Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Peachtree Road Race
I rolled out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and ate a Cliff Bar. It was that time again, July 4th, time for the 38th Running of The Peachtree Road Race, the world’s largest 10K with 55,000 runners. The race starts at 7:30 am. I am lucky in the fact that I don’t have far to travel to get to the starting line. I drove approximately a half mile to the Lindberg Marta Station, parked my car in the lot, and then walked to the start of the race.
To handle such a large number of runners, the Peachtree divides folks up into time groups of about 5000 that start in waves. To get into the top time groups you need to submit a qualifying time with your race application. In the front of the pack, you have the seeded and sub-seeded runners expected to finish in less than 42 minutes. Behind them in time group 1A and 1B, you have the folks expected to finish in 55 minutes or less. In the remaining time groups, there are slower runners and runners that did not include any documented times on their race application. They release a group about every ten minutes, so the folks in the back have a bit of a wait until they get to run. (Been there, done that!)
I have been fighting multiple injuries this year, and it has just been in the last few weeks that I have felt that I have returned to any kind of running form, so I was looking forward to this race. Then last night as I got in the car after work, I found I had managed to do something to my elbow, causing a burning pain when I bent it too far. I was in a foul mood last night wondering if it was going to affect my race the next day. It did cause me some discomfort, but less than it might have. I still wish I knew exactly what I did. On the other hand, maybe I don’t because if it were the wrong thing then there is a good possibility that I would still keep doing whatever it was, but would be sorry later that I did.
The weather was perfect for the Peachtree this year, sunny and warm with low humidity. The race started on time and the organization and support from the volunteers unbelievable. The crowds lining the course were terrifically supportive. Although I did have one wee complaint… Eye of the Tiger is a great song, but it is not the only song out there to run to. At a number of points along the course, folks were playing highly amplified music. I heard Eye of the Tiger at least 5 times. Come on folks!
I ran a very steady pace through the entire race. For once I showed some patience at the beginning of the race and settled into my pace rather than taking off too fast. At almost every water station, I grabbed a Dixie cup or two to pour over my head. For the first half of the race it felt like I was being passed a lot, but at about the midpoint of the race it suddenly seemed like I was doing a lot more of the passing. By mile six, I was steadily moving up. At the finish, I dashed across the finish line into Piedmont Park in great shape.
My final time gun time 52:46, chip time was 51:39. I ran at an 8:19 pace which put me at 3111th over all.
To handle such a large number of runners, the Peachtree divides folks up into time groups of about 5000 that start in waves. To get into the top time groups you need to submit a qualifying time with your race application. In the front of the pack, you have the seeded and sub-seeded runners expected to finish in less than 42 minutes. Behind them in time group 1A and 1B, you have the folks expected to finish in 55 minutes or less. In the remaining time groups, there are slower runners and runners that did not include any documented times on their race application. They release a group about every ten minutes, so the folks in the back have a bit of a wait until they get to run. (Been there, done that!)
I have been fighting multiple injuries this year, and it has just been in the last few weeks that I have felt that I have returned to any kind of running form, so I was looking forward to this race. Then last night as I got in the car after work, I found I had managed to do something to my elbow, causing a burning pain when I bent it too far. I was in a foul mood last night wondering if it was going to affect my race the next day. It did cause me some discomfort, but less than it might have. I still wish I knew exactly what I did. On the other hand, maybe I don’t because if it were the wrong thing then there is a good possibility that I would still keep doing whatever it was, but would be sorry later that I did.
The weather was perfect for the Peachtree this year, sunny and warm with low humidity. The race started on time and the organization and support from the volunteers unbelievable. The crowds lining the course were terrifically supportive. Although I did have one wee complaint… Eye of the Tiger is a great song, but it is not the only song out there to run to. At a number of points along the course, folks were playing highly amplified music. I heard Eye of the Tiger at least 5 times. Come on folks!
I ran a very steady pace through the entire race. For once I showed some patience at the beginning of the race and settled into my pace rather than taking off too fast. At almost every water station, I grabbed a Dixie cup or two to pour over my head. For the first half of the race it felt like I was being passed a lot, but at about the midpoint of the race it suddenly seemed like I was doing a lot more of the passing. By mile six, I was steadily moving up. At the finish, I dashed across the finish line into Piedmont Park in great shape.
My final time gun time 52:46, chip time was 51:39. I ran at an 8:19 pace which put me at 3111th over all.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
ATC Cross Country
The course was a double loop around Jim Miller Park with one hill about two thirds of the way around. I got off to a good pace and was able to maintain it through the race, although I found the last mile difficult.
It was a great day for running. The rain which had been with us all week had vanished the day before and been replaced with cooler temperatures and a clear blue sky. Even so, the ground was not particularly soggy.
To me, my time seemed slow, 23:25, but I have been training for the marathon and have been upping my mileage and the number of days of the week that I am running. My focus right now is definitely not racing, but it was a great way to kick off the weekend.
It was a great day for running. The rain which had been with us all week had vanished the day before and been replaced with cooler temperatures and a clear blue sky. Even so, the ground was not particularly soggy.
