I don’t really know how to write a one mile race recap. Let’s be honest, it’s 4 laps around the track and it takes longer to write a race report about it then actually run. The mile race is put on by my local running club and for our grand prix series. Nevermind the fact that there were 4 5ks that day (that I would have loved to do), but a casual race with my local running friends was what on tap for me. (Since I’m out of town for 7 of the races I need to do all 5 that I am in town to be in the grand prix series.)
How to start this race recap… I slept through my alarm at 5:30 and dad woke me up at 6. We left by 6:15 and I would have probably had a cow if it was a longer race but luckily it happened preparing for this race. Then due to no traffic actually arrived there early. Dad and I warmed up for 2 miles…we saw a giant sushi buffet which we thought looked interesting so we did our warmup to the sushi buffet to check it out and then back. HA.
Since I was hoping to run below a 6 minute mile, I was in heat 1 along with 10ish other dudes. I told them since I was the lone ranger women I was allowed to draft or jump on their backs. With that, we started the race and around the track we went.
Lap 1: I was in dead last place. I didn’t really care either. My legs were still warming up and I was hoping to be able to catch someone.
Lap 2: I started to catch 1-2 people. It was at this point I realized I didn’t really know how to run a mile.
Lap 3: Maybe it was at this point I realized I didn’t know how to race a mile. I started to realize I had a lot left in the tank. I know you are supposed to take out the mile like 5ks as fast as you can and hold on for dear life. I didn’t do that.
Lap 4: As explained here when I was able to drop about 5 seconds from any other of my splits. I didn’t vomit at the end like you are “supposed” to do.
I didn’t finish with a PR (5:31) but finished 5 seconds off of that in 5:36. I honestly feel I could have just kept running like it was a 5k which means I clearly didn’t run the race correctly. I also don’t do speed so I really shouldn’t expect to just magically decrease my mile time. That’s like me saying well I run 10 workout miles weekly, I’m about to PR this half marathon.
After the mile we were assigned to random relays with everyone who participated. This meant you could be on a team with walkers, young children, the most elite runners…anyone. Each person on the team ran 1 lap around the track. I was really glad we didn’t have to pass batons or anything of that nature. We just had to high five each other and then next person was off. Anyways, I was anchor of the relay. I started the relay in last place and was able to catch one person.
But alas in the final 50 meters one of the elite 6 year olds in the most epic of battles was able to surpass me in the final stretch. 😉
All in all it was a lot of fun and I’m always glad to see all my local friends. I’m not upset with my nonPR but I am a bit disappointed since I only do the mile once a year and have done faster 5k splits then this. No complaints from me though.
Questions for you:
Have you ever raced on a track? Do you have a good kick?
Do you sleep through alarms ever?
Not really for me this was a rare occasion.
You are awesome! I don’t think I could run that fast even if someone was shooting at me.
I have never raced on a track. The fact that I am not super fast holds me back.
I’m pretty good at not sleeping through my alarm, when I set one. I have snoozed the damn thing before.
There were people racing from all speed. A 4:XX mile to a 17:XX to walkers! I never did track in high school/college so it’s always an interesting experience. 🙂
Hahaha ok I love that last picture of you with the 6 year old. We just had the Liberty Mile here in Pittsburgh, and while I didn’t have a chance to participate (didn’t get off work early enough), I went down to see my friends after, They said it was one of the hardest things they had done race wise to date because none of them knew how to race a mile either, so half held back too long and the other half went out way too fast and had nothing left by the last quarter mile. I want to do it next year, but it will definitely take a little practice on my part since I have no idea how to race/run just a mile either ha.
The mile is seriously so tough because it’s so quick. I can’t imagine racing it a lot like in high school/college…or even going shorter then that.
Agreed! I bet that’s what some of the shorter distances think about some of our longer runs, though, haha
You KNOW I sleep through alarms a lot. Although I have to say I have been on a streak lately of getting up in the morning!
I miss racing on the track… its one of the reasons I have the kick i do… from years of track racing!
