The Howard County Striders run some wondeful low key racing series around Columbia throughout the year. For a buck or less, you can get in a quality race nearly every Sunday. Most of the courses are challenging as Columbia is suprisingly hilly. Also, they usually give runners an option of racing different distances. There is usually a shorter race of 1 to 2 miles as well as a longer race of 5k, 10K, or even 15K.
On Sunday March 8 my options were a 10K or a 2 Miler. With my still gimpy (though much improved) left knee I opted for the 2 Miler. The race started and ended at Thunder Hill School and the name is well deserved. Over the 2 mile course their is a total elevation change of about 900 feet.
It was an absolutely beautiful day which brought out a lot of runners. 47 runners finished the 10K, with Frank Hemmingway leading the way with a time of 38:16. Ashlyn Sinclair led the women in with a time off 44:10. The last finisher came in with a time of 1:18:52. I probably would have been slower than that so I'm glad I opted for the 2 mile...I hate to force people to wait for me to finish.
63 runners competed in the 2 mile race....by far the largest Sunday Strider race that I remember running in. I fell back to about 3/4 of the way back in the field right away but I passed a few runners on the early steep downhill. I felt comfortable but that feeling quickly went away with the 2nd hill which stretches for about .4 miles. I took 2 walk breaks here. On the 2nd I was passed by Christina Caravoulias. Christina is a very consistent runner and is a pretty good measuring stick for me. When I'm running well I should beat her pretty easily at any distance. But if I haven't prepared myself properly she'll pass me by as she did this day. I kept her in sight the entire race but I just couldn't close the gap. I finished 52nd with a time of 22:57 and Christina finished in 51st with a time of 21:51.
Reviewing the Garmin data after the race I would say I walked a little too long on that hill where Christina passed me as my heart rate dropped to 129 before I began to run again. I think I should be able to start running again at about 135 so I took too long of a break there. Otherwise, I think I did as well as to be expected at this point. My average heart rate was 143 and my max heart rate was 161, which I think is close to a race high for me.
On March 15, I trekked up to Columbia for the Swansfield 1 Mile. Unlike the previous week, this was a pretty miserable day with temperatures around 41 degreees and a light, cold rain falling. I had been considering running the 5K but the conditions pushed me to the 1 mile as I really didnt want to spend an extra 25 minutes out in the rain. Plus, as I talked to Kirk Gordon before the race he helped me recall the devilish hill you have to run up about half way into the race. So I decided to give myself a little speed work to counter the last 2 days of slow runs on the treadmill.
There were 38 runners in the 1 mile race - a good turn out, particularly considering the conditions. There were quite a few parent/child combinations which I always like to see as long as they don't get right in front of me. Dee Nelson was running in this race. One of my goals for the year is to actually beat Dee in a race. I didn't think today would be the day but I did want to keep her in sight at the very least.
The race starts with a steep downhill. Why do all of these races start with a downhill? Why can't they end with a downhill which is when I really need it? Anyway, the course droped 75 feet in the first 1/10th of a mile. I ran that section of the course in 50 seconds and my heart rate was only 122. I was feeling good. However, I was begining to feel the effects of a wardrobe malfunction. I had forgotten to tie the drawstring to my shorts. I felt them slipping down my hips as I ran. I kept trying to pull them up and adjust them as I ran but they just kept slipping. I finally had to pull over to the side of the road after about 5 1/2 minutes to tie up the string. I lost about 30 seconds doing this. I may have had to take a break anyway as my heart rate was creeping up to 148 at this point but the problem was I had to come to a complete stop to fix my shorts. A normal break would have me walking a 1/10 of mile or so so this was just lost time. Anyway, once my shorts were tied I took again.
Now remeber that steep downhill at the start of the race? Well, as usual that became an uphill for the end of the race. I was pretty proud of myself for being able to power my way up the entire hill and I was even able to keep my 10 minute pace going. I passed a few struggling runners on the hill as well. I did take a very quick (10 second) walk break at the top of the hill as I thought I might be over doing it but the data shows my heart rate ws only 153 at this point. Anyway, a woman I had just passed encouraged me on and I raced the final 100 yards to the finish. I crossed the tape in 9:45, which I'm OK with given the problem with my shorts and the tough hill. I finished 24th out of 38 finishers. Dee Nelson finished in 7:28...I obviously have to improve a lot if I'm ever going to catch her.
For those keeping count, this was my 7th race of the year. That puts me on pace for about 60 races for the year, which I think is a good number.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Hail...another Tidal Basin 3K
February 18 confirmed that I truly am one of those insane runners who will run in anything. It was time once again for the monthly edition of the Tidal Basin 3K. This one was a little different than usual though. Instead of having to dodge tour buses we had to try to evade the sleet and freezing rain that was falling. It's one thing to run in the cold but its another thing entirely to have to also deal with stinging sleet bouncing off of your face.