To me, my time seemed slow, 23:25, but I have been training for the marathon and have been upping my mileage and the number of days of the week that I am running. My focus right now is definitely not racing, but it was a great way to kick off the weekend.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Atlanta Thanksgiving Half-Marathon
You wake up on a chilly Thanksgiving morning, put on a skimpy running outfit, and make your way in the dark to the start of the race. You look back over your shoulder just before the race starts at seven and see the dawn breaking directly behind the 7,600 runners who fill the bridge. It’s a magical sight. Finally after what seems eons of waiting, the race starts. The runners in front start moving, as you stand hemmed in by the crowd it seems like forever before the wave of movement reaches you and you are off. The crowd surges ahead, then pauses, then surges ahead again. You start trying to find space in the crowd so you can get into your rhythm, but you find yourself constantly checking up, moving left and right trying to find a clear path. Everyone else is doing the same thing. Some are patient, some impatient. Some folks clearly started too close to the front for their abilities and some faster folks started too far back. It seems to take forever for the pack to sort itself out and you can finally start searching for your pace in earnest. However, really, it is only about a mile.
The Half-Marathon runs south down Peachtree (this being Atlanta, when I say south down Peachtree that means south on Peachtree Industrial Blvd which almost immediately becomes Peachtree Road which in turn becomes Peachtree Street) through the Buckhead and Midtown. For the first have of the race, it’s either flat or downhill. However, once you cross over Peachtree Creek near the halfway mark, it is time for the hills. The first and most significant hill is Cardiac Hill, which takes you past Piedmont Hospital. Once you are past that hill things ease up a bit, but more often than not you will find yourself gaining elevation for the rest of the race. You will run through one of the most beautiful sections of the city, past the High Museum of Art, past the house where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind, and past the Fabulous Fox Theater. The race then turns left onto Mitchell and goes past the State Capitol. This incidently is where you will find your last significant hill, known as Capitol Punishment. Once past this, it is a short half mile to the finish, but not before you pass under the Olympic Rings and pass the tower, where the flame burned during the 1996 Olympics.
I had a great race this year. I was walking to the starting line from my apartment this year, but some folks stopped and gave me a ride. The weather was in the low forties, but not particularly cold. There was not much of a wind, the sky was clear and the starts were bright. I started near the front in the appropriate time group and because of the crowd did not start at too fast a pace. The first few miles were ridiculously pleasant. Forced to run just a little slow I was able to take in and appreciate the beautiful morning. By mile two, I was running at my race pace reflecting for me how races bring out an effort that no amount of solo running can.
It was around mile five that I started to doubt myself. I felt like was going to run out of energy, that I had already come five miles and there was no way possible that I was going to be able to sustain my pace for another eight miles. A little voice in my head that urged me to drop off the pace so I would be sure to finish. I had to remind myself that I have been training solidly. I have the necessary runs in the bank. That I am fit enough to do this. I have done the work. I have prepared properly. I can do this.
I kept going, keeping my pace. It became even more of a challenge around mile ten, the hills had their chance to work on me and my energy was starting to lag. My legs were beginning to feel a bit rubbery. I began thinking that plans to run distances longer than a half-marathon might be a bit grandiose, that running a half-marathon might have been a bit grandiose, and where did all these hills come from anyway. I was positive I had not seen any hills when I glanced at the course elevation in the days before the race. I ran this race last year and did not remember all these hills. Despite all the internal angst, I kept going and crossed the finish line with a time of 1:42:53 and an average pace of 7:51. I was 68th out of 448 in my shiny new age group of 40-44. That put me in the top 15% of that age grouping.
The Atlanta Track Club knows how to run a race. They keep this one simple; you will not find any post race food, celebration, awards, or amenities. It is all about going for a long run on Thanksgiving morning, which for me is part of the appeal. Everything is well organized and well thought out. The thing that really makes the race work however is the hundreds of volunteers that come out to make the race a great experience. Small crowds of people come out to line the course. The roads are not completely closed to traffic, but the lanes for runners are coned off and there is someone staffing every intersection. I cannot think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving morning.
The Half-Marathon runs south down Peachtree (this being Atlanta, when I say south down Peachtree that means south on Peachtree Industrial Blvd which almost immediately becomes Peachtree Road which in turn becomes Peachtree Street) through the Buckhead and Midtown. For the first have of the race, it’s either flat or downhill. However, once you cross over Peachtree Creek near the halfway mark, it is time for the hills. The first and most significant hill is Cardiac Hill, which takes you past Piedmont Hospital. Once you are past that hill things ease up a bit, but more often than not you will find yourself gaining elevation for the rest of the race. You will run through one of the most beautiful sections of the city, past the High Museum of Art, past the house where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind, and past the Fabulous Fox Theater. The race then turns left onto Mitchell and goes past the State Capitol. This incidently is where you will find your last significant hill, known as Capitol Punishment. Once past this, it is a short half mile to the finish, but not before you pass under the Olympic Rings and pass the tower, where the flame burned during the 1996 Olympics.
I had a great race this year. I was walking to the starting line from my apartment this year, but some folks stopped and gave me a ride. The weather was in the low forties, but not particularly cold. There was not much of a wind, the sky was clear and the starts were bright. I started near the front in the appropriate time group and because of the crowd did not start at too fast a pace. The first few miles were ridiculously pleasant. Forced to run just a little slow I was able to take in and appreciate the beautiful morning. By mile two, I was running at my race pace reflecting for me how races bring out an effort that no amount of solo running can.
