Short Version:

Reason: First 10k tune-up race as part of training for April 27 marathon

Result: 46:07 (PR) 6/25 AG

Long Version:

I gave an abbreviated version of this in the Dailies but decided to add to the RR fodder on the board today. I’m currently in the midst of training for my 3^rd marathon (Illinois on 4/27) and have been using a Pfitz 18/70 plan. This Saturday was the first tune-up race in the training schedule and I ran the Luck of the Irish 10k on Saturday.

The weather forecast had been for a mix of freezing rain/sleet/snow overnight but when I woke up on Saturday morning our streets at home were absolutely clear. Unfortunately, the race is about 75 minutes away and when I arrived at the site the roads and parking lots were covered with a layer of sleet/ice. As I sat in the car listening to the winds blow, I checked the weather on my phone and winds were about 15 mph with nice “feels like” temperature of 9 degrees. Oh well, my goal to race this one flat-out to assess training would have to be on hold. (I had intended to run this one sub 45, but after seeing the course condition and layout I would have been happy to run it in 45's)

After I checked in and decided on what to wear – tights, two shirts and a jacket (along with stocking cap & gloves) - I did a short recon warm-up on the course. It turns out that the race was 2 ½ loops along a single road with dead-end turnarounds at either end. The road was also considerably hillier than I had anticipated – more on that later. The road was ice/sleet covered but was at least starting to melt by race time.

Photo of starting line – you can see that the ice is partly melting.

They actually held 3 races (5k, 10k and 15k as well as a 1M fun walk) The walk and 5k race were done but they had rescheduled the 15k race to start 10 minutes prior to our 10k start – that meant we’d have extra people on the course to dodge. Oh well, at least we started on time.

I started out easy but since the beginning was mostly downhill I did the first mile in 7:09 a bit quicker than my revised pacing plan. That brought me through the first turnaround (i.e. the first ½ of the 2 ½ loops). Now, you can see the goofy elevation of the course from my Garmin track. The end of the North loop had a big sign showing a 7% grade hill that ended with a short flat before a stop sign. That meant we had to do a 180° turn and them immediately start back up that hill from basically a dead stop. The remainder of the course was rolling hills and the only flats that I saw were the little stretch to that stop sign and the final turn to the finish line. Oh well, hills make you stronger – I just wish it wasn’t on a race to gauge my training progress for a flat marathon course.

Anyway, the rest of the miles were somewhat disappointing as the repeated hills and conditions took their toll. The remainder of the race played out with miles 2-6 ticking off at 7:23, 7:35, 7:52, 7:33, 7:46, with a final push to the finish line over the last 0.2 at 6:54. Overall, I'll consider it a win because I didn't injure myself and at least came close to my re-evaluated finish time. If I hadn't been conservative and dogged it on the last two uphills from the North turnaround, I'd have hit the 45s. Oh well, that's why you run more than one tune-up race.

Goood gravy!  That looks COOOLD!!   Congrats on your race and on not falling on your caboose on the course - especially at your speedy pace!  Nice "floater' photo there...guess that's one  way to keep from slipping, keep both feet off the ground as much as possible!

Way to go, Bruce!

That's singlet weather out there Bruce!  The course you ran was just crazy, and definitely not something that is set up for racing at all.  You did a great job given that and the conditions.  Way to stay healthy too!

That sounds like a really messed up course. Just imagine by how much you could smash your PR on a normal course. Congrats.

Total B.S.- I think there's something about the cold that affects our judgment about choosing races.

scottydawg- Thanks, and I can confirm your suspicion that it was indeed cold. If I could have figured out a way to float the whole race I definitely would have - let me know if you get that worked out because I'm sure there's a market for it.

Oski- I agree, the course was unadulterated evil. Oh, and we don't need any more snow falling ... thanks for wondering.

So_Im_a_Runner- There actually was one dude wearing split shorts and a singlet out there somewhere ... though he was seriously fast! Even so, his arms and legs were bright red from the cold every time I passed him (as he was going the opposite way).

Sparker1606- Yep, I'm running Christie Clinic Marathon in C-U. I'm signed up for the I-Challenge - you run the 5k the night before and the full on Saturday morning - just for kicks. I actually did my undergrad down at U of I so I know the pancake flatness of the area. (That was one of the reasons for choosing that race as my spring FM)

B-Plus- Yep, I was disappointed by the course when I actually got to see it, but not much to do about that. I'm still looking for another 10k to race (with a reasonable course) that works with my training schedule, but unfortunately there's not a whole lot in my immediate area. I'm not so concerned with the PR, but I do want to get a good assessment of how training has been going to help set my pace for the April FM.

Zelanie- Thanks for the kind words and staying injury free was my #1 goal for this race (and training in general).

You call those hills?  They look like mountains to this city boy!

Wow, nice race. This was in WI, right?  I had considered doing the 15k but wow, looking at that elevation profile, I'm glad I didn't.

Wait?   How'd you manage to PR on that route with ice and snow?   That's crazy and oh so cool!  Great job! Congratulations!

.....awesome beard....just sayin'