I don't know how many people ran and walked this thing, but estimates are between 14-15,000. That is not a lot for a marathon, but it is a gross amount of people for a 5k. There are a few reasons why this becomes a nuisance for seasoned runners.
First, novice runners are everywhere. You don't get this in a marathon, because people don't venture out and run marathons on a whim. Anyone off the street knows better. This is not the case with a 3 mile race. There are plenty of people that think they can run 3 miles and the best is when you see some of them sprinting the beginning. There are some sprinters and they are usually done by about quarter mile and start walking. Then, there are the average hares. They run until a mile, because they have no clue how far a mile is. I have to admit that I've done this before, though. Once. My first day at cross country practice when I was fourteen years old. I ran with the top 2 runners for about quarter mile, then faded and ran with the number 3 runner for the remainder of the first mile. Coach Thomas pulled me laughingly pulled me aside about that point and explained to me something called "pace." Whatever! Just kidding.
Secondly, the joggers that go running from time to time, but don't know how fast they are. These are the people that just line up out of place. They want to be near the front for the start, but don't know that people running under 6 and 7 minutes should be near the front. These are the people that I passed usually up until the 1.5 mile mark. These are the people that bunched up the beginning and crowded the line and made my time slower by about 30 seconds.
Lastly, people that are of the two above types don't know how to get out of other runners' way. When you are about to give up, which is inevitable to someone out of practice, you need to move to the nearest side of the road and make way. These people just stop in their tracks as if hundreds of people aren't right behind them. The ones that know to move off to the side, don't "check their mirrors" and look over their shoulder when sideswiping others. I gave some these people a forearm. Not a shove, but more of a guide as to say, "Stay in your lane."
The course was pretty much a rectangle, which made it fast. That was nice. One of the first turns was funny. You could see the novices getting nervous and moving all around going into it. Some going to the inside. Some going to the outside. I just yelled out, "Stay calm people and keep going straight." The guy directly in front of me who kept zig-zagging back and forth, got the message loud and clear. That was nice, because I was about to pass him on the upcoming little hill and I definitely didn't need him tripping me.
End of rant. I do wonder how many people ran into my elbows, though.
My Run:
First mile, clogged up and the first 100 meters specifically is the worst brick street in the entire metro area. Central in Thorton Park is not good to ankles, knees, or tires for that matter. Hit the first mile at 7:30. As soon as I saw my time, I sped up and started weaving my way to little pockets where I could stride out and be comfortable running my pace.
The next mile was pretty good. Anytime I felt like I was coasting along, I easily reminded myself that I wasn't truly pushing. I then forced myself to move forward just a little faster. It is a race afterall. It was a nice easy pace. I hit the 2 mile mark at 14:47, so that one was a 7:17 split. That at least put me under the 23 minute window. I wanted to get on the other side of 22:30, so I had to pick it up a little more.
On the last mile, I tried to go faster since I knew I had to make up some more time, but there will little lulls when I was just coasting and didn't notice it immediately, so my response to push myself harder didn't kick in right away. Not sure what that was all about. Somewhere between half and quarter mile to go, one of my fellow Sandbaggers passed me and that's when I knew that I had to pick it up for the finish. I stayed just a few strides behind her and then let loose on the last tenth of a mile once I hit the 3 mile clock. My 3 mile time was 22:08, so my mile split was 7:21. I ran the last tenth of a mile in 36 seconds, which is a mile pace of 5:00. Hardly a pace though, considering I was near all out. I could have gone faster, but I don't try to sprint at all anymore. That's when my hamstrings can't quite keep up and get pulled.
My final 5K time was 22:44 by my watch. Average pace for the entire 5K was 7:19 per mile.
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Season's 52 Park Avenue 5.2k - Race
The course was flat and didn't have a lot of turns, so that made it fast. The brick made it slow though. It's not fun having to keep a watchful eye on ruts as you're thinking about your pace. I like finishing down Park Avenue running on the shop lined street, but your ankles keep wobbling on the bricks.
