 8:45 or better. I went through mile 11 and I knew my pace was really dropping off. (9:07). Now I knew I was in trouble. All I wanted to do was finish. I was starting to get mad at myself for having such problems at this race. Mile 12 came and went, 9:24, and I was now just hoping to make it to the end without walking. The last mile of the course has a LOT of turns as it winds through some neighborhoods. All I wanted to see was that final turn for the final 1/10 and it never seemed to come. Mile 13 and he turn finally arrived, 9:36, and I could see the turn for the <span class="yshortcuts" id="user_lw_1290809035_2">finish line</span>. With no energy left I just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and covered the final 1/10th in 1:03. </span><br><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Even after almost 10 years of running down here it still amazes me at how much the weather impacts my races. While drinking some post-race adult beverages, I was talking to a friend after the race and today was the hottest it has been for this race in a LONG time and I had to agree. Now all I can do is forget about the results and start getting ready for what is probably my final race of 2010, The Jacksonville Bank Marathon, <span class="yshortcuts" id="user_lw_1290809035_3" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">on December 19</span>. </span><br><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;"> Thanks for reading. </span><br><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">The Short Version:</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 1: 8:59</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 2: 8:20</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 3: 8:20</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 4: 8:22</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 5: 8:36</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 6: 8:32</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 7: 8:39</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 8: 8:37</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 9: 8:44</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 10: 8:43</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 11: 9:07</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 12: 9:24</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Mile 13: 9:36</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Finish: 1:03</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;">Total: 1:55:01</span><br><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">Race Number 230 </span></tt><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">Overall: 489/1152 </span></tt><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">Age Group: 69/175 </span></tt><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">10K Split: 52:37 </span></tt><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">Chip Time: 1:54:34</span></tt><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">Gun Time: 1:55:05 </span></tt><br><tt><span style="font-size:medium;">Pace 8:45</span></tt><br><br>
</p>
</p>
