Since 1996, the Fredericksburg Area Running Club has hosted a 10-mile race in late August. The club’s objective was to provide a long race event for those runners training for a fall marathon or other long event. They were first held in Hartwood, now in Culpeper, since 2017.
The last 3 miles of the race are on Route 666 and, without cloud cover, would be hot in full sunlight. Thus, the Devil’s Den 10 Mile was born.
I’ve joined a “Couch to 5km” program as part of my comeback journey. The term “Couch to 5km” is trademarked by somebody, so the program is called something else, but you get the concept. We’re on week 5. On my own, the longest I’ve run without stopping since my ablation was 10 minutes.
The program-scheduled workout for today was a 5-minute brisk walk followed by 20 minutes of running without stopping. I planned to repeat 8 minutes of running and 4 minutes of walking. To accomplish the 20-minute run, I would run through one of my walk breaks.
Any finish time would be good. Since the aid stations were 2 miles apart, I wore my single-bottle belt with an initial mix of UCAN Energy. I planned to drink after every run segment, every 12 minutes.
I did a ten-mile training run last Saturday with poor results. Using a 3-minute walk and 8-minute run plan, it took me 2 hours and 26 minutes. Not wanting to be the last to finish, I asked the race director for an early start. Early starts are possible for those who have done a lot of volunteer work for the club and have considerable extenuating circumstances. I meet both criteria.
Wanting to start 45 minutes early (6:30 am), I got out by 5:30 am and arrived at the Culpeper Sports Complex at 6:25 am. After a quick dash to the bathroom, I changed into my singlet, strapped on my bottle belt, and headed to the start line. By 6:30 am, there was enough light that cars did not have their headlights lit.
At the start, the weather was 71 degrees with a 71-degree dew point and overcast skies. For those doing the calculation, that is 100% humidity. The high dew point is not great, but the overcast skies will help.
I wore shorts over compression shorts, my red FARC singlet, a ball cap, and my Saucony Triumph 21 shoes.
I needed to warm up my running muscles, including my shoulders and neck. I set my countdown timer to 3 minutes and ran about 40 seconds in each segment.
My actual start time was 6:31 am, 44 minutes early. The FARC newsletter, Will Triplett, ran into me at the start line and walked/jogged with me for about 6 minutes, discussing edits to the article I submitted for the upcoming newsletter.
I finished the first mile in 15:01. At that point, I switched over to my interval timer set with the 8/4 pattern and started my 20-minute nonstop run. The course’s low elevation is at mile 3. Getting the 20-minute run in early and with some downhill would make this workout easier. The course only has 240 feet of elevation gain. Most of the uphills are not severe. This course is flat.
I ran through the first water stop. The table and water were there, but the staff was not. I was 28 minutes ahead of the expected first runner. That is a key consideration with the early start. I know I’m on my own for water and safety until the field catches me.
I accomplished my 20-minute run without stopping goal, running the second mile in 12:37 and the third in 13:09. Past the 3-mile mark, I passed Bob Brammer, who took a 75-minute early start.
After my 13:15 fourth mile, I passed the water stop, telling them the lead runner should be 12 minutes behind me. I then pointed out the turn-around cone in Brandy Station to the attending course marshal.
My next two miles were 12:52 and 12:54. I went through the 6-mile mark in 1:19:50. Based on my calculations, with a 44-minute head start and the lead runner doing under 6-minute miles, he should have caught me before then.
I stopped at the water stop about 100 meters after the 6-mile mark. This station is where I wanted to top off my bottle with water. The race was using Monolith Endurance Fuel as the replenishment drink at this aid station. The mix is clear. I didn’t specify water, and I think I was topped off my Monolith, which is not bad tasting, mixed with the UCAN.
A few minutes later, the lead cyclist and front runner, Stephen Harrison, passed me. I asked if they started on time. Both thought they did. My calculation put him at the 6:12 minute per mile pace.
Shortly before the 7-mile mark, the second runner passed me, and I calculated his pace to be near 7 minutes per mile. My seventh mile was 12:59.
Before the 8-mile mark, more of the pack passed me, including the leading woman, Rebecca Ivester. I asked her how she was doing and if the race started on time. She said, “Not great,” and “I think so.”
My final three miles were 12:58, 12:47, and 12:28.
My finish time of 2:11:05 was 28 minutes slower than 2023, good for 112th overall, 65th male, and 12th of 13 in the Male 60 to 69 age group. I’m pleased with my consistent mile splits, especially in the race’s second half, when I should have been fatigued.
The main field started 2 minutes late, giving me a 46-minute head start. The first-place finisher’s time was 59:41, a 5:58 pace.
They gave an excellent finisher’s award, a mason jar.
I have a 52-race active finish streak in the Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix. Up next is the Downtown Mile on September 7. This race was the sixth in the 2024 GP series. Having run them all, I received the second of the series medals, “Summer.”
By the way, after finishing, the temperature was up one degree to 72, and the dew point was still 71, for a 97% humidity.