“Running the 5km this morning wasn’t the brightest thing I have ever done.” That is how I started my 2021 Halloween 5km race report. I’ll start my 2022 post with the same feeling.
Last night around 1:30 am, after a regular trip to the bathroom, I started getting hot flashes, side pains, and flutters when I got back into bed. It took a while to get back to sleep. I took my blood pressure and pulse (128/78 and 55). Getting up at 5:30 am, things were back to normal (107/56 and 56).
I arrived at the Rouse Center about an hour before the scheduled start time. I wanted to run a 32-minute warm-up and keep 10 minutes to hit the bathroom, put on my singlet, and get to the start. So, I needed to start my run at 7:53 am.
On time, I headed out to warm up; four repeats of walking 2 minutes and running 6 minutes. My route was mainly in the shade and chilly in the low 40s.
I was trying to figure out what shirts to wear during the race. The racecourse was 90% in the sun with a six mph tailwind for the last 1.5 miles. I’m becoming a wimp and decide to keep on a long sleeve undershirt.
Before the race, I looked for registered males older than 60. There were four, and none of the faster area runners. If I ran smart, I could finish in the top three.
The temperature at 8:30 am was 47 degrees with a dew point of 43 degrees and six mph winds. I wore my usual attire for these conditions; shorts over compression shorts, FARC singlet over a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, white hat, neck gaiter, and my Saucony Triumph 19 shoes.
I arrived just before the scheduled start time, and the boys’ mile race was still finishing. It appeared there was going to be a delay of a few minutes. The start line was in the shade. I stayed up the hill in the sun and away from a potentially sick crowd.
A few minutes later, I heard the command to line up. Walking to the start, I moved into the main corral but was still far back when the gun went off.
I ran comfortably and needed to zigzag through some of the slower runners. I hoped to see the 1-mile turnaround location. I didn’t and clicked my watch where I thought it was located. I went through 1/2 Mile in 5:12 and 1 Mile in 9:09. It looks like I overshot the 1/2 spot.
The course has headed up Embrey Mill Road through the neighborhood for the past few years. The Sheriff’s Department wanted the route to stay on Mine Road.
Many thanks to the Sheriff for making this course easier. This year, we continued north on Mine Road to the 1.5-mile location. We’ll turn on Embrey Mill Road for .05343 miles uphill on the return. That is 282 feet.
Happy with the change, I continued on Mine Road with the next 1/2 miles in 4:37 and 4:38. Through this section, I looked for the older male runners in my age group. I saw none on my way out. Unless I missed someone, I was running in first.
After Mile 2, we turned up the hill. I increased my turnover, and I felt stressed for the first time in the race. After summiting, I rested some in the next quarter mile. Back on Mine Road, there was wind to my back, and a couple of uphills may have had some impact.
Coming to the finish, I saw 27 minutes on the display clock. That pushed me hard to finish under 28.
My third mile was an 8:12, and the last .10686 was 1:23. Those numbers didn’t make sense. The Mile 3 sign had to be out of place by 30 seconds.
Somebody, me, made a mistake. I looked at the certification map I drew and saw the Mile 3 location south of Pole 51, which should have been Pole 57. Oops, my bad. Based on my pace, I figured my Mile 3 would have been an 8:45 with a 53-second last tenth.
My finish time was 28:05 for 69th overall, 46th Male, and first male 60 and over. My chip time was under 28 minutes. My breathing was more comfortable than in past races, and I felt good.
I ran a 16-minute cool down before heading to Charlottesville for a 12:30 pm football game.
I wasn’t able to stay for the awards. So, I pick up my interesting age group award early. I haven’t tried filling it with liquid.
I have another 5km next week and then a marathon in a few. It will happen.