Each year the NYRR marks one 5 mile race as a race for ONLY recognized teams separated into a mens and womens race. For the more competitive teams, you’ll find people really amped up and primed to go out for the kill. Generally it works in my favor to run just that much faster because the competition is THAT much faster. However, this year I had August 22nd on the brain. That made this race less important to me and more of a chance to give the legs a little turnover, than all out race. I wanted to see what felt comfortable and roll with it.
Friday afternoon I had biked home from work to discover I had left my watch at work. Dilemma. Do I go back or just go “naked” for the race? I really didn’t want to schlep back to the office and decided to use my internal pace clock. I wasn’t going for an all out effort so this gave a great opportunity to just go by the gut and total feel. My plan was to hit around tempo and just maintain that effort. Again, no need to knock myself out but it can’t hurt to give a good little workout. After watching the men, one of my friends KP gave me an old school watch just so I had some sort of vibe for the race.
While at the start corral I ran into nyflygirl and eatdrinkrun. Always nice to put a name with the face but also a great way to calm race jitters. I find no matter what I get them a little before the horn goes off. My mechanism is to start gabbing away. Anyway, the horn went off and somehow the watch never started! So I was back at square one. I didn’t care but I’m pretty certain I got off to a slow start. I can’t remember my mile 1 split exactly but I think it was somewhere around 7:35-7:40. Slower than I wanted. I picked up the turnover just a hair and got into a groove. It was pretty awesome – my legs felt great and the hills were no problem. I never felt out of control and just went with what felt good. It’s a shame I don’t have splits because I am pretty certain it was pacemaster at work. I felt that in control.
Cruising to the finish (photo by C. Dopher)
Crossed the line in 37:27 (7:29 pace). Felt great and best of all? No hip discomfort at all! It seems wearing regular shoes, constant stretch/ice/Advil has done the trick. Knowing I ran this without turning on the afterburners gives me a lot of confidence going into the fall. I think there’s a lot of damage to be done after August 22nd. I have a whole lot of fitness and confidence to build off of going for marathon #3 on November 7th.
And with that, I’ve reached my last race as a F29. It’s been a nice racing decade but I think the F30-39 will be even better.
Another one bites the dust – your dust 🙂 What a summer…what a decade. No doubt your peak is in front of you (all puns intended). More important – you know your peak is not the point.
It’s clear, from your chronicles that you’re in it for the joy of it. It’s been great to watch you enjoy it so much 🙂
Women runners definitely reach their peak in their 30’s! So bring on the birthday 🙂
Glad your hip is feelin’ good. 91 days and counting till NYC marathon. All of us blogger-runners should meet up before then!
That’s what I hear about the 30s;) I’m not afraid…heck I’m climbing a mountain for it! First that then 26.2 of NYC.
I agree – let’s make a blogger run happen.
I’ve felt stronger, faster and in better shape in my 30s than ever before in my life including when I was playing volleyball 24/7 in college. Way to welcome in the new decade!!
Nice job – a pain-free race is a victory in itself. I can’t believe you are double-marathoning it this season, but hey, got to get your jollies somewhere. I, personally, can’t wait to turn 30: fun new age bracket, lower car insurance rates, AND I can run for Senate. Win!
Somehow I decided that this year I’d put insanity to the test. That and hey, why the heck not? 🙂 Pikes is more like an adventure; NYC will be the big battle. November 8th I rest.
Sweet – you’ll have to let me know what you’re platform is for senate.
Hey–wait till you hit your forties and fifties, it gets ever so much better! Great job and here’s to running thru the ages. Are you doing PDR? Would be great to meet up with you there!
I am doing the Philly Distance Run! Love that race:)
Congrats on a great race! I was so trying to keep you in my sights but I couldn’t til about the last half-mile…
Nice job, and hooray for no hip pain! Also, yay for November 7th! 🙂
Look at it this way: BQ’ing as an F30 is easier!
Actually BQ at 30 is the same as 29…don’t get the extra 5 til 35;)
Your approach was smart. If it’s not a target race, there is little advantage to feeding off of everyone else being amp’d up. Best to get a good workout under your belt in race-like conditions and move on the August 22nd!