Summary:

Time: 13:00

Overall: 9/466

AG: 1/16.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/209030107

Pre-race:

10 days ago I got relegated from being a starter to an alternative in a marathon relay. I was ticked off for about 5 minutes, but then excited. I heard of this 2 mile race after I had already committed to the relay. The reason I was so excited about this race is that I hadn't run a 2 mile race since junior high and the penguin prizes are awesome.

The bad thing about switching gears from a 5 miler to a 2 miler with 10 days to go is the inability to properly train for it; therefore, I set my goal about 9 seconds slower than McMillan said I could run. My goal was 13:00 and my stretch goal was 12:50.

This morning was a panic. My Garmin beeped at me right when I was getting up. There was no battery left in it. Why? I have no clue. I charge the thing after every run. I think it hooked up to the satellite last night. Anyway, I ended out leaving my house at 7 instead of 6:30 to get it up to a half charge.

The weather was nice. 65 degrees in a little windy. Since it was a 2-miler, I basically ran the course as a warm up. It was well marked. I noticed some slick turns from dew caused by high humidity. I was able to scout the break between the 2-miler and 10k. I knew I would have to stay left later. I also made note of the penguin marking the 6 mile point for the 10-k race. This would be my planned location to go into my final kick.

The race:

First half mile (3:13)

I started out in the third row of the pack on the left. There was a sharp turn after about .1 miles. I got a little too far over to the left. I tried to avoid being boxed in but got slightly boxed in. There was a front group of about 20 runners. I stayed behind them and focused on my pace. I was still running a little fast for the first quarter mile. My pace was around 6:00. I made sure to stay on the left side because I knew the break was coming at around .3 miles. As the runners broke, I counted the ones that were running the 2-miler. I was in tenth place.

I slowed down a little too much the from about .3 - .5 miles. I was trying to keep my first half mile at about a 6:20 pace. I ended out at a 6:26 pace.

Second half mile (3:17)

My goal here was to hit a 6:30 pace and hold it between miles .5 and 1.5. I did a decent job. I passed by the 1 mile marker and the person called 6:29. I was thinking that I was right on pace for my goal. I was still about 5 seconds slower than my stretch goal.

Third half mile (3:27)

For some reason I have problems right after the mile mark. This has been an issue with my 5k and it carried over to the 2 miler. I knew I was losing time here. I did the math in my head and was thinking I was getting about 12 seconds behind. I was thinking that it would be extremely difficult to hit my 13 minute goal at this point.

I started focusing on passing the runner in front of me towards the end of this half mile. I thought he was going to challenge me as I passed, but his tank was on zero. That guy completely tanked at the end. His final time was 13:46 and he would be passed by another 6 runners.

At this point it was a time trial to the finish. The eighth place person was way ahead of me. He would finish in 12:22. I was comfortable that no one would be passing me from behind because I've always had a great kick.

Final half mile (3:01)

I picked up my pace and focused on running a 6:30 pace for the first .3 miles. As I passed the six mile penguin, I started increasing my pace and getting into my final kick. I took a wrong turn soon after I stared my final kick. This raddled me and I dropped out of my kick for about .03 miles. At this point I was thinking there was no way I could get my goal.

I restarted my kick at about 1.9 miles. At this point I could see the clock ahead of me. As the seconds ticked toward 13, my speed continue to pick up. By the time I hit the finish line I was at a 4:02 pace. I crossed the line at 13:01. I knew that I wasn't in the very front of the starting my. My chip time ended out 13:00. I hit my goal. I was very happy to make up 12 seconds in the final half mile.

Future plan

I need to get mentally stronger if I am ever going to maximize my ability. I can't continue to take a break at the start of mile two. My plan is to bring back intervals into my workouts. I haven't done any speed work since injuring myself in January. I just do tempo runs which are endurance work.

Awesome Dan.

Friday morning at my DD track club I had several parents prodding me to run that race. But I am good to just hang and wait for the Marathon. I would have had zero clue how to run a 2 mile.

Glad you got your penguin! Cool award.

Great job!  That award is just awesome.

Nice race! I love the penguin award too! Congratulations for finishing first in your AG!

Thanks Jenny, Dave, and Baboon.

Sly - It was a fun race, but I think you were better off to skip it. Your prize is next week.

Damaris - I think my body has caught up to my legs. Also, I am doing more core work now and training smarter.

Mickey - Yes, I love the penguin. It was a huge reason in me picking this race.

Heidi - I will admit that I never thought I would run a race at a 6:30 pace. This was the first time I did that in my life.

Zelanie - The wrong turn only cost me a few seconds. Someone shouted at me very quickly. I may have taken five steps before I figured it out. I cut through the grass to get back on track instead of backtracking.

Yeah, but a few steps in a two miler still counts.

12:58 would look much better than 13:00. At least it didn't cost me in placement. I was 38 seconds behind 8th and 22 seconds ahead of 10th. The 10th place person was in my AG. It is weird, but I tend to race in a bubble.

Thanks Tweaky.