DW and I spent this week on vacation in New England. We thought it would be fun to do a race while we were up here, and when we found one named after us--the Bedford Rotary Memorial 12K in Bedford NH--we took it as a sign.
Our pre-race ritual was stress-free. Our hotel was mere minutes away from the race start, and it was obvious that this was a well-organized race from the start, as we were directed to a parking spot. The race started at a local middle school, so we filed into the gym to pick up our bibs and chips.
The way this race started was unique, and I liked it. It was a short (half mile or so) walk from the school to the actual start line. We walked as a group, after being signaled that it was time to go by a lone bagpiper who walked behind us, playing patriotic songs. A nice little warm-up. Then, we parted as the bagpiper led a Marine color guard through our midst. Very cool.
I had a strange feeling throughout the 12K. In spite of knowing that I was going to have to run a blistering pace to place anywhere remotely respectable (or maybe because of knowing that), I just didn't feel it in myself to really push. Not that I was lollygagging, but I was just enjoying the run and pushing only slightly. Maybe pacing myself as well since it's a "longer" distance for me, and the course was unfamiliar. At any rate, it was a very enjoyable run. Cool, crisp, and very scenic--indeed, just as scenic as the Asheville race, if not more so. Part of the race was even on a sandy "dirt" road, which was a very nice change of pace. I took water at all the water stops but, though I was sweating, did not feel the need to dump any over the head. It was a fairly rural setting but there were still some spectators, most memorably a trio of young girls calling out from a second-story window of their home, quite enthusiastically. My American flag singlet also garnered more (favorable) comments than usual.
The end was really fun. A woman passed me as I slowed at the last water stop to drink so, once my cup was empty, I took off and passed her back. Well, it quickly became obvious that her end of race goal involved finishing in front of me. :-) So she would pick up her pace to try to pass me, then I would answer. Then she would pick it up more. It was obvious she was quite determined and focused on her goal, and I was really going faster than I wanted to go to hold her off. But once I saw the finish line in the distance, it didn't matter. The trademark kick, and I pulled away from her. This also carried me by a woman in front of me, who was obviously surprised as I went by.
I don't regret my pace too much as I really enjoyed the run, but I do regret the unrealistic goal time I set on my Forerunner of 52:06. The reason I regret this is that if I had set the more reasonable goal time of 59:59, I feel confident that I would have achieved it. As it was, I crossed in 1:01:04. Miles were 7:19, 7:49, 8:17, 7:24, 7:33, 7:37 and 8:47. I am not happy at all with that last mile time and I don't really understand it. It was not uphill, and I don't recall feeling particularly tired. Otherwise I'm pretty happy, as the third mile was an uphill, and everything other than that was in the sevens. Also, this is a 10-minute PR, as my only other 12K is the Norris Dam Challenge, with a mile-plus steep climb.
Still, I finished in the bottom quarter of the field, and to this I am very unaccustomed. :-\
The "surprised woman" at the end congratulated me and thanked me for "the push". She said she had no idea anyone was behind her, and that I forced her to finish strong. When I mentioned the woman I was battling with, she said, "Oh yeah, I got her too, thanks to you." She was the one I really wanted to congratulate, but she was lying on her back in the grass, gasping for breath. It was obvious that she had given her all. It was equally obvious that she was bitterly disappointed.
I did not realize until after the 12K that, like my Memorial Day race, the accompanying 5K started afterwards. When I heard someone say that the 5K would start in 30 minutes, I started thinking I would like to run it too. My wife agreed, so we scrambled to get registered at the last minute, pinning my new race number right on top of the old one.
This felt great, in spite of my tired legs. Keep in mind that my last two races were longer distances for me where pacing was more of a concern. It felt good to go back to "my" familiar distance, and to be able to push a little more. It also took some pressure off knowing that, whatever my time was, I could brag that I clocked that time immediately after running a 12K. Good thing too because, strong as I felt, the legs were obviously tired. First mile was 7:48, second mile was 7:57. I was duelling with two young men the third mile, but I kicked too soon, as the course was longer than what my GPS said. At least I got the negative split with 7:28. Crossed in 24:50. And I finished in the top third in this one at least, more where I am accustomed to.
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joebedford said ...