There were only 23 competitors for thsi race and even that seemed high given the conditions. I spoke to Charlie Mercer before the race and he told me that conditions at last months race were bad as it was below 20 degrees but that this was certainly worse. I asked him how he was doing and he commented on Ted being there. I told him that Ted has been injured and is not running as fast as usual and he seemed to cheer up. I saw later that he won the race with a time of 10:55, beating Michael Collins by 4 seconds. I'm not certain but I think that may be Charlie's first Tidal Basin win...good for him!
All of the slower folks had the good sense to skip this race except for me. The only person there that I could stay even remotely close to was Tami Graf (who is 72 BTW). I stayed on her heels through about .9 miles but then I had to take a walk break when my heart rate hit 149. I started running again when it dropped to 125BPM, which was probably a bit too low. By that time, Tami was well out of reach and I was merlely running for my dignity and to allow Jay to pack up and get out of the sleet.
I didn't mention crossing the first Tidal Basin bridge. That was absolutely the worst part of the course. The sleet was coming in from across the Tidal Basin so we had no shelter at all. It was coming in nearly vertical and hitting us on our right side as we ran across the bridge. There was no where to hide. I probably ran across the bridge faster than I ever have before as I just wanted to stop being hit by that sleet!
Returning to the race, I took 2 more walk breaks...both times when my heart rate exceeded 150BPM. I should note that I don't stop based on my heart monitor as I actually can't read it when I'm runnning. I simply stop when I feel like I'm overdoing it. It's only after the race that I see that I typically feel that way when my heart rate gets to about 150.
I finished my last walk break at 1.5 miles and pushed myself as hard as I could towards the finish. My dog Riley cheered/barked me on as I passed him in my car as I neared the finish. I pushed myself hard to the finish and actually had a heart rate of 158 as I crossed the finish line in a time of 20:24. While that is obviously slows, that is the first time I have averaged under an 11 minute per mile pace for any distance since mid September of last year so I'm pretty happy about that. I guess we could say I perfom my best when conditions are the worst. Now we just have to test out that theory.
There were only 23 competitors for thsi race and even that seemed high given the conditions. I spoke to Charlie Mercer before the race and he told me that conditions at last months race were bad as it was below 20 degrees but that this was certainly worse. I asked him how he was doing and he commented on Ted being there. I told him that Ted has been injured and is not running as fast as usual and he seemed to cheer up. I saw later that he won the race with a time of 10:55, beating Michael Collins by 4 seconds. I'm not certain but I think that may be Charlie's first Tidal Basin win...good for him!
All of the slower folks had the good sense to skip this race except for me. The only person there that I could stay even remotely close to was Tami Graf (who is 72 BTW). I stayed on her heels through about .9 miles but then I had to take a walk break when my heart rate hit 149. I started running again when it dropped to 125BPM, which was probably a bit too low. By that time, Tami was well out of reach and I was merlely running for my dignity and to allow Jay to pack up and get out of the sleet.
I didn't mention crossing the first Tidal Basin bridge. That was absolutely the worst part of the course. The sleet was coming in from across the Tidal Basin so we had no shelter at all. It was coming in nearly vertical and hitting us on our right side as we ran across the bridge. There was no where to hide. I probably ran across the bridge faster than I ever have before as I just wanted to stop being hit by that sleet!
Returning to the race, I took 2 more walk breaks...both times when my heart rate exceeded 150BPM. I should note that I don't stop based on my heart monitor as I actually can't read it when I'm runnning. I simply stop when I feel like I'm overdoing it. It's only after the race that I see that I typically feel that way when my heart rate gets to about 150.
I finished my last walk break at 1.5 miles and pushed myself as hard as I could towards the finish. My dog Riley cheered/barked me on as I passed him in my car as I neared the finish. I pushed myself hard to the finish and actually had a heart rate of 158 as I crossed the finish line in a time of 20:24. While that is obviously slows, that is the first time I have averaged under an 11 minute per mile pace for any distance since mid September of last year so I'm pretty happy about that. I guess we could say I perfom my best when conditions are the worst. Now we just have to test out that theory.
By George, I'm slow
On February 14 I made my return to the annual By George 5K on Haines Point, sponsored by the Potomac Valley Track Club. Dori and I celebrated Valentine's Day the previous evening in Old Town so I had a hall pass this morning.
It was a cold morning and anyone that has run at Haines Point knows that the wind coming in off of the rivers makes a cold day feel pretty darn frigid. As always, the standing around at the beginning was the worse. But I was able to forget about the cold for a few moments while exchanging small talk with Jon Palks and Peter Blank.
