I don’t know how fast or how far I ran. Is there some cosmic significance in that? I know that I did run! Too fast at first, like a few other races over the years. I didn’t know what pace I could sustain and I get pretty excited at the start of races. The Nike running application on my device didn’t work, and I didn’t think to re-boot it. I forgot the oldest trick in computing: re-boot!
So I was running blind, in a sense. No pacing, other than feel. But racing is mostly about finding a pace that I can sustain anyway. The Crush Run course had some personality, meandering along vineyard roads and up and down many hills. But the portions that cut through fields presented dangerously uneven surfaces. Bush league, in my opinion. The course had many turns and was not well-marked, so I just followed other runners. Including when they went off course! Somewhere, but who knows where? It became obvious when we entered anther field; this time the grass wasn’t even mowed. Now the running surface was uneven AND hidden. Not good!
The craziest part was when we crossed the finish line headed in the opposite direction of most other runners. It was a “pick your own course” race! That became increasingly clear as we compared stories afterwards. Who knows how many different courses people ran?
The clock said I finished in 43:32. That would be nice! It’d be over 2.5 minutes faster than I’ve ever raced before, and my personal best came in 2005 at the Lostine River Run, a predominantly downhill course. This one had a lot of ups and downs. Perhaps my best clue came from the women who ran the same course as me in about the same time. Their GPS units said they were about a mile short of a 10k, so after some complaining, they headed back out to run another mile. Nice solution!
So perhaps I averaged around 8:26 per mile with a projected finish of just under 52 minutes. I ran a 52:26 at the St. Patrick’s Day 10k early this year. Today’s course was tougher, so maybe I can still get back some of the speed I’ve lost. It’s a goal: try to defy the aging process. Just a bit? Or as much as I can! Watch out for Annie!!!
They said I won my division and awarded me a bottle of wine. This fits perfectly with how the race went, since I don’t drink wine! But as you can see, I know a bit about whine!
12 comments
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October 19, 2013 at 1:02 pm
IdealisticRebel
Good for you! And thanks for the enjoyable read. Hugs, Barbara
October 19, 2013 at 3:25 pm
frankoshanko
Thanks Barbara! You’re welcome!
October 19, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Katie
That is so strange. I suppose guessing how to get to the finish would make it more interesting? 8)
October 19, 2013 at 5:56 pm
frankoshanko
Like a mystery tale! Since I didn’t know how long we’d been running and they had no mile markers, I was really clueless about how far we’d gone or how far we had left to go. After all the running I’ve done, it seems I’d have a better feel for that. I think the overly fast start made me just wish for the end! 🙂
October 20, 2013 at 5:25 am
Mark the Rustic
Except for a few minor details, sounds like a day in runner’s heaven: Win age class, win rolling pin for pasta making, set new PR (7:00/mile!)… 🙂
October 20, 2013 at 6:23 am
frankoshanko
If only I was so fast! Nice resourceful thinking! It looks like I need some interval training and leg weights. How was Howl and Scram? Nice day eh?
October 20, 2013 at 7:15 am
Mark the Rustic
The weather was awesome! Wal-mart shopper, medieval knight, mermaid and fireman all finished. Knight & shopper (Isaac & Georgia) placed 1-2 in the 9-12 year olds. Georgie didn’t much like the agony of defeat, but got over it. Count Dracula hit 24:36 in the 5K, in broad daylight! 🙂
October 20, 2013 at 1:43 pm
frankoshanko
Nice job! Is it an annual tradition for you guys?
October 20, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Mark the Rustic
About every other year, so far, but I think we’ll do it again next year. There aren’t a lot of short run opportunities for kids. I’m hoping the older 2 will be running full length races in 2 or 3 years — hanging back to run with them should provide cover for a few years for my own declining times, then a few years more with the twins. 🙂
October 20, 2013 at 7:32 pm
frankoshanko
They’ll keep you young! At some point we may want to compare our old 10k times with our new 5k times. If you’re lucky like me, you might even find yourself in an 8k sometime! 🙂
October 20, 2013 at 8:27 pm
Mark the Rustic
Hmmm… There may be a market out there for mismeasured race courses… Kid conondrum: Keep me young but give me gray hair!
October 21, 2013 at 7:24 am
frankoshanko
🙂 Life in the fast lane will surely make you lose your mind…..