Xenman
Race: Run for Children's (Hospital)
Distance: 5K
Time: Saturday, June 12, 9:00 am
Location: Magnuson Park, Seattle, Washington
Weather: 55 degrees F, partly cloudy
Magnuson Park is located on the former Sandpoint Naval Air
Station on the shores of Lake Washington. The Navy abandoned
flight operations about 30 years ago. A few years ago, the
rest of the base, including buildings was given to the city.
The weather was just about perfect. And since is was only 4
miles from my home, I figured it would be a good start to
the summer race season. Summers in Seattle are quite dry, in
contrast to the rest of the year.
Only about 200 people, my estimate, showed up. On Sunday
there's a race in Seward Park that allows you to run with
your dog and another race in Everett. This probably
contributed to the low turnout.
I had low expections for a good time today. My workouts the
past couple of weeks have been a struggle and quite slow.
And then during warmups I was having a lot of PVC's ( a
particular type of arrythmia). The positive aspect was that
the course was flat and fast, and I had a lot of rest; only
2 miles in the last 3 days.
We lined up about 2 minutes before the start, with a few
walkers up near the front. I took my position about 4 rows
from the front. The horn blasted and we took off. It's
always amusing watching kids take off fast and then die
after about 200 yards. There was two of them today. The pack
began to thin out after about 1/4 mile, with the rabbits
falling back. I took a look at the runners ahead of me and
noticed a couple of guys about 20 yards ahead that looked
like they might be in my age group. "There's my competition"
I said to myself. After about 1/2 mile they were now about
30 yards ahead. "They'll come back, just don't go out too
fast." Sure enough at about 3/4 mile, one guy was slowing
down and I passed him pretty easily.
At about the same time, I hear a voice behind me say
"passing on the left" just as we enter the gravel
section. Whoa... That guy is pushing a baby stroller,
with a kid in it. Before the mile mark I catch the other
"older" guy and start to pass him. He sees me and picks
up the pace. It's clear he doesn't want me to pass him.
The mile mark comes, and someone ask's "what's the time",
and I say 6:40. That time sounded reasonable, maybe a
littler slower than it felt.
I minute later I pass him, and then 30 seconds later he
passes me in a quick burst. I let him go, just concentrating
on running at a consistent pace. At a mile and a half I pass
him again with no resistance. He's slowing down. The 2 mile
mark comes and no one has passed me since the 1 mile mark.
The time now is 12:45. That can't be right. I did not just
run a 6:05 mile. Mile 2 was definitely slower than mile 1.
So which mile marker was wrong? How am I supposed to pace
myself if I don't know how fast I'm running? I'm the type of
runner that likes markers ever 1/4 or
1/2 mile like they have at Green Lake and the Burke-Gilman
Trail (Mission Bay and Silver Strand in San Diego too).
With a little over 1/2 mile to go, the next guy in front of
me is dying and I easily pass him. At about now, I'm saying,
"why am I doing this", "I don't need this". I decide not to
push it, just run consistent and firm. I'm too old to give
an all out effort. I pass the three mile mark just before
the final turn home and forget to look at my watch.
Going down the final home stretch I pick up the pace a
little bit and look at the clock, it says 19:45. That can't
be right. I cross the finish line in 20:03. The course must
be short, I'm not in good enough shape to run that fast. I
examine the race brochure when I get home and the word
"certified" in not found anywhere.
Anyway, after the race I shake hands with the guy that
didn't want me to pass and said "good race". He asks me
my age and I tell him, and he tells me that he's 11
years older.
Distance: 5K
Time: Saturday, June 12, 9:00 am
Location: Magnuson Park, Seattle, Washington
Weather: 55 degrees F, partly cloudy
Magnuson Park is located on the former Sandpoint Naval Air
Station on the shores of Lake Washington. The Navy abandoned
flight operations about 30 years ago. A few years ago, the
rest of the base, including buildings was given to the city.
The weather was just about perfect. And since is was only 4
miles from my home, I figured it would be a good start to
the summer race season. Summers in Seattle are quite dry, in
contrast to the rest of the year.
Only about 200 people, my estimate, showed up. On Sunday
there's a race in Seward Park that allows you to run with
your dog and another race in Everett. This probably
contributed to the low turnout.
I had low expections for a good time today. My workouts the
past couple of weeks have been a struggle and quite slow.
And then during warmups I was having a lot of PVC's ( a
particular type of arrythmia). The positive aspect was that
the course was flat and fast, and I had a lot of rest; only
2 miles in the last 3 days.
We lined up about 2 minutes before the start, with a few
walkers up near the front. I took my position about 4 rows
from the front. The horn blasted and we took off. It's
always amusing watching kids take off fast and then die
after about 200 yards. There was two of them today. The pack
began to thin out after about 1/4 mile, with the rabbits
falling back. I took a look at the runners ahead of me and
noticed a couple of guys about 20 yards ahead that looked
like they might be in my age group. "There's my competition"
I said to myself. After about 1/2 mile they were now about
30 yards ahead. "They'll come back, just don't go out too
fast." Sure enough at about 3/4 mile, one guy was slowing
down and I passed him pretty easily.
At about the same time, I hear a voice behind me say
"passing on the left" just as we enter the gravel
section. Whoa... That guy is pushing a baby stroller,
with a kid in it. Before the mile mark I catch the other
"older" guy and start to pass him. He sees me and picks
up the pace. It's clear he doesn't want me to pass him.
The mile mark comes, and someone ask's "what's the time",
and I say 6:40. That time sounded reasonable, maybe a
littler slower than it felt.
I minute later I pass him, and then 30 seconds later he
passes me in a quick burst. I let him go, just concentrating
on running at a consistent pace. At a mile and a half I pass
him again with no resistance. He's slowing down. The 2 mile
mark comes and no one has passed me since the 1 mile mark.
The time now is 12:45. That can't be right. I did not just
run a 6:05 mile. Mile 2 was definitely slower than mile 1.
So which mile marker was wrong? How am I supposed to pace
myself if I don't know how fast I'm running? I'm the type of
runner that likes markers ever 1/4 or
1/2 mile like they have at Green Lake and the Burke-Gilman
Trail (Mission Bay and Silver Strand in San Diego too).
With a little over 1/2 mile to go, the next guy in front of
me is dying and I easily pass him. At about now, I'm saying,
"why am I doing this", "I don't need this". I decide not to
push it, just run consistent and firm. I'm too old to give
an all out effort. I pass the three mile mark just before
the final turn home and forget to look at my watch.
Going down the final home stretch I pick up the pace a
little bit and look at the clock, it says 19:45. That can't
be right. I cross the finish line in 20:03. The course must
be short, I'm not in good enough shape to run that fast. I
examine the race brochure when I get home and the word
"certified" in not found anywhere.
Anyway, after the race I shake hands with the guy that
didn't want me to pass and said "good race". He asks me
my age and I tell him, and he tells me that he's 11
years older.