As for me, I knew I wasn't going to have a good race from the start. I don't know what it was, but I felt out of breath after a quarter mile and I was running my pace. I struggled the entire run until the end. My right calf hurt the entire race. That's been building up since Tuesday.
I hit the first mile at 7:05. That would have been great if I stayed at that speed, but I only slowed down. My second mile split was 14:35, so I ran a 7:30 on that one. The 3 mile split was 22:22 (7:47) which is kind of cool, but that should have been my 5k time which happened to be 23:07. My 5.2k official chip time was 23:52. I was hoping to break 23 minutes. My average pace was 7:23. That was aided by me speeding up for the last quarter mile, which I ran at 6 minute pace.
I haven't run this race or distance before, so at least it is a PR. I hope to have pictures later.
It's later!
As for me, I knew I wasn't going to have a good race from the start. I don't know what it was, but I felt out of breath after a quarter mile and I was running my pace. I struggled the entire run until the end. My right calf hurt the entire race. That's been building up since Tuesday.
I hit the first mile at 7:05. That would have been great if I stayed at that speed, but I only slowed down. My second mile split was 14:35, so I ran a 7:30 on that one. The 3 mile split was 22:22 (7:47) which is kind of cool, but that should have been my 5k time which happened to be 23:07. My 5.2k official chip time was 23:52. I was hoping to break 23 minutes. My average pace was 7:23. That was aided by me speeding up for the last quarter mile, which I ran at 6 minute pace.
I haven't run this race or distance before, so at least it is a PR. I hope to have pictures later.
It's later!
That's me near the finish line. No, not the kid!! He beat me. I'm the one with the gold glow. There's more pictures at Track Shack's Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150090713668874&id=68449813873&aid=280604
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Greater Maitland 5k - Race Report
Needless to say, there was a small field of competitors this morning. Now with that being said, I took home FIRST PLACE in my 30-39 Age Division!!!! I was 20th overall with a time of 22:17. I said it was a small field.
I got up early and had a good breakfast and 3 cups (mugs) of coffee before the race. I was definitely eye-opened by race time at 7:30am. I also took a couple of pain pills when I woke up, so my back and hamstrings wouldn't hurt. That definitely helped. I've read recently that it's not a good idea to do that, but I think it mainly pertains to marathon runners since a 5k isn't that taxing on your system.
I ran this course 2 years ago, so I knew what to expect.. It is relatively flat the entire way. There was one hill that was nice at the beginning and hurtful toward the end, because the course it pretty much an out and back. For anyone outside of Florida, you probably wouldn't even call it a hill.
I ran the first mile in 6:55. The second mile trailed off a little at 7:20 (14:15) and I maintained that through the last mile with a 7:18 pace (calculated since I didn't pay attention to my 3 mile split). This is my "over 30" PR. My previous best was 22:29 from a couple years ago. I also bettered my last race time of 23:07 by 50 seconds.
My average pace was 7:10 per mile which is 16 seconds per mile faster than my last race.
Now, I need to pick a race in about a month and see if I can knock my average pace under 7 minutes per mile. That means my next goal is to get under 21:44 (-00:33).
I got up early and had a good breakfast and 3 cups (mugs) of coffee before the race. I was definitely eye-opened by race time at 7:30am. I also took a couple of pain pills when I woke up, so my back and hamstrings wouldn't hurt. That definitely helped. I've read recently that it's not a good idea to do that, but I think it mainly pertains to marathon runners since a 5k isn't that taxing on your system.
I ran this course 2 years ago, so I knew what to expect.. It is relatively flat the entire way. There was one hill that was nice at the beginning and hurtful toward the end, because the course it pretty much an out and back. For anyone outside of Florida, you probably wouldn't even call it a hill.
I ran the first mile in 6:55. The second mile trailed off a little at 7:20 (14:15) and I maintained that through the last mile with a 7:18 pace (calculated since I didn't pay attention to my 3 mile split). This is my "over 30" PR. My previous best was 22:29 from a couple years ago. I also bettered my last race time of 23:07 by 50 seconds.
My average pace was 7:10 per mile which is 16 seconds per mile faster than my last race.
Now, I need to pick a race in about a month and see if I can knock my average pace under 7 minutes per mile. That means my next goal is to get under 21:44 (-00:33).
