25K Relay

I tried for weeks to put together a relay team for yesterday’s 25K and 25K Relay. First I had Debbie. Then she backed out. Then Buzz was going to be in Nebraska or Iowa or one of those states in the middle. Then June was thinking about it but decided not to since she ran 15 on Saturday. Finally Erica stepped up, but that left us without a third. We pressed on, and worst case, Erica was prepared to run two laps.

At the last minute, Erin decided that the Achilles injury she’s fighting would do ok for 5.15 miles and joined us as our third runner. The three of us met at 6:15 yesterday morning in the chilly air and wind, and as we discussed order, Erin piped up “I’d like to go first or second so I can get over to the HARRA tent.” Without really thinking, we handed Erin #2525A. I took the second leg, so that I could take photos of both the start and of a lot of finishers, and Erica took the third.

Now, I’m not sure if there has ever been a relay team quite as mismatched as the three of us. I hoped to run 10:30 miles; Erica planned on 12:00 pace; Erin, who was “taking it easy” because of her Achilles problems, was planning on 7:00 pace.

Yes, 7:00 pace. Erin’s a speedy gal.

The gun went off, I took some photos, we met up with June (who was out there after about 3 hours of sleep simply to cheer for everyone — now that’s dedication), Jon and Waverly and headed over to the relay transition area, which was right at the end of the loop (the full 25K was three loops of the same course; the relay was simply three people running one loop each). Within 40 minutes, Erin came speeding down the overpass and into transition area. I took the chip from her and took off like a shot.
It was at that very moment that I realized we may have made a small mistake in letting the very fast person go first! Suddenly I found myself in a very foreign situation — surrounded by dozens upon dozens of 7:00 milers!

I didn’t pass a single person in 5.15 miles. At least 300 people must have passed me, and I’m not exaggerating that number. It may have been more. As those around me slowed ever-so-slightly from the 7:00 milers to the 7:30 milers to the 8:00 milers to the 8:30 milers, I had to laugh. Occasionally a runner would think that I was really struggling, and would offer words of support. “Nice steady pace, keep it up.” I wanted to explain — no, really, I don’t belong here!

But there were benefits. Though I took off wayyyyy too fast and paid for it in the middle miles (my shin splits made a reappearance), running amidst all the faster people made me run faster — even if I didn’t always realize it. Plus, I got to run with people I never even see during races; I ran with Edwin, Steeeve and Joe, each for the ~5 seconds it took them to pass me! 😉

If I ever end up in that pace group again, I figure I’ll either set a PR or die. One of the two…

The race went very well for me despite the bummer of never being able to pass anyone. I did my 5.15 miles in 52:48 for an average of 10:15/mile! I’m very excited about that. My legs ached something fierce for the rest of the day though, and soccer last night didn’t help (they do feel ok this morning, thank goodness).

My splits are sort of crazy since I started the race at ~5.2 miles and ended at ~10.35 miles but decided to just hit my watch at the 2nd loop mile markers.

~0.8 miles – 7:32
Mile “2” – 10:04
Mile “3” – 10:42
Mile “4” – 10:27
Mile “5” – 10:36
~0.35 miles – 3:27

I ran the first 1.8 miles, but walked twice during mile “3” when I felt like total crap after going out so fast. My shin splints a.k.a. burning sensation subsided about halfway through (finally!) and after that, I took a 1-minute at the 8-mile marker and the 9-mile marker (remember I was running the second loop, so Erin had done the first 5 miles), and then ran the final ~1.35 miles to handoff the baton to Erica. The last bit was nice, since the race into transition was down the overpass that I’d just struggled to run up.

Erica had a great third leg as well, averaging an 11:53 mile which was the fastest average pace she’s ever done in a race. She also commented that she never passed a single person — dang you Erin! 😉 — but I’ll hazard a guess that she ran faster too thanks to being among faster people.

All in all, a great day for all three of us!

Before and after the race, I had a great time socializing with all the bloggers (practically everyone was there!), and running the final couple tenths of a mile with Vic. I guess I must be hooked on running and races since I spent 5+ hours at a race and only ran for less than an hour. I’m actually pretty disappointed that I won’t be here on Thursday morning for the Uptown Turkey Trot, since other bloggers will be there and it’s a race I’ve run four years straight. However, I suppose I can’t be too disappointed since I’ll be in Corpus with the boy and his family. His whole family. Must not get too nervous…

The race wiped me out and I spent the rest of the day walking around in a fog until soccer. We played a team that is slightly better than us, and tied 0-0! It felt good to hold them scoreless, even when they started attacking like crazy in the second half. I didn’t touch the ball much, which is actually a sign that our team was playing very well. I’m sweeper, the last player before the goalie, and I’m the only defender who, in theory, does not have to mark an opposing player. I pick up the players who sneak through unmarked or get past our defenders. So if I don’t touch the ball much, it means that our team is marking extremely well.