Year of Races

Chattahoochee Challenge 10k

For the race this weekend, I picked the Chattahoochee Challenge 10k in Roswell, GA.  It’s advertised as a fast, flat course.  I sure hope it is.  That would be nice.  My first 10k went well and I’m hoping to improve on my 53:14 mark this weekend.  The race is a Peachtree qualifier, but, then again, so was last week’s and so is the Resolution Rush 10k on 2/21.  I guess I’ll have plenty of chances to score a good qualifying time for the nation’s best 10k.

This weekend’s event raises money for the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  I have a lot of fond memories of time spent here as a kid.  My cousins and I used to go play on the playground by the river all the time.  I attended birthday parties and soccer-end-of-season parties here as well.  Great little place to bring the family and enjoy the outdoors.  I haven’t been over that way in a few years, so I’m looking forward to the race.

Weather should be in the high 30’s or low 40’s.  Doesn’t look like rain, but it is supposed to rain Friday so it may push into Saturday morning.  Let’s hope not.

This is another Run & See Georgia Grand Prix Series event, but I may have trouble cracking the top 20 in my age group.  I believe this race is a fairly popular one on the circuit.  I thought I did great last week and barely squeaked into the top 20 at 15th.

Anyone else planning on being there?  See you Saturday.  Should be fun.

Tartan Trot 10k Shirt

Throw out the excuses.  I guess I didn’t need them after all.  My first 10k went well this morning and exceeded all of my expectations.  It was a nice event even though the weather was kind of yucky.

I got to St. Luke’s a little later than I usually arrive.  Parking was full and I had to park a block away on the street.  I hustled in to check in and got my race bib, timing chip and shirt.  I got the timing chip attached to my shoe, but was stressed when I realized I didn’t have any safety pins in my packet.  They were all out!  Luckily a guy saw me looking through my stuff and, after asking me if I needed anything, he graciously gave me his two bottom safety pins.  This was really cool and I thanked him heartily.

I headed out to the starting line and prepared for the start of the race.  It was about 35° and drizzly.  Thankfully the rain held off.  It was really just a constant mist.  I did some stretching and bouncing around trying to stay warm.  A couple minutes later we were off!

I started out fairly slow.  Probably around a 9:15/mile pace.  I wasn’t sure though because I had forgotten my iPod Nano, so I didn’t have my Nike+ rocking.  I ended up running at a fairly consistent pace for the first couple of miles.  The 5k folks veered off and it was just us 10k racers left.  I think it was about this point that this woman shuffled past me quite easily.  She had obviously been here before, but it was a little disheartening.  I trudged on.

At about mile 3, I realized that I was feeling pretty good.  I had gotten into a decent rhythm.  At about this same time, we approached the killer section of the course.  A steep incline that went on for a half mile.  I never stopped to walk, but passed quite a few runners who did.  I powered right up the hill and still felt good.  This was going much better than I had expected, and I knew at this point I could finish this sucker with no problem.

I guess because it was a 10k and didn’t have too many participants, the pack really thinned out.  I found myself running alone or with only 1 or 2 guys around me.  This was nice and, even though it was cold and rainy, I really appreciated the morning run through the Dunwoody neighborhood.  The cops and volunteers did a fantastic job keeping the traffic at bay.  It was one of the first times where I realized I actually enjoyed being outside running.  It wasn’t just exercise; it was something more.

So, around mile 4 I started picking up my pace.  I felt so good, I really wanted to get under 55 minutes and knew I had a good shot at it.  About a mile from the finish, I noticed a pack of runners about 60 yards ahead of me.  There were 4 of them, and lo and behold, they were led by the shuffling woman who had passed me early on.  I decided to make it my goal to push hard and pass every one of those guys.  I started really moving and ended up picking them off one by one.  It was down to me and the woman.  I turned the corner and it was a sprint to the finish.  I ended up blowing by her right at the end and beating her by a couple of seconds.  I sensed she was kind of miffed about this.  I read somewhere (I wish I could find it – UPDATE:  found one) that some folks don’t care for runners who sprint to the finish.  I personally don’t see the issue.  If I want to finish hard, then why not?  It’s not like I’m running anyone over.  Anyway, I finished with a time of 53:14 according to my watch.  I don’t have the official time yet, but I’ll update the post as soon as I get it.  (UPDATE: official times are here.  Finished 15th in my age group.)