Saturday, April 17, 2010
IOA Corporate 5k 2010
Thursday, April 15th. A sea of runners and walkers. Central Boulevard in downtown Orlando was filled from sidewalk to sidewalk from Osceola Avenue past where I could see.
The horn went off at 7:15pm. I was near the front and it took 3 minutes and 5 seconds to cross the starting line. It reported took 30 minutes to clear everyone through the starting gate.
It was very crowded and I must have run the first quarter mile around 11 minute pace zigzagging. Trying to be polite and not run into anyone was getting me nowhere fast and I started getting upset. A lot of walkers start near the front when they should be back further. There are plenty of newbies that run fast for the first mile or less, because they don't know how far 3 miles is. I did that once. My very first practice with the high school cross country team was a run for time to see who would run varsity at the upcoming meet that weekend. I took off with the lead pack and ran side by side with our number 3 runner from about half mile to the mile marker. I asked him how much further we had to run before the finish and he laughed at me when he said we weren't even at the first mile. I just realized what I had done and when I slowed down to a near walk and every single person on the team whizzed by me, coach pulled aside and told me to stop running. I learned a valuable lesson that day about being prepared and not giving everything you've got in the first mile. Unfortunately, there are probably four thousand newbie runners at the IOA Corporate 5k every year that make that mistake and you have to run by them to get into any kind of rhythm.
The easy going person started to leave as people whizzed by me on the sidewalks like deer. I moved to the sidewalks at about half a mile and would have bursts of running and near stopping as people kept stopping and zigzagging in my direction. A couple of runners went around me at one point and I heard the girl say to the guy, "This is like cross country."
That's when it kicked in. That's when I remembered running in the pack of a big cross country meet and you felt no kindness for your competition. Elbows out. When people move into your running path from the side, you put your forearm into their shoulder and let them know that it is not acceptable. When two people won't give you enough room to get through after you tell them, "Coming through," you have to put both arms in front of you and create a wedge as you quickly run through them. I got this. I remember how to run in crowds. I heard a few people say, "Sorry," but I wasn't about to turn around and start a conversation.
I hit the mile clock at 11:35, which means I ran an 8:30 first mile. That was minute off my goal pace. That sucked and I knew my time was going to be slow. I would now have to run negatives after putting out way too much energy on the first mile as it was. I almost gave up in my mind and settled into the pace everyone around me was running and let them dictate my pace.
Nope. Not this guy. No way.
I sped up and continued to slip by people. I had to pay so much attention to weaving and passing people that I completely missed the 2 mile marker and clock. Oh well. I just had to keep my speed and guess how far I was on the course based on my training. I did manage to get into a nice rhythm when we got onto Robinson Street and the police had all the runners on the left side of the road. I obviously crossed the dividing line and ran slightly in the right half of the road. It was the only way I could start to open my stride. There had to be close to a mile stretch like this. It was nice. Finally.
I kept gradually increasing my speed towards the finish line. I crossed at 27:41, so my real time was 24:36. I missed the 2 mile marker, so I don't know my exact splits. The first was 8:30 and then the last 2 miles averaged out at 7:40 per mile. I could have run a good race if I took a minute off that first mile.
It was fun in its craziness. That's what this race is all about. A sporting event with a party atmosphere. And it's a good cause. Funds go to the Parramore Kidz Zone. And another thing, our team took first place in the Men's Legal Division. That feels good, too.
The horn went off at 7:15pm. I was near the front and it took 3 minutes and 5 seconds to cross the starting line. It reported took 30 minutes to clear everyone through the starting gate.
