Broad Street 10 Miler (1:01.59)

My training for April was erratic at best.  Originally, I had hoped the Broad Street 10 miler would be my Spring goal race. Then my training for April altered my plans, and Broad Street simply became a “make it through race”.

As the race drew closer, the weather forecast became progressively worse.  By the evening before, the race was predicted to be in the 40s and pouring rain.  It’s weather I know too well, and as most people know, Shamrock broke me.

I kept my head up high, and my goal became to finish and do well.  My PR from Broad Street was a 1:05.20 in 2014.  In 2015, I ran it in 1:05.39.  Despite the rain and erratic training, I was determined to set a course PR.I knew my fitness was much better than previous years.

Both Tim’s parents, as well as mine, made the drive to run so we had a full house.  On Sunday morning, we woke up and drove to the start.  My husband dropped us off, we went to the bathroom and headed to the start.

As a last minute decision, I opted to use my Gortex jacket to stay dry.  I had no plans to drop the jacket and pinned the bib on the outside.

We stood around, and I was drenched at the start.  I didn’t want a repeat of Shamrock, and I was nervous the race might be.  We started the race and as usual, the first mile was elbow to elbow.  In a 40,000 person ten milers there is no such thing as personal space.

I saw several friends, and we hit the first mile in 6:05.  I thought: Woah nelly that’s probably too fast.

The second mile went without too much, excitement and I ran it in 6:17.  I doubt myself a lot, and I panicked I was going to positive split like Shamrock.

My goal of the third mile was just to make it through.  I wanted to see where I was time wise for the 5k.  I hit the 3rd mile in 18:30 and the 5k in 19:10.  I was pleased and began to focus on everything else.

Nothing of note happened during the 3rd and 4th mile.  The pack I was running with dropped me, and I found myself alone.  I grabbed Gatorade and hit the 4th mile in 25:45.

When I got the 5th mile, the owner of the running store I work at cheered for me.  I gave a meek wave which was a cross between: will he judge me if I wave and my hands are too cold.

The fifth mile of Broad Street always goes by the fastest because it’s cut up by the turn around city hall.  By the time you’re around city hall, you are at the 6th mile.  I ran the 5th mile in 6:07 and was surprised and pleased.

Both the 6-7th mile went by with nothing eventful.  I ran mile 6 in 6:12 and 7 in 6:11.

During the 8th mile, I noticed many men beginning to pass me.  Was I fading? Was I dying? No…they just had more energy I guess.  I was running two of my faster miles.

I nicknamed miles 8-10 the rush of dudes. 

The rush of dudes was a strange occurrence because not one woman passed me but at least 30 men did.

During the last mile, I saw it would be an extremely close push to a 1:02.  I decided I might have it in me and went for it.  Keep in mind; I have zero kick.  In fact, I might go slower when I try to kick.

I finished the last mile in 6:07 and crossed the finish line in 1:02.01.

I was 34th female overall and 14th in my age group.  Since I didn’t age group place, my gun time was 1:01.59 so I guess that counts.

Thoughts:

I’m pleased with this race and have no complaints.  The weather was awful for everyone, and as I said yesterday, you can’t control the weather.  I’ve been 3/3 of bad weathered major Spring Races.  It was a course PR of 3.5, and if I had run an extra 5k, I do believe I would have Pred.

Questions for you:

What is the biggest race you’ve run?

Do you have a good kick?