Leaping Lizards

I just returned from the quad-annual(?) DCRRC Leap Year Tidal Basin 3K. I continued my very slow but steady recent improvement with a time of 18:32. Doesn't sound like much but when you consider I was somewhat pleased with a time of 18:59 just last week, I'll take it. I was speaking with Charlie Mercer before the race and he asked me what my goal for the day was. I told him 10 minute per mile pace, or about 18:36. He challenged me to break 18 minutes. I knew I couldn't do that today but his challenge did get me focused on breaking that 10 minute per mile barrier. So Charlie, if you are out there, thanks for the inspiration.


As always, I started the race too quickly. I find it difficult not too start too quickly in these small races (we had about 25 today) where just about everyone is at least good. I was running not far behind both Shirley Sameshima and Dee Nelson at about the 1/4 mile mark. They both usually run the 3K in the high 14's or low 15's so to be close to them given my current fitness level probably means I'm going out too fast. Sure enough, I was suffering as I ran across the first bridge and stopped for a quick walk break after getting across it.


I knew I had 1 runner behind me and if you know me you know I hate being in last place. So I started running again until just before the 2nd bridge. I walked for about a minute this time as I was having a tough time getting my breath. The trailing runner appeared right behind me so I was off and running again. I looked back for him about 2 minutes later and there was no sign of him so he must have stopped for a walk break himself.


I took my last walk break at the third and final bridge (are you detecting a theme?). It was a short break as I knew I was running very close to my goal pace and thus had no time to waste. That left about .36 miles to the finish. Fortunately, a decent wind was behind us at this point. I tried to maintain a steady pace coming in and then I increased my pace with about 80 yards to go. They called out 18:31 when I crossed the finish line but my watch actually showed 18:32 so I'm going with that.

I spoke to one of my favorite runners after the race, Peter Blank. After running in 163 races in 2007, he told me he was going to cut back in 2008. I had seen he had over 20 races completed for the year and I questioned his "cut back" plan. He said he had actually run 27 races but he was slowing down. I told him that didn't sound like someone cutting back but he explained that if he runs 3 races in a track meet on a Saturday, he is not running on Sunday. So I told him he was still crazy but at least it was a sensible crazy.

Next race is the Burke Lake 12K on Sunday. I have a love/hate relationship with that course...mostly hate. More on that next time.