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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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 Posted: 08/30/04 - 09:28 Post subject: Race Report: The Milk Run (Minnesota State Fair) 5K
"I didn't get a harrumph out of that guy"
"give the governor a harrumph"
"harrumph"
"you watch your a$$"
My entire summer was to get me ready for the Milk Run. I've been looking forward to this race for 7 years now and it is the first chance i've had to be able to run it and be in any sort of shape. But, I had two weeks of poor training at the end of July with an injury and then the week heading into this one i was also hurting and only ran once in the middle of the week for two miles because i had this pain in my right calf/shin (somewhere in there). While the two weeks of poor training served me well for the last race in July, i'm compounding lost training with an additional week here. I'm sure the Mexican food saturday night didn't help too much either, but Sandy's brother was in town.
Walking to my car sunday morning i felt the pain back and it was approaching sharp. I was concerned but i want to do this race so bad. At the Fairgrounds i jogged my warmup mile and a half, and there was only mild discomfort at worse, so i think my excitement was taking away any pain. Being a larger race i was parked farther away from the start and i was by myself, so i dropped off my long sleeve and pants and got to the start line. It filled up and it wasn't moving so i think my legs started getting cold again. I saw someone with a bib number of 1340, so we're looking at a fairly large field. I have the bib number 2. Early registration is your friend. The gun goes off.
And i'm not moving. Too packed, too far back (but not as far back as some). Then i get to walk, and shuffle and then jog. But it's still too packed. I can't extend my stride and we're probably a quarter mile out now. I'm spending as much time going side to side to get through the crowd as i am going forward. Half mile and i think i'm still doing the same. My legs feel cold and sluggish and i'm short of breath. Here's the mile mark.
7:54
Well, it's faster than 8 minutes, but last race was a 7:12 opener. I struggled through the 7:54, so i'm not expecting too much. There is finally enough separation that i can actually run, but it feels like i'm going so slow. Struggle, struggle, struggle. Mile 2
16:11 (8:17)
Struggle. Struggle. It isn't until i pass two miles that my legs feel better at all, but i'm still feeling worn out. I keep at it and i feel that at times i'm running better now than i was earlier. I pass people and people pass me. I know this isn't one of my best times or what i expected. Mile 3
24:26 (8:15)
The last tenth. Push push push. Men to the right, women to the left. Push. Aaaaand i'm spent.
25:14 (8:07 pace)
244/1109 (overall)
179/528 (male)
10/33 (age group)
Analysis. That sucked. I was more than a minute faster a month ago, but stuff happens. It wasn't a good race, that's the bottom line. I did what i could. Oddly enough, i wasn't aware of my leg at all during the race. It messed with my training but not on race day. I felt like i was going slower than i was, because i was still close to 8's (overall).
Had i ran the time i wanted i would have dropped 50 places in my gender and 3 more in my age group. Still, i was in the top 25% of a fairly large race (at least for these parts). Finding out my place in various categories made me less unhappy with my results, but what can i do?
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
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Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 09:31 Post subject:
Blechh...those gozilla races are no fun for getting good times. It'll come around Pug. Autumn is high time for logging some great miles. Whatcha got coming up next?
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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
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Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 09:33 Post subject:
A good time despite the overcrowding at the start. 
Did you get milk and cookies at the end?
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 09:34 Post subject:
| jrjo wrote: | | Blechh...those gozilla races are no fun for getting good times. It'll come around Pug. Autumn is high time for logging some great miles. Whatcha got coming up next? |
A week's rest with no running. That's the first thing for me. I'm not sure if my leg pain thingy has to do with overwork or if it is worth seeing a doctor about.
I'm debating whether or not i want to race at the end of September, but otherwise i'm looking at something late October and definately i'm going to find a race in November.
If i don't race in September i think i'm going to use that money to join the Minnesota Distance Running Association.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 09:38 Post subject:
| elkid wrote: | A good time despite the overcrowding at the start.
Did you get milk and cookies at the end? |
That's the strange thing. After i picked up my t-shirt, i couldn't find anything with bananas or milk or bagels or anything. This is strange because when i ran it 8 years ago i remember post race food. Of course i also remember it being a 5 mile race back then, too.
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sonnylax
Member
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Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 2942
Location: Living in a lollipop and unicorn world
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 09:43 Post subject:
| Quote: | | Blechh...those gozilla races are no fun for getting good times. |
Typically, you have to find a nice small local race to attempt those PR's. Better luck in your next race!
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 12:13 Post subject:
that logjam at the start is what messed with you -- your time and probably your head too. no chip timing for the milk run??
good job Pug. not a bad time considering the "herd 'o cows" going' on at the start.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
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Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 12:17 Post subject:
Nice job, despite the logjam start
Keep up the good work
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TriBob
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 12:38 Post subject:
Good job in a big race.
We have a 10k with over 2000 people. The leaders are past the first mile before everyone crosses the start line. 
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: ON YOUR LEFT!
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 15:00 Post subject:
Keep on trying Pug. Find a smaller race and you're sure to get a better time.
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sonnylax
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 15:02 Post subject:
| TriBob wrote: | | We have a 10k with over 2000 people. The leaders are past the first mile before everyone crosses the start line. |
Try 55,000 - 60,000 runners for the Peachtree Road Race (10K). Many elite and top runners have finished the race before some time groups get to the start line. It's a moving mass of humanity for 3+ hours.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 15:04 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | TriBob wrote: | | We have a 10k with over 2000 people. The leaders are past the first mile before everyone crosses the start line. |
Try 55,000 - 60,000 runners for the Peachtree Road Race (10K). Many elite and top runners have finished the race before some time groups get to the start line. It's a moving mass of humanity for 3+ hours. |
Sweet baby Jesus! Tell me that one is chip timed!
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sonnylax
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 15:10 Post subject:
| Pug wrote: | | sonnylax wrote: | | TriBob wrote: | | We have a 10k with over 2000 people. The leaders are past the first mile before everyone crosses the start line. |
Try 55,000 - 60,000 runners for the Peachtree Road Race (10K). Many elite and top runners have finished the race before some time groups get to the start line. It's a moving mass of humanity for 3+ hours. |
Sweet baby Jesus! Tell me that one is chip timed! |
The seeded runners are chip timed. Everyone else has to fend for themselves. Regardless - Unless you are way up front, you can't run the PRR for time/PR's. Just be glad you finish in one piece without getting hurt or overheating on July 4th.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 15:15 Post subject:
Yeesh. It would be quite an experience to run with that many runners, but i guess if one keeps in mind that running for time is impossible it wouldn't be so bad.
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 08/30/04 - 15:47 Post subject:
The Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston was like that too! AND worse yet, there were walkers in it, which wouldn't have been so bad except it was only a four mile walk and the race is a 10K, and the year we did it they let them go too early and anyone past a 9 minute mile got mega-logjammed with WALKERS, and I do mean walkers. It sucked ass.
Sometimes the tough races though, are the ones you learn the most in. Keep on truckin'.....you're doing well so far!
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