This race is actually 2 races in one. A 10K is run simultaneously with the 5K. Haines Point is just a just a tiny bit longer than 5K around the point so the 10K runners start a little bit in front of the 5K runners and we all finish at the same place. My goal in these races is to not get passed by the 10K leaders as we all near the finish line. I've been able to do it before... I remember seeing Ted Poulos closing fast 1 year as I crossed the tape...but I'm older, fatter, and slower now.
Perhaps the best aspect of Haines Point is its flatness. You really can't ask for a flatter course. Given that I like flat courses and I actually prefer cold days (once I'm running) I hoped for a good day. My GPS wasn't charged though so I was going to have do this one without any help from technology.
I felt good at the start. I was probably running about an 11 minutes pace for the first mile or so. I had quite a few people around me and I was listening to their conversations to pass away the time. I never have understood people that talked during a race...I can barely squeeze out a "Go Shirley" when I'm in a race...but whatever it takes. As we passed the golf course entrance I had to take my first walk break. My lower legs were hurting pretty good and I know from experience that they actually feel better when I run so I started up again. Unfortunately, they still hurt. I ran on the grass where I could to ease the stress but it didnt help too much. But I perservered.
Being a back of the pack runner I have simple goals. One of my golden rules is to be a net passer over the last half of any race. This tells me that my pace is good and that I'm stronger at the finisg than those near my time. I accomplished that goal today. I had a few runners in front of me over the last 1.5 miles but I kept them close and I passed them over the last 200 yards. They probably wondered "What's up with that guy" but that's OK...I need that challenge.
However, I did fail at keeping the 10K leaders from passing me. I finished the 5K in 36:49, good for 163rd out of 182 finishers, while 3 10K's finished before me. The 10K winner, Matt Lowe, finished in an impressive 34:45. BTW, I estimate that my "chip" time would have been about 10 seconds faster than my official time so that means a 2009 5K PR for me at 36:39. Waa-hoo for me.
Other finishers in the 5K included Peter Blank, who won the race walk with a time of 30:35; Jon Palks with a time of 24:41, and Shirley Sameshima with a time of 28:42. Jay Wind had a nice 10K with a time of 43:56 which was good enough to win his age bracket.
It was a cold morning and anyone that has run at Haines Point knows that the wind coming in off of the rivers makes a cold day feel pretty darn frigid. As always, the standing around at the beginning was the worse. But I was able to forget about the cold for a few moments while exchanging small talk with Jon Palks and Peter Blank.
This race is actually 2 races in one. A 10K is run simultaneously with the 5K. Haines Point is just a just a tiny bit longer than 5K around the point so the 10K runners start a little bit in front of the 5K runners and we all finish at the same place. My goal in these races is to not get passed by the 10K leaders as we all near the finish line. I've been able to do it before... I remember seeing Ted Poulos closing fast 1 year as I crossed the tape...but I'm older, fatter, and slower now.
Perhaps the best aspect of Haines Point is its flatness. You really can't ask for a flatter course. Given that I like flat courses and I actually prefer cold days (once I'm running) I hoped for a good day. My GPS wasn't charged though so I was going to have do this one without any help from technology.
I felt good at the start. I was probably running about an 11 minutes pace for the first mile or so. I had quite a few people around me and I was listening to their conversations to pass away the time. I never have understood people that talked during a race...I can barely squeeze out a "Go Shirley" when I'm in a race...but whatever it takes. As we passed the golf course entrance I had to take my first walk break. My lower legs were hurting pretty good and I know from experience that they actually feel better when I run so I started up again. Unfortunately, they still hurt. I ran on the grass where I could to ease the stress but it didnt help too much. But I perservered.
Being a back of the pack runner I have simple goals. One of my golden rules is to be a net passer over the last half of any race. This tells me that my pace is good and that I'm stronger at the finisg than those near my time. I accomplished that goal today. I had a few runners in front of me over the last 1.5 miles but I kept them close and I passed them over the last 200 yards. They probably wondered "What's up with that guy" but that's OK...I need that challenge.
However, I did fail at keeping the 10K leaders from passing me. I finished the 5K in 36:49, good for 163rd out of 182 finishers, while 3 10K's finished before me. The 10K winner, Matt Lowe, finished in an impressive 34:45. BTW, I estimate that my "chip" time would have been about 10 seconds faster than my official time so that means a 2009 5K PR for me at 36:39. Waa-hoo for me.
Other finishers in the 5K included Peter Blank, who won the race walk with a time of 30:35; Jon Palks with a time of 24:41, and Shirley Sameshima with a time of 28:42. Jay Wind had a nice 10K with a time of 43:56 which was good enough to win his age bracket.
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