May 26, 2014: Memorial Day 10K, Marietta, Georgia

Goal: To run a good race with consistent splits, not beginning too quickly.  

I've enjoyed the Peachtree training course, but since our class runs on Saturday mornings, it has meant skipping some 5K races that I would normally have enjoyed running.  So with Memorial Day coming up as a Monday holiday, I realized that the 5K / 10K in Marietta (NW suburbs) was a perfect opportunity to compete in a race without seriously compromising the training schedule.  When I mentioned it to Bonnie, she was enthusiastic about running the 5K, so we both signed up a week ahead of time.  

The route map with elevations

In the days leading up to the race, I had studied the elevation map carefully.  There would be some reasonably challenging hills, especially in the part of the course that the 10K runners would cover.  I focused on the 5% grade hill around the 2 mile mark, thinking that would be the most challenging part of the race.  I remembered in previous 10K races, expending too much energy on hills in the middle part of the race and then not having enough energy to take advantage of downhill sections later in the race.  In the Peachtree training sessions, I had also been focusing on consistent splits, and trying not to begin too quickly.  So my goal for this race was to run each easy 1/2 kilometer between 2:30 and 2:45, and take my time going up the hills.  I was wearing a heart rate monitor, and had resolved not to let my pulse exceed 160 beats per minute on the hills.  Hopefully this strategy would leave me with a bit of a reserve that I could burn after the nine kilometer / 5.5 mile mark, to finish as quickly as possible.

Bonnie took a photo of the crowd shortly before the start

The weather was 64 deg F at the start, which was pleasant but significantly warmer than my previous 10K races in December and February.  There were some fast people warming up for this race, including one young man whose sprints through the parking lot were blazingly fast.  When we were given the signal to line up, we "self-seeded" according to our projected pace times.  I lined up just behind the 9:30 minute / mile sign.  The organizer made a few announcements, none of which I heard clearly over the buzz of excited runners.  Then a horn sounded, and the pack moved forward.  

Mile 1:  The runners around me all moved forward through the start gate - no walkers in front of me this time - and we seemed to be at a good pace.  We made a loop through the L.A. Fitness parking lot, and it was nearly two minutes before we entered the main course going southbound on Piedmont Road.  I felt that I had started in exactly the right place.  A few runners were passing me but I was determined to keep a reasonable pace and didn't try to keep up with them.  Each half-kilometer was signaling me around 2:40 ± 5 seconds.  It seemed like we reached the mile 1 marker fairly quickly (8:31 according to my timer).  Both legs had been sore at the start and it took the full mile for things to loosen up, which was a relief as the soreness dissipated.  And that probably kept me from starting too quickly.  

Right after the start, still in the parking lot

In the first half-mile on Piedmont Road

Mile 2:  This was the beginning of the first hill.  I slowed down a little, making sure that I didn't overexert myself, shortening my stride and remembering to stand tall.  It helped to concentrate on my breathing cadence.  I was staying with the pack, with the alerts signaling around 2:50 per half-kilometer for this section.  I had been running to the left side of the lane, but as we approached the first water station I moved to the middle, as I wasn't planning to take water this early in the race.  I reached the top of the crest, and then saw a truck in the northbound lane setting out the cones for the return leg, followed by the leader in the 5K race.  Now that we were going downhill, I was able to lengthen my stride and increase my speed a bit.  I started looking for the turnaround point for the 5K race.  I was wondering how many runners we would lose at the turnaround, and it was about half, with the rest of us going forward for the 10K.  One runner went past the turnaround, then she heard her friends calling her, and she realized that she had missed the turnaround.  While she headed back, the rest of us ran forward into the longer race.  A runner next to me said "It's tempting to turn back" but I was feeling alright and looking forward to the longer distance.  Shortly after reaching the bottom of the hill, I spotted the 2 mile marker.  8:49 for the second mile, 17:20 elapsed. 

Mile 3:  We started uphill.  This was the 75-foot hill that was promised in the elevation map.  I slowed down here, noting that my pulse rate was at 160 bpm.  It took awhile to get up the hill, and as I reached the top I found the second water station.  I took a cup from a volunteer, and thankfully the water was room temperature.  Even so, it was difficult to drink much of it.  I took a couple of sips over the next minute, then removed my cap and poured the rest over my head.  That gave me a jolt and I sped up as I went downhill.  Then I spotted the lead runner on the return leg of the 10K - it was the same young guy that was running those impressive sprints in the parking lot before the race.  To my surprise, there was another steep hill ahead, and I had to slow down again.  That hill had not looked as significant on the elevation map, but it was tougher than expected in real life.  Finally I reached the 3-mile mark at the top of that hill.  9:14 for the third mile, 26:34 elapsed. 