Confession: I didn’t even know that mile races existed… but I can definitely see how it would be a little difficult to figure out how to pace yourself in one. And I can’t really remember the last time I slept through an alarm, but that’s mostly because I can’t remember the last time I actually set one. My body just has this annoying habit of waking up ridiculously early.
I ran a mile race a few months ago as part of a relay and I had no clue how to run it. I just ran as hard as I could! I did overthink it a little I think because I debating pacing my laps…but it all got too complicated to think about while running my little legs off. Good job though, five seconds off a PR isn’t too shabby!!
Thanks Anna!
That’s still a great mile time!
That picture with the little girl made me LOL. That is hilarious! She has great form!
I’ve never ran an entire race on a track, but I’ve finished a lot of races/marathons on them. 🙂
Where did my comment go?
That’s a great mile time, congrats! That pic of you with the little girl made me LOL! She has great form!
I’ve never ran an entire race on a track, but I’ve finished a bunch of races/marathons on them.
I wouldn’t know how to run a mile race considering I cannot even sprint. I am so used to just running the same speed for miles and miles, so I would stink at sprint races! I know it seems like an obvious reaction, but I am happy to see you didn’t take the 6 year old beating you seriously. Your face says it all and I bet SO MUCH MONEY there are people who would be pissed over it. LOL I always sleep through alarms. If I don’t get up the minute it goes off, I am doomed.
I get really nervous before a 5k because of how little time there is to rectify mistakes. Before a mile race I would be so jittery! Love that final picture of you with the 6 year old! 🙂
I’ve always found too, the shorter the race…the more nervous I get! So crazy!
I do not know how to race a mile, and I’m no where near fast enough to try. I think I would die. But I guess that’s the point??
That’s what I heard. My brother told me if you don’t vomit at the end…you aren’t doing it right LOL.
I love the mile! That was my event during high school track, along with high jump (although at 5’2″ish back then, it was a little tough!). As for the alarms, there is a reason I set two alarms in different spots around my room to make sure I’m up, lol. Haven’t missed a race yet though!
You will have to let me in on the secrets of running that race! I always liked upstate races because they start at like 10-11…you can’t miss them LOL.
There’s a one-mile race coming up that NYRR hosts–the 5th Avenue Mile. It’s really popular, and I sort of want to do it. But I also don’t want to pay $45 to run *one* mile, lol.
I enjoyed this race report 🙂 I’ve only ever raced the mile once, and it was by age group. So basically it involved a lot of weaving around slower people (and me getting passed). BUT I agree…no clue how to properly race a mile, either!
Ours involved a lot of weaving on the track too. I wonder if they have a straight, in a line mile road race. That would have to be fast!
5th Ave Mile! That’s the one I did – straight shot down 5th ave. Tho, it’s not entirely flat, and you have to line up at the front of your corral, otherwise forget it. But it’s so fun!
A mile race sounds kinda fun! Coming from someone who can’t do much over a 5k, it seems like that would be a great sprinting speed for me.
I hope you are able to find one in your area!
Sounds like a really fun race! Also, I am so jeal that there are soo many shorter distance races in your area all the time!
My typical racing strategy for a mile is – first 2 laps out comfortably hard (you don’t want to be dead! and don’t go with the idiots who blast the first 200 and then start fading…), 3rd lap is the hardest because that’s when you start working really hard but you’re not quite done, and 4th lap is balls to the wall. Sigh… I love how quickly mile races are over 🙂
If you were able to do a 5:36 pace and keep going and going, you def. could do a 4 minute and something mile. I know you will reach that, although you may not do speed work you have such an amazing endurance I know you can do it! When you reach that, I am going to be so happy, because seeing that I will live through you lol
I saw the pic of you racing with that little girl and thought it was so so so cute. I am guessing she looks up to you and thought it was pretty cool racing next to you!
An amazing time, regardless! I’ve never raced a one mile and also have NO idea how to do so… but I’m pretty sure I would want to die by the end!
Love the epic battle. you probably made her day!