Okay, so I've never done a race report before--though I read them all of the time. And I'm not sure how much there is to say about a race that took not much longer than it will take me to think and write about it but here goes.
The Arc Race also has a half marathon distance and a shorter 3K for kids--so there is something for everyone. This race raises money and awareness for people with developmental disabilities. There were about 1,500 runners out there on Saturday.
The other thing about this race was that it was held on September
11. It was a beautiful, sunny, blue sky day--not too unlike that
fateful day nine years ago. I had many friends and parishioners die
that day--and I was almost among them. As a testimony and thanksgiving
for living through it (I was just two blocks away from the towers) I try
to do something that is utterly life-affirming. Three years ago I was
in no shape to be running anywhere. That I'm even writing about trying
to PR a 5K is a small miracle for me. And if I had come in last I'd
still be incredibly grateful.
While waiting for the race to start I was often asked if I was running the half marathon--or, why wasn't I running the half. Great question with an easy answer--a little something called, "triathlon training" got in the way. After the Boilermaker on July 11, I stopped training at longer distances to concentrate on the swim for the Iron Girl. But having felt great about my Boilermaker results--1:35:10--with a 10:13/mile pace--I'm definitely planning on running a half next year.
However, today was all about running a race to see how my time was holding up with less intensive training. I ran the Willow Bay 5K in 26:40 coming in 73 out of 298. I was so excited by that time but it was a super fast out and back course. And I thought that was the course I'd be running for Arc. Not quite.
I woke up on Saturday having slept well the night before. I got up at 5:30 ate my Mu Mu Muesli with strawberries and a cup of coffee--and lots of water. I made it to the race site--Long Branch Park--with plenty of time to warm up a bit and use the porta-potties (which I couldn't believe I needed so quickly). Note to race directors--1,500 runners plus guests and volunteers requires more than 5 porta-potties!
While waiting in line I ran into several friends--including Courtenay--the instigator behind me signing up for Iron Girl in the first place.
As I scanned the scene it quickly dawned on me that this was NOT the Willow Bay course. We'd run part way down the Willow Bay course, but first we'd go over the one-lane bridge. Not a problem--I can do hills. But there went any chance to compare race times I thought. Oh well, each every race is different right--even when the course is the same.
The half marathoners went off at 9:00 and then the 5K, ten minutes later. As the gun went off, I kept waiting to hit the timing mat to begin, you know, timing my race. But there was none. We all started with the time on the clock at 9:10. So there I was walk/jogging the first minute of the race because we were all packed in together and quickly realized, I wasn't going to beat my last 5K time. I set my watch about a minute in and then tried to check pace from there.
At the mile 2 marker I had clocked an 8:30 mile--not too bad but I wasn't really happy with it. There was a guy named Josh just ahead of me and I spent the second half of the race trying to hold on to him. I even passed him at one point. Then as this quick race was coming to an end, there was that bridge again--up hill. As I said, I love hills, one of my favorite runs is my Tipp Hill run. But at an all out sprint? That was new to me. Note to self: practice sprints on the up hill from time to time! At that point Josh passed me and it was all I could do to stay on him. I don't know who he is but thanks for keeping me motivated!
After the hill--I mean, bridge--the last 50 yards or so were on gravel--not so good for my pace either. But again, I can't complain. I ran a 26:49 race and came in 169 out of 592 and in 9th place for women in my age group--woo hoo! My average pace was 8:38 which means my 3rd mile split must have been really good to make up for my slow start. That's nine seconds slower that my Willow Bay time--yeah, I'll take it.
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