I did it! It’s taken five years, but I finally PR’ed by 30 seconds! It’s not the 1:05:00 that I was shooting for, but it’s still a PR! And, more importantly I think, is that I ran the whole thing by myself. Kept some people I didn’t know within sight and traded off places with a few others, but not really running together.
On to the breakdown…
I didn’t see many Philly Runners (as of this writing, there’s a problem with the group’s home page) at the start – saw Goat, Bike Mike, and Gary. Bike Mike said he was considering a 6:30 pace (just what I wanted) but he hadn’t been training much lately, so he wasn’t sure what he’d be able to do. Then, about 3 minutes before the start, Mike decided he needed a bathroom break. Oh well, I guess I’ll see him out on the course.
Shortly after the start, some woman tripped or otherwise fell somewhere off to my right (I was far left). Not sure what happened, but I imagine that it couldn’t have been pretty with nearly 18,000 people around. (Short aside: As much as I don’t like them, I think it’s time to use start corrals based on a proven qualifying time. If they can do it for the Bolder Boulder 10K with over 40,000 people, then it can be done here.)
Anyway, Mile 1 in 6:23. Perfect! Right where I want to be. Mile 2 in 6:20; I’m still staying far left and feeling pretty good. I finally see Mike just after Mile 2 and say hi. I thought we would stick together, but apparently I was wrong. (Sorry about that, Mike.) Mile 3 in 6:25 – got a few seconds in the bank to play with and just need to keep going.
Mile 4 in 6:29 (actually a fraction under 6:30). Mile 5 in 6:30 even. I’m halfway home and on target, but starting to breathe a little heavy. This is what happens running solo – nothing to take my mind off any creeping fatigue. Mile 6 in 6:38. Damn! Starting to slip a little, but this isn’t too bad. Mile 7 in 6:45. Ouch! Now I’m really starting to feel a little wiped.
Mile 8 in 6:49. Oh, no, not again. This would be my typical racing performance of a good start followed by a rapid fade. But wait! My total time at Mile 8 is 52:24, meaning that if I can run the last two miles under 7:00, I have a shot at a PR! Holy crap!
At this point, I’m fueled by pure will power: I’m going to put in whatever I’ve got left to hit that PR. Mile 9 in 6:40. I’m speeding up a little bit, but that’s good. I now start obsessive checking my watch more frequently, but I really have no idea how much farther I’ve got to go until I hit the entrance to the Naval Yard. This is it, last quarter mile. I don’t want to look at the watch. I push it as much as I can.
I hit the line in 1:05:40 – a PR by 30 seconds! Mile 10 in 6:35. I whooped and pumped my fists, probably looking like a loon, but I don’t care. And that announcer guy still doesn’t call out my name. How many freakin’ times do I have to do this race before that will happen?? Though maybe it’s a good thing, since there’s nothing really punny about my name (according to Victoria, he was a lousy announcer).
I had to go right after I finished – Karen and Victoria were waiting and shivering in the wind. But a great run. 