Only two items in this post-race thinkpad.
First, I have found only one race report so far for the ALARC Legends 10k, Richelle has a great race report and also has a Minnesota Runner’s Giveaway of some SWAG she has collected and a cool necklace (your choice of three) that she made.
Second, I’ve been putzing around figuring what I should try to run at Bjorklund. Originally, I was hoping to PR by running faster than 93:39 (7:09 pace). Then, I thought maybe I would just be happy by beating my course record of 95:47 (7:19). Then I started to think that might be too aggressive.
But then I saw the forecast, perfect conditions: cool, around 50 degrees. Maybe some rain. Wind (10-15 mph) at our backs.
And the added confidence of running 6 easy miles at 6:58 pace without feeling like I was pushing. Plus I’m feeling strong during my taper.
So my plan is to attack. Go out and run the first 10 miles at 7:00 pace and assess then whether I want to coast in, whether I’m going to crash, or whether I want to race the final 5k. I figure if I hit 10 at 70:00, I could slow to 8:00 pace and still run a respectable 94-something. But even if I totally crash, so what? If I crash and burn, so what? I’m doing this for fun, nothing really depends on me running a certain pace. I’ve got no pressure on me to do anything so just go for it and see what I can do.
It’s nice to have a plan.
It’s also nice to have incentive. I decided that if I PR, I’m going to treat myself to this:
It’s not expensive–in fact, cheaper than most singlets I’ve found but not something I really need.
Well, other than being wiped out later in the day I don’t seem to have done any permanent damage. I have the normal aches and realized I got dehydrated–didn’t have to make any trips Monday morning after drinking a liter of water on my way into work. Yikes! That normally that leads to 3 or 4 trips.
I did take the Monday off from running to give my various body parts–Achilles, quads, and left thumb some time to heal.
To, borrow from CNN-Sports Illustrated Writer, Peter King, here are some things I think I think after running the Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon.
1) Reading others’ stories about the same race is a lot of fun. Gives you a different perspective. So far, I’ve read:
- Julie’s Race Report–she almost didn’t bring any cold-weather gear. Yowzer!
- Chemo-man’s Report–Someone I noticed in the crowd. I need to read more of his story.
- Mark also didn’t like the way the starting mats were positioned and ran with the 1:40 pace group and he passed me somewhere between 8.5 and the finish.
- Alyssa ran a great race in nasty conditions to come within 1 minute of her PR.
- A Vegan Runner and her fiance both run PRs!
- Jen and Willa rejoiced in victory.
- Tenacious (didn’t find her official handle) had a Pyrrhic Victory.
- The winner, Seth Brickley, and I have something in common–our shoes come untied during races except he takes the time to stop & tie them.
- minnetonkafelix’s photos–Some great pictures of the race, a talented photographer with some good photos of the Lake Minnetonka area.
- Official photos of the race. I didn’t see myself in the 400+ pictures but recognized a lot of other runners.
2) This winter needs to end.
3) Whatever fruit punch trauma I suffered in my childhood made a deep and permanent scar on my taste buds & stomach. Red Gatorade, Yuck!
4) I am getting older and slower but maybe not as fast I thought I was.
5) Cross-training and stretching are good ideas.
6) Despite sometimes recognizing good ideas, I can completely pretend like they don’t exist.
7) Opposable thumbs are a nice feature–they make things like tying your shoes, pinning a bib, opening a Gu, and grabbing a cup of water a lot easier. Thanks, Ugg and Eev for evolving them for us.
8) A cold, blustery wind has a way of distracting me from hills.
9) Runners might be crazy.
10) Our supporters and spectators might be crazier–standing around in that cold for a few hours to get a quick glimpse of their loved ones does not sound like fun.
11) Happiness is a pair of warm sweatpants.
12) I probably could use a more closely fitted running jacket.
13) Sometimes my mp3 player is smarter than I am.
.1) I wonder if the person who figures out the proper formula for the number of port-a-potties required for a race will earn a Nobel Prize for physics, medicine, economics, peace, or all of the above?
