Well crap.The race started fine (aside from all the people who never intended to run who started at the front of the pack) and I settled into a steady pace pretty easily. It was a little faster than I'd intended, at 11:10 rather than the 11:30 I'd planned. But I felt ok, it was a cool morning 75* and there was a nice breeze that happened to be blowing just nicely. The first part of the course was mostly downhill, with one small uphill in the middle. By the time we hit the uphill portion, most of the people who'd gone out too fast stopped to walk, and were easy pickings. It was here when we looped back towards the start that I saw the lead runners returning already--like 11 minutes in. That should have been my first clue.
The second part of the course was relatively flat, and aside from being nearly taken out several times by a woman pushing a jogging stroller that kept leap frogging me after she had to stop to walk, I felt really good and I settled into a 10:30 pace. The third portion of the course was a marked uphill/downhill, out and back dog leg that I was looking forward to. I figured the hill would cause even more people to walk and I felt really strong and looking forward to attacking it, (thank you intervals!), and then the downhill was running directly into that blessed breeze.
Only, we never made it.
The volunteer course marshal turned us around at the point we should have headed out for the dogleg, and sent us back towards the start instead. I argued with her for several seconds (having run the course several times) but she was not hearing it.
Realizing that it was going to be a very short course, I immediately attacked the pace, dropping below 10 minutes and pushing the less than a mile back to the start/finish.
Unofficial results put me running the entire course at a ridiculous 8:17 pace. Too bad it was a lie. In actuality it was 2.46 miles/10:32 pace. Mile 1, 11:11; Mile 2, 10:31; Mile 3, 9:10.
I'm really kind of upset--when I got home and talked with my wife, my eyes welled up a bit. It's a pretty big let down. Grr!! It was going so well!! And I felt so good. And...and...
Waiting for my refund check from my prorated entry fee in the mail.
I won't hold my breath.
Edited to add: Official results are in, and based on the numbers they've now corrected for the altered course distance. Officially I ran a 10:34 pace. Overall 192/514, 102/182 males, and 23/41 in my age group.
That totally sucks, Robert! I'm so sorry! But - you can take heart in the fact that you were feeling strong AND there will be plenty more 5Ks in the future!
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DeleteYep! I got home and immediately started looking for upcoming 5K's in the next couple of weeks. I'm probably going to sign up for the Rahr Oktoberfest 5K in two weeks (after I run it by the CFO and Keeper of the Schedule--my wife). I have a few weeks before I start in on my 10K training plan (!!!) so that I peak at the right time for the Don Zetnick Winter Run 10K. Planning on using the Hal Higdon Intermediate plan.
On an aside--have you and your husband checked out the Rahr Brewery in Ft. Worth? Don't know if you guys are beer aficionados but Rahr is a locally owned micro brewery. They have "tours" at the brewery on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. $7 entry fee gets you 3, 1 pint coupons for tasting, and there's always food trucks, and sometimes local bands. Very cool Ft. Worth experience.
Congratulations on running a very good race despite that guidance from that race volunteer. The distance is not as important as the experience of racing (for the first time?). I'm confident that your next race will go much better.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI am calling it my first race, even though I did run a Turkey Trot 3 or 4 years ago. It's my first race where I cared about my progress as a runner.
I ran 5k today + another 0.6 miles to make up for yesterday, hehe!
And I signed up for another 5k race in two weeks.
I agree with "The Emerging Runner!" You did AWESOME!! This race was nothing near a "fail." When I saw the title I was sure I was going to read about a debilitating cramp, or broken bone. So relieved and excited about how well you did, and even more happy to hear you're jumping right back in the race saddle. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteHaha, sorry about the title. I'm glad I didn't cramp or break anything too!
DeleteThis next race I've signed up for is a simple loop course, so it should be hard to screw up. Plus it starts and ends at a microbrewery...so if they do screw it up, I'll have ample opportunity to drown my sorrows, ha!