You Rang?
Today I ran the Chapman University/Toyota of Orange 5k race in Orange, Ca. Chapman is my alma mater, having graduated from the law school in 1998. Two years ago, this race was my Couch to 5K “graduation race”. Last year, I went “sub-30” at this race with a time of 28:27. Since this is the only 5k I’ll run this year, I am looking for a new PR here.
The Weather
Every region has bad weather. Chicago has blizzards. Boston has nor’easters. Miami has hurricanes. The LA basin has Santa Ana winds. This is twenty to fifty knot winds blow from the north. They are hot and dry. Temperatures go up to the 90’s. Relative humidity plunges down into the teens, and the danger of wild fires is extreme. Raymond Chandler wrote about this weather in Red Wind. Today the winds were blowing. This race normally draws 3,000 runners, but because of the wind, only 1,743 showed up to race.
The Course
The race course was changed a bit from last year. The starting line remains the same: the Schmid Gate which is the main gate into the University. The race course snakes its way through he residential neighborhood around the school. The change is the finish line. It was moved from the Schmid gate to the center of the University.
Pre-Race
I arrived at the school with my wife and daughter at 6:30 am and picked up my packet. At 7:15 am, my wife and daughter were tired of being blown around in the wind. They left and went to the car. As they left, I told them I would see them at 8:00 am.
The First Mile
Promptly at 7:30 am, the gun goes off and we head south down Glassel Ave. The wind is at my back. Shortly after starting, I find myself surrounded by a local gym’s ‘boot camp’ class. By the time we hit the first mile marker, the boot campers are dropping like flies.
Mile 1 – 8:35
The Second Mile
After clearing the first mile marker, I turned east and north. The wind became a huge problem. It went from a tail wind to a head wind. I hit the water stop just to wash some water in my cotton dry mouth.
Mile 2 – 8:42
The Third Mile
About half way through the second mile I find myself getting really tired. So I pick a runner in front of me, and vow to pass him. My target today was a guy who appeared to have the same amount of gray hair as I do, wearing last year’s race shirt (so we know this isn’t his first rodeo), rocking out to an iPod attached to his hat. Ipod boy was about 10 yards in front of me, and I vowed to pass him.
Mile 3 – 8:31
The Last Tenth
After passing the third mile marker, I poured it on. Ipod boy had not clue what hit him as I left him in my dust. I passed lots of other people too.
The last .1 – 0:28 (6:50 mm pace)
Final time – 26:17, a new Personal Record by two minutes.
OA – 257/1743
Age Group (M 45 – 49) 9 of 63
Gender - 185 of 691
After the race I went and found my family in the car. They were confused as to the start time. They though it started at 8:00 am and not that it would be ending at 8:00 am. This means I do not have any photos for this race report.
My next race is the Holiday Half Marathon in Pomona, California. I’m using it as a tune up race/fitness check for the Walt Disney World marathon in Florida in January 2014.
Rick
PR: 5k 25:01 (10/15) 10k: 57:44 (7/14) HM: 1:57 (5/15) FM: 4:55 (1/15)
Congratulations on on a new PR by two minutes in unfavorable wind conditions. iPod dude is still wondering where you came from to pass him.
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot
Congrats on the 2 minute PR!
Damaris
As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.
Fundraising Page
delicate flower
Nice job, Rick! Wind can be a real spirit breaker. Congrats on that big PR.
<3
Hip Redux
Wow, a two minute PR is huge. You've really gotten faster! Nice work!
Wow, huge PR. Congrats!
Way to smoke iPod boy, and the ill-prepared gym rats.
uʍop ǝpᴉsdn sǝʇᴉɹʍ ʇI
Well done, Lurch. Great pr. In my opinion, it is much more difficult running in the heat than the cold. Those winds even made it tougher. Great stuff and good luck in your HM.
Congratulations on the great PR, Lurch!
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
This is clearly a result of you wanting to keep your word, so next time tell them you will see them at 7:55, and grab an even bigger PR!
Congrats on the PR! Your splits look great, and you had a nice kick at the end.
SheCan
Congratulations on the PR! Good luck on your training & race at Walt Disney World!
Cherie
"We do not become the people who this world needs simply by turning our backs on anyone we don’t like, trust, or deem healthy enough to be in our presence. " ---- Shasta Nelson
Runs4Sanity
Congrats on the new PR! Those weather conditions make me appreciate my area just a little more
*Do It For Yourself, Do It Because They Said It Was Impossible, Do It Because They Said You Were Incapable*
PRs
5k - 24:15 (7:49 min/mile pace)
10k - 51:47 (8:16 min/mile pace)
15k -1:18:09 (8:24 min/mile pace)
13.1 - 1:53:12 (8:39 min/mile pace)
26:2 - 4:14:55 (9:44 min/mile)
Caretaker/Overlook Hotel
Kudos man! I have no idea how you managed to run in that wind!! I hated not being able to go to the track here in Chino yesterday but I absolutely had to stay indoors as that wind was ridiculous!
I noticed the trees aren't blowing today. THANK GOD!!!
Randy
Congrats on your new PR! You have earned it with all the work you've been putting in training for the longer races!
Nice job finding a mental trick to get you through that second mile. I'm still working on that one myself.
nice job....those minutes are just falling away now...congrats!
marathon pr - 3:16