It was around mile five that I started to doubt myself. I felt like was going to run out of energy, that I had already come five miles and there was no way possible that I was going to be able to sustain my pace for another eight miles. A little voice in my head that urged me to drop off the pace so I would be sure to finish. I had to remind myself that I have been training solidly. I have the necessary runs in the bank. That I am fit enough to do this. I have done the work. I have prepared properly. I can do this.
I kept going, keeping my pace. It became even more of a challenge around mile ten, the hills had their chance to work on me and my energy was starting to lag. My legs were beginning to feel a bit rubbery. I began thinking that plans to run distances longer than a half-marathon might be a bit grandiose, that running a half-marathon might have been a bit grandiose, and where did all these hills come from anyway. I was positive I had not seen any hills when I glanced at the course elevation in the days before the race. I ran this race last year and did not remember all these hills. Despite all the internal angst, I kept going and crossed the finish line with a time of 1:42:53 and an average pace of 7:51. I was 68th out of 448 in my shiny new age group of 40-44. That put me in the top 15% of that age grouping.
The Atlanta Track Club knows how to run a race. They keep this one simple; you will not find any post race food, celebration, awards, or amenities. It is all about going for a long run on Thanksgiving morning, which for me is part of the appeal. Everything is well organized and well thought out. The thing that really makes the race work however is the hundreds of volunteers that come out to make the race a great experience. Small crowds of people come out to line the course. The roads are not completely closed to traffic, but the lanes for runners are coned off and there is someone staffing every intersection. I cannot think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving morning.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Chickamauga Marathon and 10 Mile Run
Chickamauga, GA
I am not up for a marathon just yet, but I was hungry for a longer race this weekend so I decided to check out the Chickamauga 10 Mile Run. It’s a two-hour from Atlanta, so I was up and on the road by 4:00 am for the easy drive up I-75. I was there before they even opened registration. Watching all the marathoner’s show up, I felt a little like I had shown up to run the kid’s fun run. Everyone seemed to be wearing the shirt from his or her last marathon, ultra marathon, or adventure race. I suspect that once I join the club next March, I will not feel so self-conscious around that crowd.
Registration and packet pickup was inside one of the out buildings of the Oakwood Baptist Church, warm and dry. And there was coffee! An overcast sky seemed to promise rain, but held off until long after the 10-mile race was over. At race time, the temperature was 55 degrees, which was a little warm for this time of year.
Three hundred twenty-five marathoner’s got started a half-hour before the ten-milers, just after 7:30. The race was ready to go at 7:30, but the race director politely waiting for the port-a-potty line to clear before starting. The ten-milers, a smaller crowd of about two hundred and fifty, left promptly at 8:00.
The ten-miler was an out and back covering the first five miles of the marathoner’s route. They do not close the course to traffic, but race personal or law enforcement staffed all intersections and for the most part drivers were both polite and considerate. (I cannot speak for the full marathon course, as I was driving home; I saw marathoner’s dealing with a lot more traffic than the 10-milers.) The course itself winds through the woods and vast fields of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. It’s a beautiful place for a race. The many and sometimes spectacular monuments to the men who fought and died on those fields lends a both elegance and a somber note to the course. (Over 34,000 men perished during the battle of Chickamauga.)
It was a hard race for me. I was in good condition, but not in peak condition (where I would always like it to be!) I kept a good pace through the first half of the race. The course was just slightly rolling with no real hills to speak of. Still, it was a major relief and psychological boost to get to the turn around point and I was able to pick up my pace a bit. Of course, I was not the only one reaching the midpoint had that effect on. Other runners picked up the pace as well. One runner in particular dogged me for the next five miles. Either she would pass me and it would take me a mile to catch me, or I would pass her and a mile later would find her returning the favor. We traded words of encouragement while inside I wondered how in the world I was going to keep going and wondered with each stride where the next would come from. I crossed the finish line at 1:17:53. I felt I should have done better, but I did feel good that I had given, or had coaxed out of me, a 100% effort.
It was a nice race, well run, and well organized, with a solid crew of volunteers. The post race spread was wonderful. (Fresh coffee!) It was a small race that did not feel small at all. I suspect I will be back next year.
I am not up for a marathon just yet, but I was hungry for a longer race this weekend so I decided to check out the Chickamauga 10 Mile Run. It’s a two-hour from Atlanta, so I was up and on the road by 4:00 am for the easy drive up I-75. I was there before they even opened registration. Watching all the marathoner’s show up, I felt a little like I had shown up to run the kid’s fun run. Everyone seemed to be wearing the shirt from his or her last marathon, ultra marathon, or adventure race. I suspect that once I join the club next March, I will not feel so self-conscious around that crowd.
Registration and packet pickup was inside one of the out buildings of the Oakwood Baptist Church, warm and dry. And there was coffee! An overcast sky seemed to promise rain, but held off until long after the 10-mile race was over. At race time, the temperature was 55 degrees, which was a little warm for this time of year.
Three hundred twenty-five marathoner’s got started a half-hour before the ten-milers, just after 7:30. The race was ready to go at 7:30, but the race director politely waiting for the port-a-potty line to clear before starting. The ten-milers, a smaller crowd of about two hundred and fifty, left promptly at 8:00.
