This years races, from 10k to a full, and some new PRs
By Ttristan
By Ttristan
I hadn't got around to posting about some of my earlier races, so thought I'd combine them all into one. This will be a long post! This year I set out early in the year to train for a spring half marathon - using an actual plan for the first time. I tried to follow Hal Higdon's advanced half marathon plan. In the plan it's suggested to do a 5, 10, and 15k races working up to the half. I ended up with a 5k and two 10k races, though I'll skip over the 5k race in this report since several of us thought we were at the turn around and ended up severely shorting the course! Whoopsie! Training went fairly well, though some of my training was with minimalist shoes since it was early in February. I had to really juggle many of the workout around my work schedule though, doing 1/4mi sprints at fast pace just wasn't a good idea after sitting in a chair 12hrs at work, so I avoided the hard workouts during my dayshifts.
Next up was the Three Creeks 5 & 10k. I'm not quite sure if I am supposed to go all out in these races since the plan has just one easy day after than right back into a speedwork day. Well I have trouble holding back, and really wanted to see what I could do. It'd been a few years since I had done a 10k; in 2016 I ran my fastest 10k in 39:22 @ 6:20 min/mi pace.
Yvonne and I at the start of the 10k race.
I ran this one with my friend and fellow BRS member Yvonne. I think it was her fastest 10k as well, and we both took 3rd overall. It was cold, actually my first bf race below freezing. She was fine, but below freezing is a struggle for me. I had a little numbness, and my feet do not warm up at these speeds since I believe the majority of blood flow diverted to the muscles. My form was probably slightly compromised, though I took no damage that I can recall. Toes and forefoot were very pale after but eventually warmed up wearing socks and shoes.
A couple weeks later would be the final race used to train for my half marathon. We both decided on another 10k. Plan called for 15k but racing is kind of optional anyhow, and we found one that really sounded neat... the Dog Tap 5k/10k. Its put on my a local craft brewery, Brew Dog (everything is dog themed there). It's a really neat brewery with lots of history, first in Scotland and then a few locations in the U.S. starting with this one. They gave out commemorative pint glasses instead of medals, and finishers got a pint of their flagship beer, a Punk IPA (and I love IPAs!). This was an afternoon race, my first, and unfortunately the hottest day of the year so far. Even training in the afternoons, it hadn't really been shorts weather yet (March & early April), and my last 10k that was 2 weeks prior had been in the upper 20's F. Then all of the sudden this race was 70F! I was sweating just doing a warmup, something I hadn't experienced since prior year. Race started well enough, I actually got out ahead and was in first place! A fellow on a bicycle led the course, which is great because I had not memorized the course and the markings were sketchy. It was a bit past 2mi iirc than I heard the familiar sound of footsteps catching up to me, and passing. I was already feeling severe exhaustion, the heat was making it much worse. I tried to keep up with the fellow that past me, but it was no use, I was barely maintaining my speed and he was pulling away. Some segments of the course went over rough broken up parking lots and one was even currently being replaced. At the turn around point he was a good 100 yards or more ahead, and a few minutes later he was getting far enough ahead I was loosing sight. I eased up some, the next guy behind me was well over a hundred yards also, and I was so exhausted I was worrying about recovery for the rest of my training and the main goal race 3 weeks later. Made it through the chute still in second, and third was catching up but still about 30 seconds behind me. Yvonne was struggling in the heat too, and fell a little short of placing in this one.
Plaques for both the 3 Creeks & Dog Tap 10k's, and the pint glass.
Yep those are zip-off cargo pants lol!
10 years of medals at the Capital City Half Marathon (first 3 were 5k)
I didn't do any hard training all summer besides easy runs with the occasional long run up to 15 or 16 miles. Another race I often like to do is the 18.12 Challenge & Half Marathon. Originally my work schedule didn't allow it, so I didn't prep or train for it like I should've. I was mainly focused on getting my distance up to train for the Columbus Marathon. A last minute schedule change allowed me to run the race, and even with no speedwork over summer at all I managed an 18.12 mile PR. I was really sore for a few days after than one, I know I pushed myself too hard considering I'd not run at that pace at all in several months. I was walking down stairs backwards for two days. Luckily that third day I got better quick, and 4 days later I was hiking in the mountains (I'll have a post on that trip hopefully soon).
3rd in age group, 8th overall, at 7:00 min/mi pace. AG placers got this pint glass.
Fireworks at the start of the 40th anniversary Columbus Marathon
I thought the colors were autumn-ish, orange and brown, and yes I ran a full marathon in cargo shorts.
A PR by over 15 minutes!
For the 40th anniversary they offered a shirt a little nicer than the usual tee shirt, a nice quarter zip long sleeved Nike shirt and a bit chunkier medal.