ATB Report #17: A Cautionary Tale
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:33 pm
Short version: I went out too fast, like I know you're not supposed to. It hurt, my pride, my time, and my muscles, in that order.
Back story: Did my first race just under a year ago, ran 2 halfs and a 25 last fall. Deciding to do ATB this year in December, I wrote down my goal time as 2:50. After talking about it here, I changed it to 2:45, said in a whisper. 3 weeks ago I did the Chilly Half. I was determined to do a "smart" race, with great attention to planning and execution. Plan was, 2 kms at 5:20 pace, then ramp it up to what felt right. And I did it, first 2 Kms were 5:21 and 5:20. Average by 10Kms was 5:11, by the end 5:06. Iwas flying by people at the end, felt great, it was a total success, PB by over 6 minutes.
After that, I upped my goal to 2:40 for ATB. Plan was, and I gave it a lot of thought, 20Kms at 5:15 pace, then use up whatever I had left till the end. I figured that a 5:30 pace for the last ten, I'm still at my goal.
My girlfriend was running in the 15Km relay, and our dear old friend was running as her partner and staying with us Saturday night. We picked up my main training partner who was also running 15. We got there in plenty of time, no stress really, it was a beautiful day and everything was working out. Met everybody in 122 and got out on the starting grid with 15 minutes to spare. I don't usually line up too near the front, probably because I'm running late. Sunday, we got a good spot. My training partner (doing 15) is with me, happy to go whatever pace I set.
Off we go, off easy I think. After 1km, my new Garmin says 4:50. "we're going too fast", I say, she says then slow down. I guess I do, to 4:54 for the 2nd k. Try harder, result is 3kms at 5:05. A little better, but it causes me anxiety, never a good thing for me in a race. First 5kms in under 25 minutes, wrong pace. Even worse it is hot, who would have thought in March. We were looking for shade, and happy when the breeze showed up around 7 or 8 Kms.
Eventually I chilled out a bit, even though I dropped a water bottle when I had my first gel after 10kms. Sent partner ahead at that point. As per plan, I threw my coat to Signifigant Other at the 15Kms mark, for her to give to her relay partner. Nice and cool without it across the bridge, until we hit Burlington and it was warmer again.
Right then i started to feel rough. I had done this section in training, it was so much harder now. Just running, it wasn't the hills, they didn't bother me. I first really walked on the flats when we hit Plains Road, just a little before that on one hill. This would be around Km 22 or 23. My calfs were threatening to cramp up if I pushed too hard, willpower wasn't the answer I felt. I briefly wondered how long it might take me to walk it in. But I kept running as much as I could. Most splits at this point were just below or above 6:00, except 3 that were over 7 (walking). I didn't think it would be rightous to run pass Maniac Hill just for show, so I did what i was doing, run some and walk some. I've never really walked in a race before, maybe 30 seconds in my first half. I felt stupid above all. My body was ready to do a happy 2:40, my brain or whatever let me down. I did one km at 5:43 down the stretch, but I couldn't sustain it, and I walked a bit in the last Km, within sight of the stadium. Ouch. The ramp didn't bother me, maybe its training on the Bruce Trail so much. Final tally,
1744 2:48:25.0 5:37 2:47:42.6 2871 GRAGG, SHELDON Georgetown 1262/2299 237/440 Men 45 - 49 52:29 1:19:37 1:46:30 Final 10kms took just over an hour. 10Km Splits(chip time): 51, 55, 61. Still, I made my original goal.
Overall (believe it or not) I really did have a great day. Nothing hurt after, people were great, the course is beautiful, etc. My girlfriend had a great time, which is huge, because she usually doesn't run on roads, go past 10kms, or run more than one race a year. Now she's talking about doing the 25k (trail race) at Sulpher Springs!. Good news.
Its just that I felt stupid and humbled, not used to that. I knew what to do, but I didn't do it. Plan the run and, what was it?