The ten-miler was an out and back covering the first five miles of the marathoner’s route. They do not close the course to traffic, but race personal or law enforcement staffed all intersections and for the most part drivers were both polite and considerate. (I cannot speak for the full marathon course, as I was driving home; I saw marathoner’s dealing with a lot more traffic than the 10-milers.) The course itself winds through the woods and vast fields of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. It’s a beautiful place for a race. The many and sometimes spectacular monuments to the men who fought and died on those fields lends a both elegance and a somber note to the course. (Over 34,000 men perished during the battle of Chickamauga.)
It was a hard race for me. I was in good condition, but not in peak condition (where I would always like it to be!) I kept a good pace through the first half of the race. The course was just slightly rolling with no real hills to speak of. Still, it was a major relief and psychological boost to get to the turn around point and I was able to pick up my pace a bit. Of course, I was not the only one reaching the midpoint had that effect on. Other runners picked up the pace as well. One runner in particular dogged me for the next five miles. Either she would pass me and it would take me a mile to catch me, or I would pass her and a mile later would find her returning the favor. We traded words of encouragement while inside I wondered how in the world I was going to keep going and wondered with each stride where the next would come from. I crossed the finish line at 1:17:53. I felt I should have done better, but I did feel good that I had given, or had coaxed out of me, a 100% effort.
It was a nice race, well run, and well organized, with a solid crew of volunteers. The post race spread was wonderful. (Fresh coffee!) It was a small race that did not feel small at all. I suspect I will be back next year.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Stone Mountain
I ran 15 miles! Correction raced 15 miles today and finished in 2:05:58! A slow 8:24 pace, but we are talking 15 miles. In addition, I took home my first bit of hardware. I was 2nd place in my age category. (Okay, so with the temperature at 35 degree and the other options being a 5 miles or 10 miles, the 15 mile was not exactly the most popular distance.)
It was a beautiful, if cold, morning. The sky was clear, the sun sharp and bright, and the autumn leaves full of color. It was a great morning for a run. The route around Stone Mountain is rolling with some moderate hills. For a welcome change, today I was able to pace myself almost perfectly from the very start of the race. At the start, I managed to ignore the other runners, most of who where doing shorter distances, and find my own pace which I felt I would be able to maintain through the race. That is exactly what I did. The first mile I ran in 8:30. My pace for the entire race averaged out to 8:24/mi.
I was strong and steady for the first 10 miles, but by mile 11 I was starting to feel some weakness in my legs and it was difficult to keep the pace going. However, some strong runners around me pushed me to keep going. There is nothing as motivating to me as hearing the rhythmic sound of running shoes slapping the pavement just behind me. At one point, I was ready to turn and say just pass me already, put me out of my misery, trying to stay ahead of you is killing me. Nevertheless, I kept slogging ahead and after awhile I realized I was not hearing those sneakers behind me anymore.
I was very surprised when I finished the race and was filling out my time card to see that there was only one card ahead of mine in the basket. Only one, but that would mean I had placed second in my age group. Yes me, 35-39 year old male, second place. And just for the record, there was a third place.
It was a beautiful, if cold, morning. The sky was clear, the sun sharp and bright, and the autumn leaves full of color. It was a great morning for a run. The route around Stone Mountain is rolling with some moderate hills. For a welcome change, today I was able to pace myself almost perfectly from the very start of the race. At the start, I managed to ignore the other runners, most of who where doing shorter distances, and find my own pace which I felt I would be able to maintain through the race. That is exactly what I did. The first mile I ran in 8:30. My pace for the entire race averaged out to 8:24/mi.
I was strong and steady for the first 10 miles, but by mile 11 I was starting to feel some weakness in my legs and it was difficult to keep the pace going. However, some strong runners around me pushed me to keep going. There is nothing as motivating to me as hearing the rhythmic sound of running shoes slapping the pavement just behind me. At one point, I was ready to turn and say just pass me already, put me out of my misery, trying to stay ahead of you is killing me. Nevertheless, I kept slogging ahead and after awhile I realized I was not hearing those sneakers behind me anymore.
I was very surprised when I finished the race and was filling out my time card to see that there was only one card ahead of mine in the basket. Only one, but that would mean I had placed second in my age group. Yes me, 35-39 year old male, second place. And just for the record, there was a third place.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Run For The River 5K
Duluth GA 22:30
I did not have a good training week. I worked too much and ran too little. I did get in one good run and one day in the gym, but that was it. I had three goose eggs in the training log for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. So I was not feeling that great about running a 5K this weekend. I didn’t even sign up until late in the week, but I thought the motivation of a race might get me going.
I chose the Race for the River (http://www.runfortheriver.org/) mostly because it benefited the Upper Chattahoochee River Keepers (http://www.chattahoochee.org/), an organization whose mission is described as "to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, in order to restore and preserve their ecological health for the people, fish and wildlife that depend on the River system." Just for the record, "Chattahoochee" is a Creek Indian word meaning "river of painted rocks".
It was a cool morning out, the temperature in the mid-50's. The sky was overcast and the wind was really whipping up. I was able to sleep in since the race start was only about twenty minutes away from the apartment. The course itself runs through the main drive of a multi-building office complex in sort of a giant horseshoe shape and back again. It's a very flat course, although not flat enough for the woman I was chatting with after the race.
