The event shirt — I think it’s pretty cool!
This whole week I’ll be posting about my very first 50 mile race (it’s this Saturday, 12/1). I’ll be talking about how I will be taking it nice and slow and have a goal of just finishing injury free…
BUT today I want to talk about how I went FAST on Turkey Day!
I ran a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It was a local 10k and the whole family came out. Wifey and the First Lady did their very first 5k. Wifey pushed the stroller while the FL went along for the ride. I’m really proud of both of them.
I don’t run shorter distance races very often. Here are my 2 previous races:
10k (2009): 50:45, 8:06 pace
5k (2012): 22:45, 7:19 pace
My super-secret goal was sub 45, which would be better than a 7:14 pace.
The starting area
Here is how it went down:
Mile 1: 7:49
Just a general race courtesy note: if you plan on walking a race, please start at the back or make sure you are as far to the right as possible. There were plenty of walkers (understandable) that started at the very front and walked directly down the middle and were multiple people across. There was a ton of weaving going on, people jumping on sidewalks, over curbs. Very dangerous. I actually almost sprained my ankle. Not a great start to my goal.
Mile 2: 7:01
Finally getting to some open spaces where I can stretch the legs a bit. Hoping that I didn’t burn too much energy on the first mile speeding up, then slowing down. Still weaving, but finding some spots to pick up the pace.
Mile 3: 6:58
Trying to make up time for the first mile. Feeling good, but can tell that this pace is really pushing it for me. The course has opened up and I’m not weaving very much, if any.
Mile 4: 6:59
Starting to find some consistency, but legs are feeling it. Going to try to hang on for the last two miles, but I can tell it’s going to be really close.
Mile 5: 7:37
I got a really bad side stitch and decided to walk for 20 or so seconds. I tried to run through it, but couldn’t catch my breath and decided to take the “hit” on the time, regain my breathing and see if I could recover.
Mile 6: 7:14
With my breathing back on rhythm, I find the pace I should have been at the whole time. This last mile did involve some weaving based on a smaller course path, but I focussed on a couple runners close by and tried to stick with them and pass some.
.2: 6:09
This was an all out sprint. I was looking at my watch and could tell I had SECONDS to make it. There was a 2-lane path over a bridge (part of the out-and-back). I got stuck behind a double stroller on the up as I couldn’t pass them before. I decided to dart into oncoming runner traffic (when I could) and make the move. I barely made it, but safely weaved through, sprinted to the finish line and…
Finish Time: 44:52 (7:14 avg.)
Overall: 98/1538
Age Group: 12/106
Phew. That is close! Had I not made that move on the bridge, I wouldn’t have made it. A couple notes:
- When I run marathons, I take walk breaks. I understand walking during a race. BUT if you are walking the entire race, please be considerate to other runners and start towards the back. It makes it really dangerous when there is constant weaving going on, especially with children present.
- The move I made on the bridge put no one in danger. I actually waited 10 or so seconds to make the move when it was clear enough for me, the stroller and the oncoming runners. Be smart when you are weaving. Like I said above, be considerate to all runners/walkers.
Post-race hydration, I’ll let you make the matches. (Me, wifey, the first lady and Mika)
After the race, I was able to see wifey and the first lady cross the finish line. I was one proud hubby/daddy.
It was a wonderful way to start off a day to be thankful. It also meant, I got to have some extra ice cream for dessert.
Me and The First Lady taking a post-dinner walk. Thankfully one of us is keeping an eye on the geese. America’s Funniest Home Video moment anyone?
How was your Thanksgiving?
Did you trot?
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**RAISES HAND**
for once I got this one.
I trotted!
I trotted!!!
My first lady lollped and whined :-)
Im not sure that one counts….
Nice job! I fully agree about walkers. It’s dangerous!
No formal turkey trot for me but I did get my hubs to join me for a little run.
WAY TO GO!!! You are so super speedy! Can’t wait to hear about the 50 miler coming up! I could NEVER run that far but I’m obsessed with ultrarunner podcast and so I love listening to all the crazy people talk about how they ran 100 miles last weekend. I was in florida and didn’t sign up for an official turkey trot but I got in a good 6 miles thanksgiving morning :-)
Here’s what I have to say: A sub-45 10k translates easily into a 3:30 marathon. Food for thought for your next one! : )
you know i click any link that promises a pic of the first lady. adorable :)
No trotting this year…working on a santa shuffle though ;)
Nice job on that pace! Wow. And congrats to your wife and the First Lady for their 5K. No trot for me. We have a local running store that puts together more of a group run, but no races. I did run 7 on my own though.
I didn’t trot as we were not celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada! Your little one is a sweetheart! Oh my goodness!
So thankful for family, friends, and a wholesome life! Look at you go speedy!
So awesome that it was a family affair! No official trot for us but I did get a good run in and my hubs went after me (suppose someone had to wact the kids at home). I was sad I didn’t sign up for a race since I literally ran into the start of the race in the park. Totally agree about walkers. It’s dangerous! Great job speedy.
Sooooo amazing!!!! Congrats on crushing your previous PR!!
Love that your whole family participated =). Hoping we get to do that one of these days!!!!
And I agree with Amanda about what it translates too!!!
Another echo to MissZippy ;-) You got the speed, you got the distance determination, you’re going to do big things soon, we can all feel it. In the meantime I know you have that 50 miler coming up this Saturday. Wishing you lots of luck in it. I happily trotted on Thursday. Two 5ks in the matter of 5 days maybe not the best idea, but both were nice confidence boosters.
Awesome finish! I want to run at a faster pace, but I’m working my way there…
I ran my local Turkey Trot. It was fun, and I’m thinking I want to to some shorter distances between now and January. Well, trail runs in particular. I’m signing up for the SoCal Xterra trail run series. And then, I have my eyes set on the Pacific Foothills Trail Run on January 19th 2013.
I have some work to do before then. Mainly, get some long runs in and work on my pace (faster pace).
AWESOME race and congrats on the PR! Super fast. :)
Pretend? There is no such thing as pretending to be fast with that kind of speed demon pace. Way to go, Brian!
I love that race shirt. And the geese pic. And hoodies with bear ears on the hood.
No trotting for me, just yoga tadasana-ing! Hope you had a great holiday!
You are totally on a tear, man!!! Way to move it, move it :)
I trotted. A little more slowly than you and not quite as far…but I won the race (first female) and yes, it was a very small field ;-)
Wow, Brian! Fantastic pace- you were booking it! All that distance work has given your legs a little extra speed. You should be so proud! Awesome that your wife and daughter were out running, too. I hope to get my whole family in on the next one.