I entered this classic Hamilton Holiday Race for the second time. This is a tough race - it isn't a typical Ten Mile road race where you can pick a pace between your 10K and Half Marathon paces and run equal splits throughout. The BDTM has ridiculous uphills in the sixth and eight miles - expend too much energy before or during those inclines and you will have too little left to make the most of the downhill closing two miles where you can really fly:
My primary goal was to beat my Ten Mile PB of 1:16:42 but I really thought I had a chance to run 75 minutes. It would take running efficiently on the easy and moderate parts of the course as the two big uphills would required a fair it of energy while lowering my overall pace.
I knew that I needed 4:40/K to hit 75 minutes and that meant some 4:3x Ks in the first five mostly downhill Ks and late in the race. I ran cautiously in the uphill first K and then picked it up:
1 - 4:44
2 - 4:31
3 - 4:36
The mileage markers were off or I wasn't running tangents - while I was sub-4:40 for the first part of the race in aggregate, I was passing the mile markers at well past the equivalent 7:30 per mile. I avoided reaction to signs likely dropped in the wrong spots and plodded on per my plan:
4 - 4:42
5 - 4:41
6 - 4:43
7 - 4:42
8 - 4:42
Ks 4-8 were done by effort level to not empty the tank in the easier first half. I was hoping these Ks at this level would read 4:3x on my watch but they were not. I knew that 75 minutes likely out-of-reach, I was a bit off an even pace even though this half had been net downhill.
Five Mile Split - 37:31
9 -4:56 (uphill)
10 - 4:37
11 - 4:43
12 - 5:09 (uphill)
13 - 4:43 (uphill)
Ks 9-13 were run hard but at a level where I knew I could turn it on as soon as I reached the highest point on the course with 2K to go. Fortunately this peak came earlier than I recalled and I had 2 downhill miles rather than kilometres to go. I hoped that my 4:30/K pace I planned on for this part of the course could become 4:20/K. I gave 'er:
14 - 4:11
15 - 4:37
16 - 4:05
I realized during the 16th K that I was going to break 75 minutes barely. Of course, I had not accounted for all the cars parked on the side of the road on right turns in the second half, lengthening my route. So an extra 105 metres run to get to the 16.093K race distance. But I will take it! Mission accomplished.
17 - 0:43 for 0.198K (3:37/K pace)
My splits indicate that I had banked energy for the second half as well as I could have:
Five Mile Splits - 37:31/37:31
Official Time - 1:15:02 for 16.093K Race (4:40/K)
GPS Time - 1:15:02 for 16.198K Run (4:38/K)
Funny how things go. After a year without a PB capped by a Marathon PW seven weeks ago, my three races since that time have been Win, PB, PB. Good to have regained the conditioning lost while injured a year ago and to now break new ground! Bring on 2012.