I did have a several gripes about the race itself. There were many non-runners at the race and before the race, they lined up in front of the starting line. The race officials then backed those folks up into the runners that had lined up according to their pace behind the starting line. The result was that many folks that were running for time started behind folks that were just running. As a result, there was a lot of jostling and some hurt feelings at the race start. An attempt should have been made at the start to sort folks out according to their expected pace. It makes the start a lot smoother. My 5K pace is just over 7 minutes which usually puts me about 5-10 feet back from the runners in the front.
Gripe number two was that although the splits were marked, they chose not to staff them. Gripe number three also relates to staffing. The course itself was simple, an out and back in a big horseshoe shape. Traffic cones divided the four-lane road into two lanes. Going out they said stay to the right, but after the turn around nobody was sure what lane they were supposed to be running in and there was no race official there to remind people. (If you are running a great big horseshoe shaped course, it makes quite a difference if you run in the inside or outside lane of the horseshoe.)
It was not my best race, despite the fact it was supposed to be a fast course. I could tell that I had taken a few days off. At the start, I had trouble getting clear of the slower runners. I was unsure what lane I was supposed to be in for the last half of the race. I finished the race in 22:30.
Most of the energy of the organizers of this race went into the goodie-bags and the post-race festivities which where probably the best I have ever seen. They had Starbucks, bagels, fruit, beer, pizza, energy bars, and bottled water. They had a silent auction to raise money for the River Keepers. I generally like to hang out to wait for the results of the race, but today I almost gave up. Remember I mentioned it was windy? They were just about ready to tabulate the results of the race and start announcing the winners when suddenly a great big cloud of time cards appeared from the direction of the scoring table and flew across the parking lot fluttering in the wind like confetti. For a while, I was wondering if they would be able to announce any results at all. Eventually they got their act together and awarded some nice trophies, river rocks with small brass plaques.
There were many FREEBIES! I ended up taking home a New Balance water bottle, Princeton Tec Pulsar keychain light, Nalgene unbreakable water bottle, Duravision Pro night-time safety flasher, a coffee table book (The Riverkeeper's Guide to the Chattahoochee River, 6 HoneyBar natural energy bars, another New Balance water bottle, a Subaru water bottle, a Fleet Feet water bottle, a genuine boxed Swiss Army Knife, and a partridge in a pear tree. Okay I did make up that last one. No t-shirt this race.
To sum up: I wish that they had spent just a little more effort on managing the race than having the most goodies for after the race. No matter how nice the goodies and your expo if you neglect the race itself, then next year I am probably going to look for a different race.
I did not have a good training week. I worked too much and ran too little. I did get in one good run and one day in the gym, but that was it. I had three goose eggs in the training log for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. So I was not feeling that great about running a 5K this weekend. I didn’t even sign up until late in the week, but I thought the motivation of a race might get me going.
I chose the Race for the River (http://www.runfortheriver.org/) mostly because it benefited the Upper Chattahoochee River Keepers (http://www.chattahoochee.org/), an organization whose mission is described as "to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, in order to restore and preserve their ecological health for the people, fish and wildlife that depend on the River system." Just for the record, "Chattahoochee" is a Creek Indian word meaning "river of painted rocks".
It was a cool morning out, the temperature in the mid-50's. The sky was overcast and the wind was really whipping up. I was able to sleep in since the race start was only about twenty minutes away from the apartment. The course itself runs through the main drive of a multi-building office complex in sort of a giant horseshoe shape and back again. It's a very flat course, although not flat enough for the woman I was chatting with after the race.
I did have a several gripes about the race itself. There were many non-runners at the race and before the race, they lined up in front of the starting line. The race officials then backed those folks up into the runners that had lined up according to their pace behind the starting line. The result was that many folks that were running for time started behind folks that were just running. As a result, there was a lot of jostling and some hurt feelings at the race start. An attempt should have been made at the start to sort folks out according to their expected pace. It makes the start a lot smoother. My 5K pace is just over 7 minutes which usually puts me about 5-10 feet back from the runners in the front.
Gripe number two was that although the splits were marked, they chose not to staff them. Gripe number three also relates to staffing. The course itself was simple, an out and back in a big horseshoe shape. Traffic cones divided the four-lane road into two lanes. Going out they said stay to the right, but after the turn around nobody was sure what lane they were supposed to be running in and there was no race official there to remind people. (If you are running a great big horseshoe shaped course, it makes quite a difference if you run in the inside or outside lane of the horseshoe.)
It was not my best race, despite the fact it was supposed to be a fast course. I could tell that I had taken a few days off. At the start, I had trouble getting clear of the slower runners. I was unsure what lane I was supposed to be in for the last half of the race. I finished the race in 22:30.
Most of the energy of the organizers of this race went into the goodie-bags and the post-race festivities which where probably the best I have ever seen. They had Starbucks, bagels, fruit, beer, pizza, energy bars, and bottled water. They had a silent auction to raise money for the River Keepers. I generally like to hang out to wait for the results of the race, but today I almost gave up. Remember I mentioned it was windy? They were just about ready to tabulate the results of the race and start announcing the winners when suddenly a great big cloud of time cards appeared from the direction of the scoring table and flew across the parking lot fluttering in the wind like confetti. For a while, I was wondering if they would be able to announce any results at all. Eventually they got their act together and awarded some nice trophies, river rocks with small brass plaques.
