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Fast Before the Feast - or not

OK, we have a local race on Thanksgiving morning, Fast Before The Feast and I'm thinking about running it. They offer a 5k and 10k option. Two of my three daughters are determined to run the 5k.

For the last few years we've run the VA Run Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and thoroughly enjoyed it. The big difference between VA and MN at the end of November is the weather and the fact that our church was one of the sponsors and took care of all the post race snacks so it was a good opportunity to see 20-30 church members that morning.

Do I want to get up early to freeze my buns off? Perhaps, but then again why? It's not as if either 5k or 10k is my preferred distance. I ran some intervals today, 400, 800, 1200, 800, 400 to see if I had any speed in my legs and I may still have a modicum of speed still there.

The ten day forecast is suggesting a low of 24 for thanksgiving morning. of course that could change, it could get colder. What to do? Please don't say, "welcome to MN!" And if I do, which distance?

Battle of the Boulevard: My Race Today

It was a cool, damp morning as a steady mist filled the air. I waited near the front of the pack for the start of the race, a mere ten feet from Michael Wardian, the US 100k champion, you have to love road racing were the best in the world run at the  same time as the rest of us!

The gun sounded and we were off, I ran my fastest ever first mile in a race, passing the one mile mark in 6:30, then came the second mile mark and I looked down at my watch and I had run close to a 6:35 for the second mile, I was going strong, passing the 5k mark in 21 minutes I was really feeling good. Then came the second half...

The first half of the race was straight downhill (that explains the great splits) and some of those downhills were very much downhill. The problem was this was an out and back course, now I had to tackle the uphill half (some of it very much uphill). My goal was to make it to mile four with a good pace and then stumble through the fifth mile and then run for the finish. It didn't quite happen like that, I certainly stumbled through the fifth mile having to take a short break on one of the hills to make sure I didn't lose my breakfast.

I hit the last mile and...  once again felt my breakfast trying to escape, so I took a short walk break until I was tapped on the elbow by a fellow competitor who urged me to run on. Her words of encouragement are now the bane of my day, "If I can do it seven months pregnant so can you." Great words for about a quarter mile until I slowed and she disappeared into the distance, I was left behind by a pregnant woman!

As I reached the last quarter mile I took note of my time, I could still get in in under 45 minutes but I'd have to run hard... gag reflex... swallow... gag reflex... swallow. Decision time, run hard and barf on the run or slow down and finish with my dignity and breakfast intact? Slow down.

I ran the last quarter mile very conservatively and finished in 45:15 at 7:17 pace. I met my goal and mostly enjoyed the race although I was a little disappointed that I couldn't finish strong.

First 10k in 22 Years

I can hardly believe that it's been 22 years since I last ran a 10k race. It was May 25, 1986 when I took to the streets of Belfast and pounded out 10k with some 20 million other people around the world as we participated in Sport Aid to save lives in famine stricken Ethiopia. That was my one and only foray into 10k running until now.

Next Saturday I will run in the Battle of the Boulevard in Arlington, VA. How will I do? I have no idea as to what a realistic goal would be for me at this distance. I'm going to aim for a 7:15 - 7:20 pace and see how that feels. I'm working on my speed a little so hopefully I can set benchmark from which I can build.