Kiss Me I'm Irish 10K
I was reeeal irritated with myself early last week. It’s well documented how much I loathe mornings…so naturally I chose the morning after spring forward to race. Dumas. So I stayed up too late Tuesday night in an attempt to start forcing myself to sleep earlier. After a 6 hour night of sleep I was out by 9:30 Wednesday, but now that I was caught up again Thursday would say a lot. And I couldn’t get to sleep, eventually nodding off about my usual time (11:15-11:30). So when my wife’s alarm started going off at 6 on Friday I got up instead of sleeping for another hour like usual – hoping to get it right this time. Then I was asleep again by 10 pm Friday night, up at 6 am Saturday, and was pleasantly surprised that I was getting tired in the 8’s Saturday night. Alright alright alright, I adapted to spring forward before it even happened. I was out by 9:30 that night then after losing the hour over-night was up before my 6:15 alarm.
Morning routine went off without a hitch, aided by the race happening just 2 miles from my front door. Breakfast, coffee, neurotism, round 1, and showered with an hour til the gun - even had time for a precautionary round 2 and a few minutes laying down on the couch. It was a perfect morning – barely a cloud in the sky, mid 30’s, crisp wind, and any liquid on the ground from Friday’s storm dried up during the day Saturday. After a brief warm up, disrobing, and dum-dum insertion I slowly made my way to the line.
The race
The first half mile of this race was down hill, so I wasn’t too concerned about starting off too hot. I figured I would, but since my HR stays in control at higher speeds on decline’s I didn’t think there would be any negative’s later. So I decided to not do any watch peaking until after mile 1. Run smart up the hill at mile 0.7, try to find my rhythm once up, then re-assess when I felt the buzz.
Mile 1 – 5:54
Perfect, now – let’s race. There were 3 runner’s in front of me at this point, so I set my eyes on #3. I did a watch check as I closed in on him a few seconds later and saw 6:XX, so let’s surge by him. Once I did that I set my eyes on the first two. They made a turn out-of-sight, so I looked at my watch to get the current time. Then when I got to that turn looked again and saw that it took me 19 seconds to get there. Okay, quite a bit of separation, but if they started off too hot and fade later in the race I can beat them. In the meantime, alternate between running your race and keeping your eyes on them. Just about that moment they split. So, the one that went left is gonna win the 5K and we’ll see about righty.
Mile 2 – 6:09
A little slower than optimal, but having run here many times before I knew I was on an incline for most of that mile and a good portion of it was right into that wind. I also noticed as I approached that split that the gap had closed to 11 seconds between me and #1. I didn’t change anything at that point, but I knew this steady subtle incline turned to decline about mile 2.4. So, sustain for now then surge to him when you hit that, which is exactly what I did – settling on his hip at mile 2.6. I stayed there, recomposing myself until the next subtle decline (this one wind aided too) at mile 2.8. That’s when I went for the kill shot. I exploded by him then sustained, constantly telling myself not to turn around and give him reason to believe he could regroup.
Mile 3 – 5:52
Much better. I was sure not to let off the gas until a turn at 3.1. At this point the decline was over and the wind shifted to a cross. I peaked without turning my head to inventory if the kill was successful, but also not send any tell’s. I couldn’t see anything in my periph, so I called it a success. The next mile or so was mostly into that wind and I noted my HR was in the mid 160’s, so I decided at this point to run by HR. The wind would shift to my back at the beginning of the next mile and I’d have a decline to take advantage of, so if I see that he closed the gap that’s okay – blow him away then.
Mile 4 – 6:03
Alright, let’s go. I wasn’t in a spot to peak, but I also knew I still had plenty of energy. So let’s just go and when I get to a spot in which I can peak later this mile I’ll re-assess then. If he has closed the gap this should finish him though. Shortly thereafter I rejoined with the 5K. It’s about what you’d expect from those 24 minutes into a 5K and not far past mile 1. No one paying attention to what’s going on around them. So I just tried to keep my space (THE CORONA!!!) as I approached each of them. If I lose a little bit in the tangents then c’est la’vie. Most of them were not surprisingly caught by surprise as I ran by them, but no incidents. Then as I approached mile 4.3 I noticed a cluster and we had a tight turn ahead to connect to a different path in the park. Again, none of them giving any impression they were paying attention to what was going on around them. I was able to take the first part of the turn around one of these clusters, but I had to shoot a gap to finish the turn. There was one runner inside and two out – so I slide around the one on the inside then cut to try and beat the one’s on the outside to the cone. I made it, but one of these goons reached out and smacked me in left shoulder as I squeezed by. Mother ####### 5Ker’s. I ran through the tackle attempt and proceeded to continue by other oblivious 5Ker’s. Very quickly thereafter I approached a fork in the road. I saw 5Ker’s going left, but I also saw white signs near the ground. I squinted and saw the 10K was to go right. It’s written in scribbled ink and no volunteer in sight. Someone’s gonna screw this up later I said to myself and I followed orders, going right. Now that I was finally separated from the 5Ker’s I picked a spot to look behind and re-assess. Nowhere in sight – alright, this thing is mine. Let’s cruise through the rest of this mile then I’ll press things when I re-join with the 5Ker’s for the final mile.
