Coming off of a period of so-so training, I wasn't sure what to expect out of this race. Considering that I finished just 13 seconds shy of what is my fastest effort at any distance on paper to date (at the 2009 Army 10-Mile), I'm actually OK with the effort. I said beforehand that anything in the 52s would have been fine, and I was on the upper end of that goal. I
I feel like if I had run more conservatively from the beginning, I could have run a PR, but I took some risks today. That's cool. The perfect racing conditions and fast course lent themselves to taking some risks.
I also ran faster than I did last year following PRs at 5k and 10k at the time. While I didn't get my 10k split, my 6-mile split would have put me close to my 10k PR. I said beforehand that anything under 53:00 would have been fine, so I at least accomplished what I set out to do, even if I didn't exceed my expectations. My 8k PR is still officially 25:57 from 2008, yet I came through 5 miles in 25:54, so that's another positive note.
As for the race itself, Murphy and I took the pace out hot through the first mile (as fast as the first mile of the 5k last week!), yet we were still a ways back from Klim and Bert and somehow already 2 miles away from the leaders.
I slowed slightly on the Memorial Bridge but picked up the pace again at the Kennedy Center, where I started reeling guys in. At mile 5, master's ace Ray Pugsley moved on me and started picking off yet more guys, and I tried to move with him the best I could. The only runner to pass me in the second half of the race was ex-Baltimorian Ben Ingram, who was clearly rolling and having a great day. The last mile saw me going back and forth with GRC teammate Wilson in the last mile, who I think really helped me rally and get under the 53-minute mark following a few suffering miles on Hains Point, even though he got me at the line.
There isn't a finer time to be in DC, and the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile is always the pinnacle of spring, much like the Masters or Opening Day. This race means it's time to race, and race fast. I'm not over the moon about my effort given that I was off my PR under essentially perfect racing conditions. However, I still consider today to be a step forward, and I couldn't have been happier running and racing with my GRC teammates again.
Splits: 4:59, 5:17, 5:07 (15:57 5k), 5:15, 5:15, 5:22, 10:40 (2 miles), 5:48 (long), 5:11 (short)
5 comments:
based on that race, you should have no problem beating your half marathon PR if you are racing one in the future.
Thanks Ethan. Let's hope so! I need to find a race, and soon.
Your 10 mile PR is from the 2010 Army Ten Miler? So do you have a time machine or can you see into the future?
Hah, post edited. Thanks Munro.
Wow that was quick.
I'm currently auditing all of your posts. Expect some comments on random posts from 2008 soon.
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