Edwin, Joe and Keith celebrating their PRsCool, sunny and little wind were conditions that many a runner took advantage of today. PRs were sprouting all over. Noteworthy ones include the On the Run store manager, Chris Bittinger coming in seventh place overall and first place in his age group. Chris ran a blistering 5:54/mile average pace for a 1:17:20.2 to collect his personal best. Chris explained afterwards that it all came together for him and that he actually stayed with Sean Wade for the first mile.
As for my run, I ran just plain dumb. The weather was so nice and my racing had gone so well that I decided to push it a bit from the start. I ran the first two miles in under 8:00/mi and the first half of the race in 8:03/mi. My previous race PR pace was 8:38/mi and my original plan was to run the first half in 8:30/mi. Fortunately, Vera Balic ran with me for a while during mile 8, which helped me out. Vera had raced yesterday and was just out for a training run. She still came in ninth place in her age group with a 1:44:10!
Vic, Holden, Jessica, June and Keith sharing race storiesThe last four miles were tough as I paid the price of the faster than plan pace. I was forced to walk some of the uphill stretches on the final way in, both the steeper ones and some of the inclines. I started to panic that my guarantee of a PR was in jeopardy and I had given up the ghost on breaking 1:50:00. At this point all I could do is curse Allen Parkway, since I've bonked there more than anywhere in the world. Can't we race somewhere else?
All's well that ends well. I had enough energy for my finishing kick and broke 1:50:00. I was shattered. Mark Henderson was teasing me as I left the finishers corral that I needed to look better in my Bay Area Running Club singlet. He said we have an image to uphold. Easy for him to say, he wins 100 milers and came in sixth in his age group today at 1:24:36. I'll bet his image wasn't so rosy at the end of his 18 hour 100 miler!
BARCr's Vera and Veronica enjoy a post race breakfast(Veronica won the 5 mo pregnant race division)
I was shattered for several hours after the race. It's a good thing I registered for the 25k already as right now I can't imagine wanting to register for a race longer than a mile.
But wait until tomorrow :)
10 comments:
Oh yeah! Check out that PR! That is awesome Joe - I bet there was steam coming off those shoes from running so fast!
I totally spaced going by all the other tents until I saw your pictures just now. I bet I would've seen a lot more people.
Brilliant!
Way to go Joe!
Joe, you're fast. Great running.
WOOOOOOO Joe!
I had a chat with Vera and Veronica yesterday at the 10K in League City. I feel like a weenie knowing they ran today as well!
Actually, I was there when Mark crossed the finish line and he was dealing with a side stitch as he came in. (Great guy too!)
Chris did run well, but don't tell him that Sean is just out for training runs. After Sean finished the half, Andrea Chan and myself immediately saw him head back out Allen Parkway and then as I walking out to cheer everyone on, he was running back through the pack as part of a 20-21 miler this weekend.
Hey Young Fella, by all means continue to race aggressively as you did today. Sometimes your result won't be optimal but that's more than made up by the times you accomplish something you would have never dreamed possible. And a PR as a consolation prize, not too shabby.
Steeeve
woot woot!!!!!!
joe rocked the casbah yesterday!!
bet you feel tons better today!!
see you soon speed racer!
Joe, can you email that pic?
Joe,
Great race. Although my average pace was about twice yours, I ran a very similar race and can definitely relate to the post-race feelings you were having. Around mile 10, my sub-3 hour finish was in great doubt. Great job to you, hanging in there and SHATTERING your previous record. You did BARC proud.
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