There were many FREEBIES! I ended up taking home a New Balance water bottle, Princeton Tec Pulsar keychain light, Nalgene unbreakable water bottle, Duravision Pro night-time safety flasher, a coffee table book (The Riverkeeper's Guide to the Chattahoochee River, 6 HoneyBar natural energy bars, another New Balance water bottle, a Subaru water bottle, a Fleet Feet water bottle, a genuine boxed Swiss Army Knife, and a partridge in a pear tree. Okay I did make up that last one. No t-shirt this race.
To sum up: I wish that they had spent just a little more effort on managing the race than having the most goodies for after the race. No matter how nice the goodies and your expo if you neglect the race itself, then next year I am probably going to look for a different race.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
ATC Cross-Country 5K
Boling Park, Canton, Georgia
I woke up, got dressed, grabbed a protein bar, walked outside around 6 AM and found it was pouring down rain. It had not occurred to me to check the weather before leaving the house. I turned around and went back inside… changed in my old pair of running shoes, grabbed my hat, and headed off to the races.
By race time the pouring rain had transitioned into a drizzle and finally into nothing at all. The course was nice and wet with puddles along the gravel path and some slick, muddy sections in the grass.
I was a bit apprehensive about doing well, having run a 15K the day before, but I got off to a fairly strong start. By the end of the first mile, I could tell that I had raced the day before. For the last two miles, I felt like I was really struggling to keep the pace. I was glad the race was not any longer than 5K.
I finished with a time of 22:40, hardly my best 5K time, but given it was a cross-country race and I was tired from day before, it was a time I am pretty happy with.
I woke up, got dressed, grabbed a protein bar, walked outside around 6 AM and found it was pouring down rain. It had not occurred to me to check the weather before leaving the house. I turned around and went back inside… changed in my old pair of running shoes, grabbed my hat, and headed off to the races.
By race time the pouring rain had transitioned into a drizzle and finally into nothing at all. The course was nice and wet with puddles along the gravel path and some slick, muddy sections in the grass.
I was a bit apprehensive about doing well, having run a 15K the day before, but I got off to a fairly strong start. By the end of the first mile, I could tell that I had raced the day before. For the last two miles, I felt like I was really struggling to keep the pace. I was glad the race was not any longer than 5K.
I finished with a time of 22:40, hardly my best 5K time, but given it was a cross-country race and I was tired from day before, it was a time I am pretty happy with.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Peachtree City Classic 15K
15K (9.32 mi)
13/71 Age Group
102 Overall
Time: 1:10:22.35
Pace: 7:33/mi
The Peachtree City 15K is a wonderful race. It takes place mostly on paved golf cart paths that wind through the trees, through short tunnels, and besides some lakes. It is a beautiful course. The 15K race is RRCA Southern Region Championship and the USATF Georgia Association Championship.
Peachtree City is a little less than an hour and a half away from my mom’s house in Roswell. We left early so we would be able to park close to the starting area and have easy access to the car to ditch our outer garments before the start of the race. With about 15 minutes to go before the race started, we shed our coats and headed towards the starting area. Within about 5 minutes, my teeth were chattering away (the temperature was around 40 degrees) and I was wondering if I was under dressed. About sixty seconds after the start I was perfectly comfortable, not noticing the temperature again until about thirty minutes after the race was over, so in retrospect I was dressed correctly in shorts, a light weight long sleeve shirt, and gloves.
The race started at 9:10 AM with about 500 men and 400 women in the 15K event. The first two miles of the race are on wide streets to give the runners a chance to thin out a bit before switching to the narrow golf card paths. From the start to the second mile marker is gently uphill. I ran those first two miles at close to a 7:00/mi pace and was a little worried that I was starting too fast. I had made the mistake of wearing sunglasses thinking the sun would soon be out and I kept fogging them up with my breath, an annoying and needless distraction. Eventually I ixnayed the sunglasses idea and hung them on my shirt collar, they just were not worth the hassle.
Not far after the second mile mark, the course transitioned to the golf cart paths. For me the feel of the race completely changes at that point. Things seem to be moving much faster and I was much more aware of the folks around me. A lot more of my attention was on navigating the path’s twists and turns. I find trail running, or even golf cart path running a lot more interesting than running on the open road.
At this point, I kept fretting about my pace. I did not want to run slower than I was capable, nor did I want to run so fast that burned out before the end. I tried to ease back a bit, but not so much that I felt I was taking it too easy. I was still worrying about this about mile five when another runner passed me. I passed her back, she passed me, we’d run stride for stride for a while, one of us would pass the other, and then the other would return the favor. We ran miles five and six at a 7:00/mi pace or better. Finally, she dropped off the pace a bit and I pulled ahead. A good thing, because I thought that pace was going to kill me. I am not sure which was worse however, being matched stride for stride, or feeling for the rest of the race as if she was right behind me waiting to strike.
By mile eight, I felt I was slowing significantly and I was sure folks were going to start passing me left and right. But when I went back and looked at the numbers, I ran the last mile and a third at exactly the same pace I had run the rest of the race. (7:33)
The last part of the course is particularly beautiful as it winds its way past several lakes. I cannot say that I was able to appreciate it however, by that point I was just thinking over and over, "Where’s that damn finish line."
The Peachtree City Classic is a very well run event. I am not sure I have ever seen as many volunteers stationed along a course to make sure things ran smoothly, safely, to see that runners did not get off the course, and provide traffic control. Veteran folks called out the time splits every mile and there was plenty of food, water, Gatorade, and sweatshirts, even for the late finishers. They used timing chips and the results were available online right away. They gave away an attractive high quality sweatshirt.