It was very crowded and I must have run the first quarter mile around 11 minute pace zigzagging. Trying to be polite and not run into anyone was getting me nowhere fast and I started getting upset. A lot of walkers start near the front when they should be back further. There are plenty of newbies that run fast for the first mile or less, because they don't know how far 3 miles is. I did that once. My very first practice with the high school cross country team was a run for time to see who would run varsity at the upcoming meet that weekend. I took off with the lead pack and ran side by side with our number 3 runner from about half mile to the mile marker. I asked him how much further we had to run before the finish and he laughed at me when he said we weren't even at the first mile. I just realized what I had done and when I slowed down to a near walk and every single person on the team whizzed by me, coach pulled aside and told me to stop running. I learned a valuable lesson that day about being prepared and not giving everything you've got in the first mile. Unfortunately, there are probably four thousand newbie runners at the IOA Corporate 5k every year that make that mistake and you have to run by them to get into any kind of rhythm.
The easy going person started to leave as people whizzed by me on the sidewalks like deer. I moved to the sidewalks at about half a mile and would have bursts of running and near stopping as people kept stopping and zigzagging in my direction. A couple of runners went around me at one point and I heard the girl say to the guy, "This is like cross country."
That's when it kicked in. That's when I remembered running in the pack of a big cross country meet and you felt no kindness for your competition. Elbows out. When people move into your running path from the side, you put your forearm into their shoulder and let them know that it is not acceptable. When two people won't give you enough room to get through after you tell them, "Coming through," you have to put both arms in front of you and create a wedge as you quickly run through them. I got this. I remember how to run in crowds. I heard a few people say, "Sorry," but I wasn't about to turn around and start a conversation.
I hit the mile clock at 11:35, which means I ran an 8:30 first mile. That was minute off my goal pace. That sucked and I knew my time was going to be slow. I would now have to run negatives after putting out way too much energy on the first mile as it was. I almost gave up in my mind and settled into the pace everyone around me was running and let them dictate my pace.
Nope. Not this guy. No way.
I sped up and continued to slip by people. I had to pay so much attention to weaving and passing people that I completely missed the 2 mile marker and clock. Oh well. I just had to keep my speed and guess how far I was on the course based on my training. I did manage to get into a nice rhythm when we got onto Robinson Street and the police had all the runners on the left side of the road. I obviously crossed the dividing line and ran slightly in the right half of the road. It was the only way I could start to open my stride. There had to be close to a mile stretch like this. It was nice. Finally.
I kept gradually increasing my speed towards the finish line. I crossed at 27:41, so my real time was 24:36. I missed the 2 mile marker, so I don't know my exact splits. The first was 8:30 and then the last 2 miles averaged out at 7:40 per mile. I could have run a good race if I took a minute off that first mile.
It was fun in its craziness. That's what this race is all about. A sporting event with a party atmosphere. And it's a good cause. Funds go to the Parramore Kidz Zone. And another thing, our team took first place in the Men's Legal Division. That feels good, too.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Run Around The Pines 5k
Alright, I ran a 5k this morning in Winter Park. It was nice and cool around 52 degrees and slightly overcast. The sun came out after the race.
My goal was to run 8:00 minute miles and without using a calculator, I was thinking that was 24:40 (according to my last post). I didn't quite make it, but I still feel good about my time since I put in a good effort.
I started the morning with a 1.5 mile warmup. I would have liked more time to do so, but I had to take care of some business right before the race started. There's no holding back a duece while you're running. It could get messy.
I said 24:40, but in the back of my mind, I had 25 minutes. The start was slow, because there were a lot of people bunched up. I crossed the starting line walking. I finished with a 25:02 chip time, so that walking start could have been the 2 seconds I needed. It is what it is, though. I didn't get into my "pace group" until around the half mile mark.
Overall, it was a good race for me. Next race, I will try to cut off a minute.
My goal was to run 8:00 minute miles and without using a calculator, I was thinking that was 24:40 (according to my last post). I didn't quite make it, but I still feel good about my time since I put in a good effort.
I started the morning with a 1.5 mile warmup. I would have liked more time to do so, but I had to take care of some business right before the race started. There's no holding back a duece while you're running. It could get messy.
I said 24:40, but in the back of my mind, I had 25 minutes. The start was slow, because there were a lot of people bunched up. I crossed the starting line walking. I finished with a 25:02 chip time, so that walking start could have been the 2 seconds I needed. It is what it is, though. I didn't get into my "pace group" until around the half mile mark.
Overall, it was a good race for me. Next race, I will try to cut off a minute.
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