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S.Deerfield VFW Memorial Day 10K

May 24, 2014 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Yesterday, on a whim, decided that I wanted to do a race this weekend. S.Deerfield had one, run by SMAC and hosted by the VFW supporting Memorial Day. Sounded legit. The race was early, but I live so close to S.Deerfield I just hopped in the car and drove over there (The race was longer than the drive). Got there just in time to register, warm up, get my flats on and be ready to race. Wasnt nervous at all because I am not in very good shape and I was just going to take this as a fun race. There were a decent amount of people there, maybe 100, for both a 10K and a 5K, run at the same time. It rained a lot last night, so it was moist and overcast.

The start was a 3 gun salute from the veterans, which was pretty cool. We went on the 3rd gun shot. The race spread out fast. I went out slow, around training pace and kinda just stuck around a few people. The clear lead pack went off ahead. I stuck with one guy for the first mile or so, working off his pace. We started to go up hill a little, on the back side of Mt Sugarloaf (The course was literally a loop around Mt Sugarloaf, starting and ending in S.Deerfield). That guys did not like the hills, and I broke away from him. It was real nice running back there, rolling hills, nice forest smell. I was cruzing there, taking the down hill easy as we came to River Rd, which cut back to the bridge. That road was super boring, and I was in no mans land. I gapped the guy ahead and was still 40sec or so back from the front pack. Just kept an easy pace, chugging along. Mile 5 was tough, I caught up to two people that broke off from the front pack. One was a high school or middle school kid who was hurting and walking portions. Ran with him for a little, but he was going so slow that I kinda slowed down and got a cramp. The last mile had a detour where you just ran out and back on a little side road in town. That was tough since you could see everyone in front of you as they looped back. I made some distance from those guys I caught and pushed it to finish up strong. Still has a little bit of the stitch lingering, but was cruzin near the end. Finished strong but alone. Felt good to finish. Probably could have gone a little faster if I had someone to run with. Good thing I paced this because it was like the longest run I did all week, and I would have struggled so much near the end. Paces were kinda all over, but the good miles felt real smooth, and kinda quick which is cool. Mile splits were:

6:51, 6:58, 6:20, 6:30, 7:02, 6:08, 1:17 (Last 0.2 mile).

Essentials: Stretch, stick roll

Did a little cool down, nice and easy. I had some bad chaffing and honestly, my legs were pretty tired. Feet felt good in the flats though. Flats made it feel a little more serious and fun. The kid I passed was wearing spikes, and they sounded terrible on the roads... Anyways, stretched at the Community Center waiting for results and raffle. They were having trouble with the results, and I knew I wasnt in the top pack and there had to be someone in my age group that beat me, so I stuck around for the raffle and then headed home. I was drenched in sweat and tired. Good decision to get up early and race though, off of no race training at all. Still got it in me, thats what I like, you can get up any day and get through a race.

Also, I would have won the 5k. The winner was this old ass dude, and I was way ahead of him at the 5k turn around. My 5k split wasnt sub 20, which Im kinda disappointed with, but I think I would have gone sub 20 if that was the race. What ever 10k was fun. I dont think I have every really done a 10k. IDK how the hell you are supposed to do that on the track though...