Did my First "10K" race (Read 642 times)

Well after dreaming about running a marathon all night long I had no problem waking up at the crack of dawn so that I could get ready and head down to my first "10K" race. Weather was allright (a little hot for my taste but could of been much worse). Drive down was nice and quiet. Didn't forget anything except something to eat before the race (stopped and got a banana) We were bused within a half mile of where the race was supposed to start. Turns out route had changed a bit and instead of starting half mile up the hill were the start was supposed to be we had a nice suprise of starting with a nice little hill. So much for an all downhill course lol. (Of course even with that hill it wasn't completely downhill). Dh and I talked about stragedy last night and had decided that I should start out around an 8:15 mile pace for the first few miles then step it up the last two miles or so. Well first mile was 8:17 . Mile two was at an 8:02 minute pace, which was a little faster than what I had planned. Wasn't a huge crowd so I didn't have a many targets to pass. Pretty much stayed in my comfort zone until mile 6 then realized I hadn't stepped it up like I had planned. At this point there was only two people that we're even near enough for me to pass (which I did). One was a guy I had chatted with a bit on the bus and the other was a woman I was chatting with right before the race started. I passed the guy before getting into the stadium where the race finished and I passed the woman somewhere in the stadium. Of course I was quite confused by that time. My garmin had me WELL OVER 6.2 miles and as we entered the stadium I ran over one of those orange things (timer things I think?) . Of course that wasn't the finish so I see a guy a little ways away and another orange thing. So I kick it up and am running past threshold. Guess what , it wasn't the finish. So I keep running full force , feeling nautious, overheating with the sun BEATING down on me and FINALLY I see the big finish line tucked in after you rounded the third corner of the track. Making my time 53:10 (7:24 pace for the last .6 mile) and was told I was the 10th female. The woman I passed followed suit and caught up to me at where they had the water and congratulated me on my great finish. Then mentioned how dissappointed she was in her time etc etc etc. Ended up hearing that alot. Found out a little later that the 6.2 was from the original start so that made me and everyone else happier. I was 2nd out of my age group (35-39) but they only recognized the first place in each age group. Such is my life. I didn't mind at all considering I wasn't sure even at the start that I would even be able to finish it. The overall female finished in 44:56 ( has done 41:03 on a course that wasn't mostly downhill like this one was) All in all I'm very happy with how I ran the race. Despite planning on pushing it the last couple miles, I didn't. Probably much smarter and may have even helped me finish the run. Best part is I wasn't limping until AFTER the drive home lol Modified to add.looks like I was 3rd in my age group Modified to add found out my age group was 31-40 which would of been 6th (gotta love 6) so no award. I guess additional awards (2 &3rd) we're to be given out at the baseball game that we recieved tickets for. Damn I want to be faster. Can't even imagine doing a 10k in 41:03 let alone 44:56 on a easy fast course with a little extra milage.

Awesome placing, Pam! Congrats on your first 10k. Too bad about no trophy to bring home for your efforts - seems weird that they didn't do at least a little something for the first 3 in each age group. Was this a club run or something? Anyway, nice job - especially in the heat!

Great job, Pam--and on an injured ankle, nonetheless! Wonder why they did such a large AG?

Great job, Pam--and on an injured ankle, nonetheless! Wonder why they did such a large AG?

Pretty sure it has to do with the running club that is in charge of the race. I thought it was one, turned out it was the other. It gets confusing to figure out who exactly is running the event when one of the clubs has been incharge of timing some of the events that the other club was in charge of. Make sense And Thanks Kirsten!! Just hope the ankle keeps getting better as well any issue that stems up due to the injury.

I passed the guy before getting into the stadium where the race finished and I passed the woman somewhere in the stadium. Of course I was quite confused by that time. My garmin had me WELL OVER 6.2 miles and as we entered the stadium I ran over one of those orange things (timer things I think?) . Of course that wasn't the finish so I see a guy a little ways away and another orange thing. So I kick it up and am running past threshold. Guess what , it wasn't the finish. So I keep running full force , feeling nautious, overheating with the sun BEATING down on me and FINALLY I see the big finish line tucked in after you rounded the third corner of the track. Making my time 53:10 (7:24 pace for the last .6 mile) and was told I was the 10th female.

Just saw this - didn't realize it was your 1st 10K - great job! I love reading your racing reports as well. Ouch - WTG in maintaining that pace to get to the finish