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Floridaboiler
POTFH
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Joined: 18 May 2002
Posts: 11322
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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 Posted: 03/15/06 - 18:34 Post subject: Race Report: Gate River Run 15K
Well it only took me 5 days to write it but here it is:
2006 River Run
I am not sure where to start on this race report. So here it is by the numbers:
Overall rank 1248/9241
145/777 in age group
Gun Time: 1:17:28
Chip Time: 1:16:52
5K Split: 24:41:00
10K Split: 50:00:00
Start Line: :37,
Mile 1: 7:39,
Mile 2: 7:45,
Mile 3: 8:19,
Mile 4: 7:56,
Mile 5: 7:57,
Mile 6: 8:19,
Mile 7: 8:33,
Mile 8: 9:19,
Mile 9: 8:26,
Finish: 2:40
The temperature was in the mid 70’s with humidity up in the 80 to 90 percent range.
If you remember my previous experiences in weather like this you can kind of understand what happened.
It felt warm and humid when I got to the start area. I had done about a 10 minute warm up and I was already sweating. The temperature reading on the scoreboard at Alltel Stadium said it was 73 degrees and it was only about 7:30 – 7:45 in the morning. After the 5K runners were released at 8 AM I fought through the crowds to get myself towards the front of the pack. I am not the best starter in the world in terms of watching my pace since I have tendency to start to fast but due to the size of this race it is advantageous to get up in the front ¼ to 1/3 of the pack. As I stood around waiting I felt pretty good. My cold wasn’t bothering me to much so I thought I might have a shot at beating my time from Gasparilla or even breaking 70 minutes. If I broke 67 then I could get seeded again and then I wouldn’t have to fight up through the crowds to get near the front. That was a super stretch goal.
They send off the elite women with a 5 minute head start as part of the equalizer bonus challenge and everyone start to push forward in anticipation. The cannon goes off and I follow the crowds. I realize very quickly that my last bathroom break before fighting the crowds wasn’t enough. I think I can hold it the entire race but that will be tough. I am feeling okay as I pass the first mile and head over the Main Street Bridge. I pass through in 7:40 and I think that is about the right pace to beat my Gasparilla time. I hit mile marker 2 in 7:45 and I am starting to really sweat and the urge to find a port o john is getting strong. During mile 3 I find one without a line so I take advantage of it. I go through mile 3 in 8:19 but I was fine with that since I took about 30 seconds in there and I thought I could make it up. For miles 4 and 5 I just move at what I think is a comfortable pace and I end up with the splits of 7:56 and 7:57. I am at the halfway point now and as I head to mile 6 I start thinking about the heat and humidity, which is starting to catch up with me. I hit mile marker 6 and I think my mind is done. I have now gone into the mode of I am not walking this thing. My time is 8:19 and I wonder how many of those elite runners are done. I grab water at all the stations and I drink half a cup and spill some on my face and head.
I pass through mile 7 in 8:33 and without looking at my watch I know I am slowing down. More and more people are passing me now instead of me passing them like in years past. Now comes the Hart Bridge. The next mile is almost all uphill. I shuffle my way up just telling myself that I don’t need to walk. I hit the top and I know that I was really slow. My split was 9:19 but at least now it is downhill and some flat turns and I am done. I shuffle down the bridge, wave to the TV camera and pass through mile 9 in 8:26. The crowds pick up at this point so I try to just keep moving forward as the crowds cheer everyone on. I cross the line and I look at my watch and it says 1:17:30.
I am finished, thank goodness. Where’s the water and beer!
I got in line for a free massage and then I went and found some friends to see how they did while we all relaxed with a couple of beers.
I went into this race knowing that it would be tough since I had just run 3 races 2 weekends before and it was. The weather didn’t help much since it was so humid and the temperature was in the upper 70’s. I didn’t beat my time from Tampa but now that I have had some time to think and reflect on it, it doesn’t bother me. I have spent so much time in the last 6 months training for long distances that it is hard to generate speed when your legs are just used to pounding the roads and trails for hours on end.
As long as I kick this cold that I seemed to have caught, I should be okay as I make preparations for my final long distance race of the season. After that I am going to scale back my training to minimal miles and let my body recover.
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Kimba90
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Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 3594
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Posted: 03/15/06 - 19:07 Post subject:
Still a good race (and report). I cannot fathom running daily and racing in high temps and humidity. I mean, humidity and heat, already in March? I know I'm a Yankee, I can't understand.)
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I always enjoy your reports too. 