Overall, I’m really pleased with my finish.  I was stronger at the end and passed quite a few folks struggling on the hills.  I took time to appreciate the fact that I’m healthy enough to run a 10k in 35° weather on a dreary Saturday morning.  Not everyone has the opportunity and I’m grateful for it.

Tidbits from the Tartan Trot 10k:

• The shirt may be my favorite one yet.  Another nice technical long sleeve shirt.  I’ve worn it all day.   I’m such a dork.
• There weren’t any mile markers or volunteers yelling out times.  Without a GPS device, I was kind of clueless to where I was on the course.  It was just me and my Timex.
• Quite a few runners in kilts.  They were giving an award for fastest time in a kilt.
• I don’t see how so many people can run in pants/tights.  I ran in shorts again.  I really think I’d roast in long pants.
• Again, just like last week, I didn’t see a starting mat to trigger the chip system.  Maybe I missed it, but I kind of just guessed when I thought I was crossing the starting line.
• This was another Run & See Georgia Grand Prix Series event.  Hopefully I finished in the top 20 in my age group so I can earn some points.
• I didn’t stick around for the awards ceremony this time, so I don’t know what the podium runners’ times were in my age group.  I’ll find out as soon as I get my eyes on the official results.
• Here are some reviews of the race.

Next week is the 9th Annual Chattahoochee Challenge 10k.  Really looking forward to it, but, of course, you can expect more from me on that one later this week.

There is a very high probability that tomorrow morning’s race is going to suck.  I’m not above pre-registering my excuses here in this forum, so that I can refer back to them and use them during the race tomorrow.  Let’s go ahead and get them out in the open.

Excuse #1

According to the harbingers of bad news, weather.com, the weather is going to be crappy.  We’re looking at 33° with a 50% chance of rain.  This is after it has already rained all night.  Pretty crappy indeed.  I’ve never run in freezing rain, so I imagine it will affect me in some way.

crappy weather

Excuse #2

The wonderful folks who are organizing the Tartan Trot have made the course map accessible via mapmyrun.com.  That’s great.  What’s not so great is that the final half of the race is uphill.  Considering this is my first 10k race distance, this will most likely affect me in some way.

Hilly

Excuse #3

I’m the captain of a tennis team here in Atlanta.  I haven’t played much in the past few months, but I agreed to be captain anyways.  I was forced into action on Wednesday night after my regular lineup didn’t work out.  My partner and I made quick work of our opponents 6-3, 6-0.  Here’s the problem though.  I used some muscles during that match that I haven’t used in quite some time and now, I feel like I fell down a flight of stairs.  In particular, my left gluteus maximus is so sore that it’s sensitive to the touch.  I’m hoping this soreness will miraculously subside by tomorrow morning, but, if it doesn’t, this will most likely affect me in some way.

My butt hurts

There you have it.  3 valid reasons as to why it’s going to suck in the morning.  I have officially lodged these excuses and they are now available for use.  Wish me and my butt luck!  We’ll need it.

Tartan Trot

Saturday morning will be my first ever 10k.  I’ll be in Dunwoody, GA at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church running the Tartan Trot 10k.  I’ve been increasing my mileage for the Berry Half Marathon in March, but I just don’t feel too comfortable about the 10k distance yet.  I’m kind of a pessimist by nature, so maybe I’m just worrying about nothing.  My goal is under an hour.  If I make it, great.  If not, well, I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll have plenty of room for improvement.

The event looks like it will be well organized.  They’re using the Ipico chip timing system.  I haven’t seen this one yet, but I like the fact that there will be a chip timing system at all.  They also have a 5k if anyone’s interested in a shorter distance.  Also, as a bonus, they have a nice website with all the race information and a course map linked from mapmyrun.  This was a definite game changer when I was deciding which race to run this weekend.  A nice website is usually a sign of a well run event.

Hope to see some folks out there.  Hope I’m not the one puking after the race.