A great race.
13/71 Age Group
102 Overall
Time: 1:10:22.35
Pace: 7:33/mi
The Peachtree City 15K is a wonderful race. It takes place mostly on paved golf cart paths that wind through the trees, through short tunnels, and besides some lakes. It is a beautiful course. The 15K race is RRCA Southern Region Championship and the USATF Georgia Association Championship.
Peachtree City is a little less than an hour and a half away from my mom’s house in Roswell. We left early so we would be able to park close to the starting area and have easy access to the car to ditch our outer garments before the start of the race. With about 15 minutes to go before the race started, we shed our coats and headed towards the starting area. Within about 5 minutes, my teeth were chattering away (the temperature was around 40 degrees) and I was wondering if I was under dressed. About sixty seconds after the start I was perfectly comfortable, not noticing the temperature again until about thirty minutes after the race was over, so in retrospect I was dressed correctly in shorts, a light weight long sleeve shirt, and gloves.
The race started at 9:10 AM with about 500 men and 400 women in the 15K event. The first two miles of the race are on wide streets to give the runners a chance to thin out a bit before switching to the narrow golf card paths. From the start to the second mile marker is gently uphill. I ran those first two miles at close to a 7:00/mi pace and was a little worried that I was starting too fast. I had made the mistake of wearing sunglasses thinking the sun would soon be out and I kept fogging them up with my breath, an annoying and needless distraction. Eventually I ixnayed the sunglasses idea and hung them on my shirt collar, they just were not worth the hassle.
Not far after the second mile mark, the course transitioned to the golf cart paths. For me the feel of the race completely changes at that point. Things seem to be moving much faster and I was much more aware of the folks around me. A lot more of my attention was on navigating the path’s twists and turns. I find trail running, or even golf cart path running a lot more interesting than running on the open road.
At this point, I kept fretting about my pace. I did not want to run slower than I was capable, nor did I want to run so fast that burned out before the end. I tried to ease back a bit, but not so much that I felt I was taking it too easy. I was still worrying about this about mile five when another runner passed me. I passed her back, she passed me, we’d run stride for stride for a while, one of us would pass the other, and then the other would return the favor. We ran miles five and six at a 7:00/mi pace or better. Finally, she dropped off the pace a bit and I pulled ahead. A good thing, because I thought that pace was going to kill me. I am not sure which was worse however, being matched stride for stride, or feeling for the rest of the race as if she was right behind me waiting to strike.
By mile eight, I felt I was slowing significantly and I was sure folks were going to start passing me left and right. But when I went back and looked at the numbers, I ran the last mile and a third at exactly the same pace I had run the rest of the race. (7:33)
The last part of the course is particularly beautiful as it winds its way past several lakes. I cannot say that I was able to appreciate it however, by that point I was just thinking over and over, "Where’s that damn finish line."
The Peachtree City Classic is a very well run event. I am not sure I have ever seen as many volunteers stationed along a course to make sure things ran smoothly, safely, to see that runners did not get off the course, and provide traffic control. Veteran folks called out the time splits every mile and there was plenty of food, water, Gatorade, and sweatshirts, even for the late finishers. They used timing chips and the results were available online right away. They gave away an attractive high quality sweatshirt.
A great race.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Currahee 10K
World War II Paratroopers went through basic training at camp Toccoa at the base of Mount Currahee. As part of their physical training, recruits were regularly required to run up and down the mountain, approximately a 900-foot change in elevation.
When I woke up Saturday morning, I found the first real frost of the year. I had to dig around to add my gloves and hat to my running bag. It was a pleasant 2-hour drive to Toccoa, watching the sun come up, sipping my coffee, and wondering what the race was going to be like. The flier for the race said the following:
CAUTION; This is a strenuous race with the 5K following an out and back course on the mountain Forestry Service road while the 10K goes out and back to the top of Currahee Mountain.
The reason I signed up for this race was that I was looking for something that would be a bit of a challenge. Some of my recent reading material has included Dean Karnazes Confessions of All Night Runner and Kira Salak's The Cruelest Journey, and Four Corners. Reading those books has the effect on one of making you want to do something out of the ordinary.
I had visions of the race being a little challenging. Scoping out the first part of the course before the race, it certainly look doable. I was a little concerned about my footing running on the gravel roads. The first part of the course was a short steep uphill followed by a long rolling section that slowly gained elevation. Just before the mile and a half mark, there was a short, steep downhill. It was about a half mile after that, I was doing okay, getting used to the footing and trying to find my pace when suddenly the road started going up. I slowed my pace a bit and focused on getting up the hill. Unlike the hills on my regular runs however, this hill kept going and going. My run slowed to a jog, then slowed to a shuffle. I began gasping a bit for air. My shuffle turned into a walk. Fortunately, for my pride, pretty much everyone else was in the same boat. Only a select few made it up the mountain without walking at least a bit.
The sensation at the turn around point at the top of the mountain was exactly like when you get to the top of that first hill on a roller coaster. All of a sudden, the gravity that had been working against you completely takes over. As I plummeted down the rough gravel road, I found the trick was to take full advantage of gravity, but not to the point of losing complete control of one's descent. The steeper sections I navigated by taking short rapid strides. When the grade was not too steep, I was able to open up my stride and really set a blistering pace.