Mile 5 – 5:56
But why did I run by the 5 mile sign about a minute ago I said to myself. Before I could think about it too much I was back with the 5Ker’s, so I needed to refocus my attention on navigating them again. While I knew I had this race I wanted to finish strong, challenging myself. I bounded down a hill, knowing a 75’ climb awaited with a half mile to go. Press as hard as you can up that thing then sprint to the finish. It hurt, it hurt bad, but I was able to sustain a sub 6 GAP for a minute of the climb. Eventually fatigue won and I slowed down to finish the climb, but looking back I’m happy with how I ran that thing. Once to the top it’s just a quarter mile sprint to the finish. I ripped my head phones out then just coasted in.
“Mile 6” – 6:12 (pace)
As I cross the line I hear the dual bantering announcer’s saying did he cross the line with a sucker in his mouth? My mother would smack me in the head if she saw me doing that! The other one quipped. I saw him before the race and was like...no way. Then he crosses the line and it's still there! They resumed their bantering, but I slowly made my way over to them and with sucker still hanging out of my mouth, got their attention and said - my wife hates that I do this too. They both erupted in laughter. We went back-and-forth for a minute, asking me if that's the same one from the start, why I do it, a couple other things I no longer recall - then I made my way to warmer confines. Along this stroll is when I realized that what I noticed at mile 5 was legitimate as garmin only gave me credit for 5.94 miles. Hmm…
Post race
As my friends are finishing the race we’re gathering together, talking about the race, exchanging high five’s (BUTT CORONA!!!) as we’re finding out we’re basically sweeping the awards – my overall win, three age group win’s, and the only one that didn’t was still 2nd to one of the others in our group. I ask them how far their gps device’s said they went and all were between 6.16 and 6.18. So I figured my gps just went haywire at some point and didn’t record something in the park mile 5 and didn’t say anything further. We then make our way to the bar 50’ from the start/finish line for post race libations until awards.
We come outside after a couple and the runner’s high is just intoxicating…or maybe it’s just the booze. Whatever. Let’s get what we worked for then back to the bar. So they’re announcing the top 3 overall, I hear 2nd place and their time, and I kinda side eyed the group. They weren’t sure why I was looking at them like it then they announced the overall winner and it wasn’t me. Then the looks on all of their faces suddenly changed. Without pause I turned and walked to find the RD. She was not surprisingly anticipating I was coming as she was looking around rather than paying attention to the awards. We make eye contact and not knowing how to start the conversation just blurted out – umm, didn’t I win?
RD: No, you cut the course.
(awkward pause)
MAC: I what?
RD: You cut the course.
MAC: Where?
RD: In the park.
MAC: Where in the park?
RD: After you rejoined the 5K. You missed a turn. Our volunteer was yelling for you, but you ran on anyway.
MAC: There was no volunteer at the split. I noticed the signs on the ground that were not very legible, but was sure to turn the correct way.
RD: That was the second split.
MAC: The second what?
RD: There was another split before then.
MAC: Where?
RD: Earlier in the park. You turned with the 5K when you were supposed to go straight. Our volunteer was yelling for you, but you just kept going.
^^^About that point I realized this wasn’t going anywhere. I also knew my gps recorded the race short and not the others, so while I didn’t know what she was talking about I figured she was probably right. I just needed to find out where. So we reconvene in the bar, everyone asking me what happened. So I asked them to pull up their races and cross referenced maps. As I was scrolling over the park it all hit me suddenly. That obnoxious 5K’er that smacked me in the arm wasn’t doing it because I invaded her space. The volunteer was yelling for me to turn around and due to my music – I never heard her. That smack was to get me to turn around.
Previously where there were turns volunteers were very clearly standing in front of them, pointing the direction to go to around cones, which fork to take when the path’s split, etc. Thinking back, that wasn’t the case here. There was no one standing on the inside of that curve. I vaguely recall humans standing to the left and a white sign on the inside of the curve – but no such writing on the sign. Thinking about the next split shortly thereafter, there probably was writing on that sign – but only readable if you’re staring right at it. So I went back out and found the RD…
MAC: You’re right. I know exactly where you’re talking about now that I’ve cross referenced my map vs others. I didn’t run that 0.2 mile loop and I should be DQ’d. I own that. But please consider making procedural changes in the future, so this doesn’t happen again. Did this in part happen because I was listening to music? Yep, but am I the only one out there listening to music? I’m sure after I cut the course the volunteer at that station was more attentive about making sure the 10K runner’s knew which direction to go, but that needed to be done from the outset. It's a proactive measure; not reactive. It was done at prior turns during the race, but for whatever reason was not done there. I’m also sure something was written on that sign, but as I was dodging other runners it was not clear enough for me to see without specifically looking at it. I was more concerned with not running someone over, so I wasn't looking at it and unlike previous turns during the race there wasn't anyone standing on the inside of this one directing me where to go. I’m annoyed, but I know me - I’ll get over this by tomorrow. There’s bigger problems in our world. One issue like this, my friends and I will laugh about it. I want to see this race, especially with my being a local, experience sustained success. My concern is if something like this happens again and it's to someone who won't brush it away like I am.
Unofficial cheating 10K that doesn't count – 35:45
