The returning runner…

Act 66 – “Training through” a race

The previous week I had trained through a race, and, although somewhat tired, had managed to kick it into gear and win a small 5k. Today, I found myself feeling much more tired for another local 5k – this one oddly slated as a track event. A couple of “lawn-dart” high-schoolers warming up dispelled any idea that I would place as well as the previous week. I was impressed the event included automated race timing setup, but the location didn’t look quite right. They announced the distance as 5k – “12-1/2 times around the track”. Hey, I’m an engineer…5k is 3.107 miles not 3.125 miles. Their finish setup looked to be a touch beyond the half-way. So… we would be going 30+ yards or so too far. Ok, a few seconds… The temps were ideal – low 50s but the gusting winds weren’t so favorable. Hmmm… it wasn’t clear that there would be a time clock set up either at the starting or finish lines. I had practiced the math ahead of time and figured I could handle the adjustments with a clock only at the finish line rather than at the even laps at the start line. A bit of a brain-bender but I could deal with it. But, with no clocks I would have to rely on my iWatch.

From the start, there were problems. My iWatch wouldn’t start. I hit it again, then again, then several more times. I was trotting while looking at my watch trying to get it going. I was a hazard – I had to forget the watch and get moving. Glancing ahead, the pair of high-school lawn-darts and a 25ish hard-core type were already well around the track. I settled into something that felt like the right pace. No clock display at the finish line and none at the start so really operating on feel. Coming around after one lap, I felt like it was a touch slow but I was feeling very excessively tired. This wasn’t going to be a great day… At 1 mile I tried a guess at pace based on the time of day showing on my watch compared to when I thought we started. A wild wag. I thought that I was around 6:50. Too slow but I had nothing in the tank. I was operating on vapors. I determined to settle into a “maintenance” pace while weaving around the lapped joggers and mom’s with strollers. At around 1.5 miles a 55ish past me on the inside. Now, I don’t mind too much when a 30-something passes me but normally give a bit of a response trying to hang on when a 50+ passes. Wait a second… he passed me on the inside. I was already in the inside lane. The tartan surface extended beyond the inside lane and he had created his own lane inside of the actual track. Considering that he was a cheater, I could let that one go – I had no mental toughness this day…

Finally, at 3 miles with ½ a lap to go, I sized up a runner I had been eyeing for a while. Quite a ways ahead – maybe 70 yards or so, but not sprinting. I determined to attempt to salvage something out of my lame-o effort. I was sprinting hard and chewing up surprising chunks of yardage. I felt him try to respond as I caught him with 25 yards to go and felt a surprising jolt of speed from myself as well. Hmmm…maybe a new speed capability from the Pilates?? A 25-year burst – not exactly an offset for an overall wussy performance. Seemed possible that my overall pace was over 7min/mile and certainly felt that way for the last mile. Wow, did I suck. I was entered in the 5k at the USATF Masters Pacific Region Championships in a few weeks – considering the little speed burst and the otherwise sucky performance, I probably should have been entered in the 800m. At least I wouldn’t get lapped…(my mind was really down).

Ok, so was it a good idea to train through this race? I had my doubts. A nothing race and maybe training though would give me extra strength for the big one… But what a hit on my confidence! Maybe it’s better to point for a couple of small races just to have some fast times in the memory bank before the “real” race? Chatting with teammate Martin Hernandez afterwards I had to gasp! He had done a 50k the day before! Holy cr**! Did my slightly high-mileage week even count as training through??? Ugh!

Martin’s FB post a couple of days later included his finish time. I hadn’t wanted to even look. Mine had to be bad - just felt like I was going sooo slow. If I looked, it might be even worse than what I hoped it was. What!! Actually, not that bad! 20:38. 20:38, 6:39 mile pace on a windy day, lapping groups of runners every lap except the first one, with no clock, dead tired from the start, at 5,000 feet elevation – maybe I’m not in such a bad position! The head is back on straight! Interim verdict – training through was a good idea! Final verdict in a few weeks… stay tuned.

Photo: Teammate Martin Hernandez smiling post-5k and just a day after 50k!