They're FAST up here!
DW and I spent this week on vacation in New England. We thought it would be fun to do a race while we were up here, and when we found one named after us--the Bedford Rotary Memorial 12K in Bedford NH--we took it as a sign.
Our pre-race ritual was stress-free. Our hotel was mere minutes away from the race start, and it was obvious that this was a well-organized race from the start, as we were directed to a parking spot. The race started at a local middle school, so we filed into the gym to pick up our bibs and chips.
The way this race started was unique, and I liked it. It was a short (half mile or so) walk from the school to the actual start line. We walked as a group, after being signaled that it was time to go by a lone bagpiper who walked behind us, playing patriotic songs. A nice little warm-up. Then, we parted as the bagpiper led a Marine color guard through our midst. Very cool.
I had a strange feeling throughout the 12K. In spite of knowing that I was going to have to run a blistering pace to place anywhere remotely respectable (or maybe because of knowing that), I just didn't feel it in myself to really push. Not that I was lollygagging, but I was just enjoying the run and pushing only slightly. Maybe pacing myself as well since it's a "longer" distance for me, and the course was unfamiliar. At any rate, it was a very enjoyable run. Cool, crisp, and very scenic--indeed, just as scenic as the Asheville race, if not more so. Part of the race was even on a sandy "dirt" road, which was a very nice change of pace. I took water at all the water stops but, though I was sweating, did not feel the need to dump any over the head. It was a fairly rural setting but there were still some spectators, most memorably a trio of young girls calling out from a second-story window of their home, quite enthusiastically. My American flag singlet also garnered more (favorable) comments than usual.
The end was really fun. A woman passed me as I slowed at the last water stop to drink so, once my cup was empty, I took off and passed her back. Well, it quickly became obvious that her end of race goal involved finishing in front of me. :-) So she would pick up her pace to try to pass me, then I would answer. Then she would pick it up more. It was obvious she was quite determined and focused on her goal, and I was really going faster than I wanted to go to hold her off. But once I saw the finish line in the distance, it didn't matter. The trademark kick, and I pulled away from her. This also carried me by a woman in front of me, who was obviously surprised as I went by.
I don't regret my pace too much as I really enjoyed the run, but I do regret the unrealistic goal time I set on my Forerunner of 52:06. The reason I regret this is that if I had set the more reasonable goal time of 59:59, I feel confident that I would have achieved it. As it was, I crossed in 1:01:04. Miles were 7:19, 7:49, 8:17, 7:24, 7:33, 7:37 and 8:47. I am not happy at all with that last mile time and I don't really understand it. It was not uphill, and I don't recall feeling particularly tired. Otherwise I'm pretty happy, as the third mile was an uphill, and everything other than that was in the sevens. Also, this is a 10-minute PR, as my only other 12K is the Norris Dam Challenge, with a mile-plus steep climb.
Still, I finished in the bottom quarter of the field, and to this I am very unaccustomed. :-\
The "surprised woman" at the end congratulated me and thanked me for "the push". She said she had no idea anyone was behind her, and that I forced her to finish strong. When I mentioned the woman I was battling with, she said, "Oh yeah, I got her too, thanks to you." She was the one I really wanted to congratulate, but she was lying on her back in the grass, gasping for breath. It was obvious that she had given her all. It was equally obvious that she was bitterly disappointed.
I did not realize until after the 12K that, like my Memorial Day race, the accompanying 5K started afterwards. When I heard someone say that the 5K would start in 30 minutes, I started thinking I would like to run it too. My wife agreed, so we scrambled to get registered at the last minute, pinning my new race number right on top of the old one.
This felt great, in spite of my tired legs. Keep in mind that my last two races were longer distances for me where pacing was more of a concern. It felt good to go back to "my" familiar distance, and to be able to push a little more. It also took some pressure off knowing that, whatever my time was, I could brag that I clocked that time immediately after running a 12K. Good thing too because, strong as I felt, the legs were obviously tired. First mile was 7:48, second mile was 7:57. I was duelling with two young men the third mile, but I kicked too soon, as the course was longer than what my GPS said. At least I got the negative split with 7:28. Crossed in 24:50. And I finished in the top third in this one at least, more where I am accustomed to.
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