By the time, I got down the mountain my legs were a wreck. My calves hated me. My quads felt week. Even the small hills on the way back humbled me into walking parts of them. By the last mile, I was starting to recover a little bit and even managed to hold off several challengers.
I finished the race 44th in a time of 48:34. Given the difficulty of the course, I was nothing short of amazed.
It was a relatively small race and didn't have many amenities. However, the hospitality of the folks from Toccoa more than made up for it.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
ATC - Cartersville 10K
Atlanta Track Club Cartersville 10K - This course winds through scenic farmland near the Etowah Indian Mounds. Moderately rolling, the course is mainly blacktop and finishes with one and one-half laps on the Cartersville track. It was a new course this year, moving off some now busy roads and instead incorporating wide scenic running trails making one of my favorite races even better.
It was a crisp fall morning, about 50 degrees, clear skies, and a full moon just above the horizon; a perfect morning to jump in the car, and head off for a race. The race was in Cartersville, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta up Interstate 75, near the Etowah Indian Mounds. The race started in Dellinger Park and wound its way down surface streets before moving onto the wide asphalt of The Etowah River Walk near mile two. I was running about a 7:12 /mi pace and by that second mile was beginning to feel it. I have been feeling under the weather the past couple of days dealing with long hours at work and what is either seasonal allergies or the beginning of a cold. For the first few miles of the race, I was completely congested and felt like I was having difficulty breathing.
About the two and a half mile mark I fell in with someone running about the same pace and for the next two miles we made a contest of it, passing each other several times. Eventually he was able to pull ahead and put a little bit of distance between us, about twenty yards, which I was not able to make up before the end of the race.
The River Walk is a beautiful trail running through and around a large farmer’s field although there are a couple of minor rolling hills and a short section where some misguided person decided to use cement instead of the more knee forgiving asphalt. Even so, Dellinger Park and the adjacent River Walk are tremendous community resources and a great place to run.
For me those last two miles of the race were an exercise in willpower. About mile four, I realized that the physical conditioning was there and the only thing standing in my way was the mental toughness to keep pushing and not drop off the pace. I find it hard to tell sometimes in races what is a mental wall and what is a physical one.
The race moved back onto blacktop for the last couple of miles before turning back into the park. Once back in the park, cones directed us onto the running track for one and a half laps. With just a lap to go, a fast runner fell in beside and then passed me. I passed her back then she passed me back. Around the final turn I let her have the inside lane, but sprinted it out with her for the finish. I was surprised to find how much kick I was able to muster at the end, but she nipped me by two seconds.
My time was 45:32, a personal best. The post race analysis also shows that I kept a steady pace the entire race. My average pace was 7:20, almost exactly what I ran the first mile at.
On an unrelated note, as we were walking around before the race trying to keep warm, we came across a pull-up bar. I have not done a pull-up for years. However, just to see if that work I have been doing in the gym has paid off at all, I jumped up there and surprised myself by easily doing several pull-ups. The glow of that success might have been one of the factors that helped me have such a successful race.
It was a crisp fall morning, about 50 degrees, clear skies, and a full moon just above the horizon; a perfect morning to jump in the car, and head off for a race. The race was in Cartersville, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta up Interstate 75, near the Etowah Indian Mounds. The race started in Dellinger Park and wound its way down surface streets before moving onto the wide asphalt of The Etowah River Walk near mile two. I was running about a 7:12 /mi pace and by that second mile was beginning to feel it. I have been feeling under the weather the past couple of days dealing with long hours at work and what is either seasonal allergies or the beginning of a cold. For the first few miles of the race, I was completely congested and felt like I was having difficulty breathing.
About the two and a half mile mark I fell in with someone running about the same pace and for the next two miles we made a contest of it, passing each other several times. Eventually he was able to pull ahead and put a little bit of distance between us, about twenty yards, which I was not able to make up before the end of the race.
The River Walk is a beautiful trail running through and around a large farmer’s field although there are a couple of minor rolling hills and a short section where some misguided person decided to use cement instead of the more knee forgiving asphalt. Even so, Dellinger Park and the adjacent River Walk are tremendous community resources and a great place to run.
For me those last two miles of the race were an exercise in willpower. About mile four, I realized that the physical conditioning was there and the only thing standing in my way was the mental toughness to keep pushing and not drop off the pace. I find it hard to tell sometimes in races what is a mental wall and what is a physical one.
The race moved back onto blacktop for the last couple of miles before turning back into the park. Once back in the park, cones directed us onto the running track for one and a half laps. With just a lap to go, a fast runner fell in beside and then passed me. I passed her back then she passed me back. Around the final turn I let her have the inside lane, but sprinted it out with her for the finish. I was surprised to find how much kick I was able to muster at the end, but she nipped me by two seconds.
My time was 45:32, a personal best. The post race analysis also shows that I kept a steady pace the entire race. My average pace was 7:20, almost exactly what I ran the first mile at.
On an unrelated note, as we were walking around before the race trying to keep warm, we came across a pull-up bar. I have not done a pull-up for years. However, just to see if that work I have been doing in the gym has paid off at all, I jumped up there and surprised myself by easily doing several pull-ups. The glow of that success might have been one of the factors that helped me have such a successful race.