Heading uphill

Mile 4:  If my plan was correct, I had finished the hardest part of the race.  The uphill sections on the way back should be gentler and hopefully easier, even if they would be longer.  I heard a signal for the 5K alert at 27:34, which meant that I was on pace for a 55 minute finish, as long as I didn't slow down.  Now I would learn if my strategy had worked out.  As we approached the turnaround point, I saw a table and a bunch of water jugs, but no volunteers!  Fortunately I didn't need water, and I was carrying my own water bottle in case of emergency.  I made a sharp left into the turnaround, but found myself making a broad arc in the second left to head northbound.  I hope that I didn't cut anyone off trying to come around me, although I heard no complaints.  We were heading back uphill although this was pretty gentle.  The runner who had talked with me earlier caught up with me again and said "These hills are hellacious!"  I replied "I've heard that the Peachtree is harder."  (Full disclosure: what actually came out was "I (gasp) 'erd (gasp) Peachtree (gasp) hard (gasp gasp)")  After a moment he said "This is harder than Peachtree."  I guess that is encouraging, as everyone says that Cardiac Hill in the middle of the Peachtree Road Race is really tough.  We stayed together for awhile and chatted a little going downhill, although I don't really remember much of what we said.  The highlight was the 4-mile mark: the word "MOTIVATION" on a picture of a man running through a swamp chased by a fierce grizzly bear!  9:30 for the fourth mile, 36:04 elapsed.

Mile 5:  I had thought that the return trip would be a little easier and gentler in the uphill sections.  I was wrong.  I had to slow down again on the hill, and the friendly runner moved ahead of me - I never caught up with him again.  Several other runners began to pass me, and I just made sure that I ran in a straight line so that I didn't get in their way.  I was monitoring my pulse rate and trying to stay at 160 bpm.  But I did pass one young woman who was walking up the hill.  Finally I reached the top of the hill, and accepted a cup of water from the same volunteer as before, now working the other side of the road.  I could take only a couple of sips of water, threw the rest out in front of me, and somehow my right shoulder got soaked.  But at least we were now going downhill.  I was able to speed up a bit, but the young woman pulled ahead of me on my right.  I started looking for the turnaround for the 5K race, which would mark the 7.5 kilometer point for me.  When I finally reached it, it sank in that I still had more than two kilometers to go, and I was already winded.  Even going downhill, my pulse rate was at 161 - 162 bpm, and then there was another hill, so I had to slow down.  But the young woman was walking again, and I passed her once more.  Reaching the top of the hill, I spotted the 5-mile marker, which was a picture of a longhorn bull, and then I could read "Keep mooooving".  9:36 for the fifth mile, 45:40 elapsed. 

Mile 6:  From my study of the elevation map, it had appeared to me that there were no more significant hills for the rest of the route.  But those 20-foot hills were significant obstacles for me at this late stage of the race.  The young woman passed me again going downhill.  I wasn't until I reached the 9 km alert that I realized how badly I had slowed down: 51:25 elapsed.  Even though it would now be completely impossible to finish in less than 56 minutes, I picked up my knees and focused on form as I started to head uphill again.  Then a miracle occurred: the young woman ahead of me had to pull off to the median to tie her shoe.  As I ran past, I resolved that she was NOT going to catch me again.  I kept focusing on form and my breathing cadence, and began picking up some speed.  As I approached what I hoped would be the last hill, I recognized Bonnie up ahead.  She had hoped to finish the 5K before I finished my 10K, and I was a little disappointed for her when I realized that would not happen.  I could have slowed down and jogged or fast-walked the rest of the way with her.  I did call to her as I approached "How are you doing Bonnie?"  She replied "I'm great!"  So being an competitive guy, I decided to run past her, putting on a bit more speed as I focused on form (and maybe showing off a bit?).  As I reached the top of the hill, I could see the intersection of Piedmont with Sandy Plains Road up ahead, and then the turn into the L.A. Fitness parking lot, where the finish line awaited.

The finish:  I could hear footsteps behind me, which I assumed were from the young woman who had passed me several times earlier in the race.  I made the left turn into the entrance ramp to the parking lot (downhill!), then a sharp hairpin loop into the lot itself.  In addition to staying ahead of the runner behind me, I started to close up the distance between the runner in front of me.  Another left turn now running parallel to Piedmont Road, through the starting area.  Where was that finish line?  Then another left turn, where I clipped the pylon with my left leg trying to make the turn as sharply as possible, and there it was, the FINISH!  I was a tiny bit disappointed to see 57 minutes on the clock (but at least it wasn't 60!) and I put every last bit of energy into the finish.  I nearly caught up with the runner in front of me and was definitely not passed!  I saw the camerawoman on the other side of the finish line and raised my arms with a couple of victory pumps as I crossed the finish.   

Bonnie's finish

Whew!  I slowed down and then stopped to let the last volunteer remove the label at the bottom of my bib, and checked the heart rate monitor.  175 bpm.  Above the maximum rate, although I felt alright.  Fortunately my pulse quickly dropped to 143 when I checked it next, after I picked up a bottle of water and a banana.  I went back to the finish line just in time to photograph Bonnie.  My official time was 57:23.  That was two minutes slower than my personal record in the Charles Harris 10K in February, but at least I finished in less than an hour.  The winner was the same young guy that I had seen earlier, who finished in 35:27. 

Splits per mile: 8:31, 8:49, 9:14, 9:30, 9:36, 9:43.

Splits per kilometer: 5:15, 5:25, 5:27, 5:51, 5:36, 5:44, 6:10, 5:56, 6:01, 5:43.

I was a little disappointed to slow down with each mile, but I did find an extra burst of speed at the end.  I also felt a little stronger at the end of the race compared with the other 10Ks that I've done.  We celebrated with a late breakfast at the Marietta Diner before heading home to shower and recover. 

http://www.fivestarntp.com/Memorial_Day_5K_10K.html