I planned to use the results of this race as the primary input to set my goals and race plan for the Philly Marathon in two weeks. I have had other indications, including a set of Yasso 800's last Wednesday, that I might have a shot at 4-hours. I hoped for today’s race to confirm that.

 

A 4-hour marathon equates to a 51:35 10k. However, I made two adjustments to that in setting today’s 10k goals and plan. Firstly, this course is moderately hilly. There are no “ball-busting” hills, except for the last one that comprises the last third of mile 6 and is fairly steep. But, there are lots of rolling stuff and long inclines. Certainly, it’s more hilly than Philly. I ran this race under excellent weather conditions two years ago as a predictor for Philly....then ran Philly 4 minutes faster than predicted. Therefore, I figured that the course is worth almost a minute, which increased my target time to about 52:30.

 

The second adjustment was for weather. A shift in the wind to the southwest Friday replaced the cool, dry Canadian air mass that has dominated mid-Atlantic weather this week with a bit warmer and more humid air. Not hot and steamy. But, I was quite comfortable standing around before the race in shorts and singlet.....before my warmup! Not good. Chilly would have been better. Plus, it was very sunny. So, I bumped the target up another minute and settled on 53:30 as a “realistic” goal and a target range of plus or minus 1-minute.

 

I ran a net time of 52:57 (53:00 flat clock time and 53:04 announced “official” time.) I ran almost dead even splits through 5 miles (8:37) and pushed the last 1.213 miles as hard as I could and ran it at an 8:09 pace, even though it included the toughest uphill on the course. I felt strong all the way. I think I ran the best race I could have run today. Two other things I feel good about. No one who was behind me at the 1-mile point beat me, while I beat 19 folks who were ahead of me at that point. A few folks passed me, but I passed them back in short order, and no one passed me at all after 3 miles. The other thing is that I finished second in my age bracket. Only one fast, old guy showed up today. J I’m satisfied that the race confirmed my potential for a sub-4 hour marathon at Philly.

 

So much for the summary. If anyone is interested in a few race details....read on. J

 

The race started from Police Headquarters in downtown Baltimore with a steady .2 mile uphill climb, then a nice 1/3 mile downhill before flattening out to the 1-mile marker. My split was 8:35. Just about on target and I felt just about how I should a mile into a 10k race. I knew the only other markers and splits would be at miles 3 and 5. Without splits or markers at miles 2 and 4 to work toward, I wanted something else to focus on. So, I decided on early employment of a technique that I usually don’t use until the last third of a race....concentrate on picking off runners in front of me. But, do it as a way to maintain pace without letting it get out of control and running myself into the ground, unlike late in a race when this tactic is used to push the pace as hard as you can.

 

As we headed over the Patapsco River out of downtown into south Baltimore I began to steadily reel in the next runner in front of me. After passing each one, I shifted my focus to the next one. This worked well until I passed the 7^th and 8^th runners....a couple who were running together. I passed them on a downhill. They passed me back on the next uphill. Then I passed them again on the following downhill. We continued this “leapfrogging” for 3 hills spanning over a mile. I didn’t mind. In fact, I enjoyed it. She had an especially great pair of legs! Every time they passed me on the uphills, I just fell in behind her, focused on her legs to take my mind off of how I was feeling, and let her “pull” me up the hill. J Also, they were running a constant pace, whereas I was running a consistent level of effort. Steady effort will usually beat steady pace on hills. I expected to win out over them as they eventually tired from pushing the pace up the hills, unless they were sandbagging on the pace. I passed them for the last time on a downhill 100 yards after the 3-mile marker and never saw them again. However, the race got tougher without the leapfrog game and her legs. L

 

My 3 mile split was 25:57. I ran miles 2 and 3 in an average pace of 8:41.....a little slower than the 8:35 for the first mile, but they were a slight net uphill. I continued to pass several other runners through the next 2 miles and reached the 5-mile marker in 43:04. Miles 4 and 5 averaged 8:33.5. They were a slight net downhill on this out and back course. I ran through the last water station just after the 5-mile point and refused water, as I did at all water stations. I see no point in drinking water in a race that lasts less than an hour, especially in the second half.

 

I’m working hard at this point, but know that I still have a little reserve. I also know that there is one last, tough hill to go up, then a great .2 mile downhill to the finish. At about 5.25 miles, I round a corner with almost a half mile straight, level stretch ahead and notice that the next runner in front of me is a guy about 150 yards ahead. OK, now it’s time to get serious. Let’s go to work and try to close the gap before the final downhill. I’m a good downhill runner and figure I can get him at the finish, if I’m close.

 

I begin to push the pace just a little. Slowly, the gap narrows. When we hit the bottom of the last hill at 5 2/3 miles, I’ve closed to about 75 yards behind him. I focus on good hill running techniques. At the top of the hill, I’m within 30 yards of him. Now comes the .2 mile downhill to the finish. I continue to close on him until I’m right behind him. I also notice that the clock ahead says 52:38. I have a chance to get under 53 minutes. I plan to pull alongside, then orally challenge him to a finishing kick, as I usually do with the nearest runner to me as I approach the finish of a race. What’s this? I can’t close the remaining few yards. Either he saw the clock and had the same thought I did or he heard my heavy breathing coming up behind him. He has a good finishing kick, also.....better than mine. He pulls away from me and finishes several seconds in front of me. That’s OK. He’s also about 25 years younger than I am. J

 

I see the clock click to 53:00 as I pass under it. My watch says the same. At the awards ceremony, my time is announced as 53:04. Frequently, the “official” time is a few seconds slower than what I see on the clock. I always wonder where the extra few seconds come from.