Nine days until a little race in Boston but first I’ll recap the Capitol 10,000 from March 29. I didn’t decide to run the 10K until two days prior to the race, but when trying to register found it was sold out. Emailed the race director and she said she had some “Local Elite” entries available. Hahahaha … me … hahaha … local elite … haha …. ok, sorry about that. Anyway, anyone under 38:00 for a previous 10K would qualify, so I … haha … elite … haha … oh man … aw, really sorry about this.
Back to it: felt a little awkward in the “elite” corral so I hung at the back, then moved up right before the gun and settled in behind a team of kids (should have stayed behind them). Plan was to hit 6:00 minute pace, maybe 5:50. My legs were pretty dead from the marathon mileage. First mile up Congress I felt good, looking for people to run with, figured I might try to stay with Desiree. 5:50. Perfect. Second mile felt even better. 5:35. Oh crap. Third mile with the big hill up Enfield I struggled to a 6:12. There was an annoying guy who would practically walk up the hills then roar down them. Maybe it’s a good strategy though because he ended up beating me.
Around 5K I felt like I started struggling and lots of people were passing me, but my splits held pretty good until the tough 6th mile. 5:47, 5:48 for miles 4 and 5. I thought I actually picked it up on that 6th mile but I guess my effort just increased, not my pace. 6:10 for mile 6. Rounding the corner to the finish a 12 year old kid flew by me. I looked over and all I saw was a flop of hair at about my waist level. For the previous half mile I had heard the spectators behind me yelling, “you’re the first kid!” But I figured they meant 16 or 17 year old “kid”, not a 12 year old. For about 2 seconds as he passed me I held thoughts of trying to kick with him, but then realized I didn’t want to look like a fool in the finish line photos, trying to outduel a 12 year old. “Take that elbow, Doogie!” So I kind of let up and coasted on in. I did hold off his twin brother by 2 seconds though. Take that, preteens!
36:31. Not a great race, not a bad race. 50 seconds faster than last year, a minute slower than IBM 10K last October. About what I expected at the end of a 75 mile week, though I wish my splits would have been more consistent. That particular weekend called for an 18 mile long run, but I think racing is more beneficial, so I ended up running 17 miles that day: 6 miles “warm-up”, 10K race, 5 miles post-race.
Bing ba-da-boom. Bob’s your uncle!