Today I feel pretty good, a little sore this afternoon, but I went for a hike with the dog after work, 3.1 Kms at i don't care what pace. love you guys.
Back story: Did my first race just under a year ago, ran 2 halfs and a 25 last fall. Deciding to do ATB this year in December, I wrote down my goal time as 2:50. After talking about it here, I changed it to 2:45, said in a whisper. 3 weeks ago I did the Chilly Half. I was determined to do a "smart" race, with great attention to planning and execution. Plan was, 2 kms at 5:20 pace, then ramp it up to what felt right. And I did it, first 2 Kms were 5:21 and 5:20. Average by 10Kms was 5:11, by the end 5:06. Iwas flying by people at the end, felt great, it was a total success, PB by over 6 minutes.
After that, I upped my goal to 2:40 for ATB. Plan was, and I gave it a lot of thought, 20Kms at 5:15 pace, then use up whatever I had left till the end. I figured that a 5:30 pace for the last ten, I'm still at my goal.
My girlfriend was running in the 15Km relay, and our dear old friend was running as her partner and staying with us Saturday night. We picked up my main training partner who was also running 15. We got there in plenty of time, no stress really, it was a beautiful day and everything was working out. Met everybody in 122 and got out on the starting grid with 15 minutes to spare. I don't usually line up too near the front, probably because I'm running late. Sunday, we got a good spot. My training partner (doing 15) is with me, happy to go whatever pace I set.
Off we go, off easy I think. After 1km, my new Garmin says 4:50. "we're going too fast", I say, she says then slow down. I guess I do, to 4:54 for the 2nd k. Try harder, result is 3kms at 5:05. A little better, but it causes me anxiety, never a good thing for me in a race. First 5kms in under 25 minutes, wrong pace. Even worse it is hot, who would have thought in March. We were looking for shade, and happy when the breeze showed up around 7 or 8 Kms.
Eventually I chilled out a bit, even though I dropped a water bottle when I had my first gel after 10kms. Sent partner ahead at that point. As per plan, I threw my coat to Signifigant Other at the 15Kms mark, for her to give to her relay partner. Nice and cool without it across the bridge, until we hit Burlington and it was warmer again.
Right then i started to feel rough. I had done this section in training, it was so much harder now. Just running, it wasn't the hills, they didn't bother me. I first really walked on the flats when we hit Plains Road, just a little before that on one hill. This would be around Km 22 or 23. My calfs were threatening to cramp up if I pushed too hard, willpower wasn't the answer I felt. I briefly wondered how long it might take me to walk it in. But I kept running as much as I could. Most splits at this point were just below or above 6:00, except 3 that were over 7 (walking). I didn't think it would be rightous to run pass Maniac Hill just for show, so I did what i was doing, run some and walk some. I've never really walked in a race before, maybe 30 seconds in my first half. I felt stupid above all. My body was ready to do a happy 2:40, my brain or whatever let me down. I did one km at 5:43 down the stretch, but I couldn't sustain it, and I walked a bit in the last Km, within sight of the stadium. Ouch. The ramp didn't bother me, maybe its training on the Bruce Trail so much. Final tally,
1744 2:48:25.0 5:37 2:47:42.6 2871 GRAGG, SHELDON Georgetown 1262/2299 237/440 Men 45 - 49 52:29 1:19:37 1:46:30 Final 10kms took just over an hour. 10Km Splits(chip time): 51, 55, 61. Still, I made my original goal.
Overall (believe it or not) I really did have a great day. Nothing hurt after, people were great, the course is beautiful, etc. My girlfriend had a great time, which is huge, because she usually doesn't run on roads, go past 10kms, or run more than one race a year. Now she's talking about doing the 25k (trail race) at Sulpher Springs!. Good news.
Its just that I felt stupid and humbled, not used to that. I knew what to do, but I didn't do it. Plan the run and, what was it?
Today I feel pretty good, a little sore this afternoon, but I went for a hike with the dog after work, 3.1 Kms at i don't care what pace. love you guys.
