June 12, 2023: The Monday Nighter at the Garage 10K

2018: starting temperature 90 deg F; time 1:05:20

2019: starting temperature 87 deg F; time 59:33

2022: starting temperature 88 deg F; time 1:03:27

2023: starting temperature 79 deg F!!

The full force of summer heat has not yet arrived in Atlanta this year. I've done quite a few runs in the evenings over the past few weeks, so I now feel acclimated to running in 80 deg F temperatures. Although I wasn't going to set any speed records in this race, I felt that I could safely run this year's edition a little faster. My plan was to start at a 9:30 min / mile pace, which I estimated would get me to the finish line in less than an hour, perhaps even going after a personal best on this course. 

Panorama view of the 5K runners, who started 20 minutes before the 10K

Tes Marshall started us at 6:50 pm sharp. I was near the back of the pack, with Tucker Running Club members Judith Noble-Wang, Linda Bode Phinney, and Donna Heusel Roberts. Even though it wasn't scorchingly hot, I carried a small towel with a handful of ice, my trick from last year's race. As we crossed the timing mat at the start, Linda and Donna were in front of me. I drafted behind a couple of tall men as we started through the residential West End neighborhood. We were running so slowly, so it seemed, but the first time that I checked my watch after a couple of blocks, I saw 9:15 min / mile pace, and deliberately forced myself to go more slowly. "Patience" I reminded myself, remembering the hard experience of the later miles from previous years. 

Near the end of the first mile, I passed Donna and caught up with Linda, as we entered the Westside Beltline route. Mile 1 in 9:33, around the underpass at Lawton Avenue. The Beltline followed the sidewalk along White Street. About two months ago, I was a few miles into a Sunday morning group run, with a few people that were probably going a little too fast for me. The tip of a toe caught a tiny seam in the sidewalk in this same location, launching me into a tuck-and-roll. I was fortunate to get out of it with only a scrape on my right knee. This evening I was very deliberate about picking up my feet, watching for every crack in the sidewalk. There were some palm fronds along the left side of the path, which I was careful to duck under, knowing that the edge of the leaves might be sharp. At about 1-1/2 miles in, the first water stop was ahead, at the crosswalk from White Street onto the protected part of the Beltline. I pulled ahead of Linda to get to the right side to walk through the water stop. Since it wasn't extremely warm, I didn't carry my own water, and I knew from past races exactly where the water stops would be.  

30 seconds walking across the street, then I returned to running along the "Crayola" stretch of the Beltline. Mile 2 in 9:25, right on plan. It was warm but not unpleasantly so; at times there was a nice refreshing breeze. Around this point in the race, I was running alongside a younger man who asked me if I used to do the group runs at Big Peach Decatur before the pandemic - and I recognized him as well, Alan was his name. We had a nice chat, catching up. I sensed that I was running a little faster to stay even with Alan, but we were also heading downhill, so my effort was (probably) sustainable. Mile 3 in 9:13, 40 feet net descent. Some of the lead runners were already on the return trip, including Jacque Hartley and then Luke Butler, both running well. At the north end of the paved Beltline at Washington Park, I slowed down for the water stop, accepting a cup of Powerade. Alan continued ahead, while I took a 30-second walk break, then returned to running the short loop around Ella Mae Wade Brayboy park. 

By this time, the ice had completely melted, so I put the cool towel around my neck, trying to adjust it under the top of the singlet so that it stayed in place. Alan was about 50 - 100 feet ahead. Coming out of the park, I accepted a cup of water, another 30 second walk break even though it was only been a few minutes. But I knew from past experience that the return trip would be tough. "Relax and glide" I told myself, going into the second half of the race. Mile 4 in 9:28. I was really happy with my consistency so far, but was beginning to tire. Fortunately I regularly run the Westside Beltline, so I always had a good sense of exactly where I was relative to the finish. I occasionally passed other participants who had slowed down dramatically, I just kept moving streadily ahead. This stage was gently but continually uphill. Approaching the Crayola section, I picked up a little speed, knowing that the White Street water stop was coming up. A couple of volunteers cheered us forward, I gave them both high fives as I passed between them. 

Walking through the water stop, moving onto the White Street sidewalk, the mile 5 alert sounded, just as I remembered from previous years. 9:34 was the slowest mile of my race, but with 42 feet net ascent, that was quite consistent with regard to effort. With just 2 kilometers to go, I now began to push myself a bit, but was confident enough that I had banked enough energy to finish in quality fashion. I remembered the hazardous seams in the sidewalk, remembered again to pick up my feet. We made a left diagonal turn onto Mathews Street. Tim Parker was cheering us at the turn, which I greatly appreciated, as we ran that block uphill. This wasn't a surprise: this time I maintained the running motion, although I was moving more slowly. I passed one walker, kept running all the way past the right turn onto Lawton Street. As we neared the overpass, I finally decided to take another walk break. That wasn't planned, but I felt that I had better take the short break if I wanted to finish strongly. 

Returning to running over the Lawton Street overpass, finally the road levelled out and then gently downhill. The race photographer was ahead, I passed her and then made the U-turn to return to the Beltline. About 50 feet behind me I saw a young woman, I hoped to stay ahead of her. In front of me were a couple of men. I began to pick up some speed running down the ramp. I took a quick look at my watch: 54 minutes and 5.8 miles elapsed. Less than 4 minutes, so I was on track to run a course-best! "Don't slow down!" I told myself. A runner in a white shirt was moving slowly, I caught up to him, passed on the right. It was a little tight on the Beltline, he kindly guided me around him with a hand on my back. Up ahead was another runner in a dark shirt. He was running better but I managed to catch up to him and pass him. At some point, the mile 6 alert sounded, 9:24, 56:37 elapsed. I could see the MARTA track in the distance, the finish line must be close. The Beltline took a gentle left turn and I could see people gathering around the finish area. To my surprise, I heard footsteps on my right, the runner in the dark shirt had thrown in a final kick, passing me as I heard the cheers on the crowd. I couldn't match his strong finish, but consistently moved every closer to the finish line. I could see Bonnie up ahead with her cellphone capturing the finish. I saw 57:33 on the race clock, official time 57:24. Definitely a personal best in four races on this course! 

I'm soaked with sweat

accepting a not-so-high five from Stephanie Batson

I was gasping for oxygen, Bonnie captured the moment

I had used up all of my energy, but I had run the entire race very consistently, very proud to have perfectly managed the pacing from start-to-finish. I needed a few minutes to recover and rehydrate, walked to my car to change into a dry shirt and change out my SuperShoes for regular running shoes, then headed into the Monday Night Garage brewery for the awards ceremony. 2nd place male grandmaster! And I was less than a minute behind 1st place, although I don't think that I could have done anything more to finish faster than I did. 

I was 2nd place, should have stood on the left side of the podium
instead of on the bronze medal lower level! 

The guy that sprinted past me at the end was only 46 years old, 
so I can't feel too badly about that!