Robbie-T @ Bread and Honey 15k 2010
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:12 pm
Sometimes your bib number is given to you for a reason.
Bib number 344, race pace 3:44, ironic? I think not.
Forget the report, skip to the splits at the bottom, that is where the real story is!!
My goal for this race was 56:30, I thought that would be pretty aggressive, and when I got to the race it was raining, windy and cold, I think at that point I'd be happy with 58:00 and maybe even sub 1:00:00. I got my race kit, chatted with b_squared for a bit then went to warm up.
I was slipping on my Nike Zoom Streak XC race shoes and thinking about PRE, these shoes feel very old school to me, maybe it is the cotton laces, they are super light. I've never wore them further then 10.8km, I should be fine in them but I didn't know for sure.
Left on my warmups and got soaked warming up, I had no idea what today would bring but I committed myself to doing my very best today. Ran back to my car dumped all extra clothing and headed to the start line.
The race starts and we are off, I never get good quick starts, and build up to my race pace feeling pretty good so far. After 1km Pat runs up by me and says "Hi", I try to stay with him but he is gone easily and I stick to my pace, I keep his orange shoes in view. After about 2k a local hero Chris catches me, everyone knows him, he is a member of the hosting club (Credit River Marathon Club) and has ran the race many times before. We chat a bit, he lets me know that we will need to work for the next 6k against the wind. We agree to work together and he takes the lead for a bit and I tuck in behind him. Every 500m or so we trade positions, I'm not sure how helpful this was but it kept us pushing and enjoying the race. At about 7k or so the rain stops and around 8k going over the 401 I drop him and another guy that has been following us. I have been feeling rather smooth up until here, but felt I was going as fast as was healthy today, and it was time to make my move.
From then on I start keying on the next guy in front and notice I'm surprisingly making ground on Pat, I thought he was gone for good, and everyone else too. I watch the leaders coming back one guy has a clear lead on a small pack, they are too far ahead for me at this point
At the turn around, I can see who is ahead of me that may be in my age group and/or an obvious master, just Pat and a guy in Blue shoes as far as I can tell. I catch Pat at 10k going back over the 401, he is having stomach issues, I'm feeling super at this point and keep flowing on. At this point I start my kick and pick up the pace to catch a couple more runners if possible. One younger guy, maybe another I can't remember, then about 13k I catch the older looking guy in Blue shoes, I just kept my turn over quick, short and smooth and flew right by him. Another guy was in my sights and slowly slowly I was getting closer but not fast enough. In the final km I pushed as hard as I could and finished with a surprising and very happy time.
55:50 chip time!! 3:44 pace
12th overall
10th male
1st Master Champion (awarded a nice plaque and very nice Timex Ironman watch)
1st 40-44 Age Group
It looks like the winner and a couple other guys in the top 10 that ran the race last year were 1.5-2 min slower this year then last year!!
Splits http://www.itsmyrun.com/laps.php?id=30738
5k - 19:04
10k - 19:02
15k - 17:40
0-10k - 38:06
5k-15k - 36:42
Bib number 344, race pace 3:44, ironic? I think not.
Forget the report, skip to the splits at the bottom, that is where the real story is!!
My goal for this race was 56:30, I thought that would be pretty aggressive, and when I got to the race it was raining, windy and cold, I think at that point I'd be happy with 58:00 and maybe even sub 1:00:00. I got my race kit, chatted with b_squared for a bit then went to warm up.
I was slipping on my Nike Zoom Streak XC race shoes and thinking about PRE, these shoes feel very old school to me, maybe it is the cotton laces, they are super light. I've never wore them further then 10.8km, I should be fine in them but I didn't know for sure.
Left on my warmups and got soaked warming up, I had no idea what today would bring but I committed myself to doing my very best today. Ran back to my car dumped all extra clothing and headed to the start line.
The race starts and we are off, I never get good quick starts, and build up to my race pace feeling pretty good so far. After 1km Pat runs up by me and says "Hi", I try to stay with him but he is gone easily and I stick to my pace, I keep his orange shoes in view. After about 2k a local hero Chris catches me, everyone knows him, he is a member of the hosting club (Credit River Marathon Club) and has ran the race many times before. We chat a bit, he lets me know that we will need to work for the next 6k against the wind. We agree to work together and he takes the lead for a bit and I tuck in behind him. Every 500m or so we trade positions, I'm not sure how helpful this was but it kept us pushing and enjoying the race. At about 7k or so the rain stops and around 8k going over the 401 I drop him and another guy that has been following us. I have been feeling rather smooth up until here, but felt I was going as fast as was healthy today, and it was time to make my move.
From then on I start keying on the next guy in front and notice I'm surprisingly making ground on Pat, I thought he was gone for good, and everyone else too. I watch the leaders coming back one guy has a clear lead on a small pack, they are too far ahead for me at this point
At the turn around, I can see who is ahead of me that may be in my age group and/or an obvious master, just Pat and a guy in Blue shoes as far as I can tell. I catch Pat at 10k going back over the 401, he is having stomach issues, I'm feeling super at this point and keep flowing on. At this point I start my kick and pick up the pace to catch a couple more runners if possible. One younger guy, maybe another I can't remember, then about 13k I catch the older looking guy in Blue shoes, I just kept my turn over quick, short and smooth and flew right by him. Another guy was in my sights and slowly slowly I was getting closer but not fast enough. In the final km I pushed as hard as I could and finished with a surprising and very happy time.
55:50 chip time!! 3:44 pace
12th overall
10th male
1st Master Champion (awarded a nice plaque and very nice Timex Ironman watch)
1st 40-44 Age Group
It looks like the winner and a couple other guys in the top 10 that ran the race last year were 1.5-2 min slower this year then last year!!
Splits http://www.itsmyrun.com/laps.php?id=30738
5k - 19:04
10k - 19:02
15k - 17:40
0-10k - 38:06
5k-15k - 36:42