Xenman
Shore Run
Distance: 5K Date-Time: June 27 8:30am Place: Lesci Park to
Madison Park Weather: 60 degrees Sunny
An incredibly beautiful morning. Mt Ranier was in its full
glory looming over us on the shores of Lake Washington at
Leshi Park. It was a "take your camera" morning. The 5K race
was the little brother to the 6.7 mile Seward Park to
Madison Park race that started a half hour later; also along
the shores of Lake Washington.
The first mile was flat with the first 200 yards filled with
people that can't even run a mile. Dodge one on the right,
then one on the left, now squeeze between two more. After
1/4 mile all the slowpokes have died off. The first hill
arrives a few yards after the 1 mile mark. It's a healthy
hill about 1/4 mile long and maybe a 50 foot climb. For once
nobody passes me on the way up. At the top I spot a couple
of guys my age 20 yards ahead. It's a gradual down hill and
I catch them. I run downhills well. Then there's another
small uphill section. One of the two catches me. Next there
is a long gradual down hill and I pass him back. Now the two
mile mark is reached. Still some more down hill and I try to
increase the pace. At about a half mile from the finish I
feel myself slowing down. At about 1/4 mile there's a 200
yard uphill section and I'm struggling. Two people pass me,
the first in over 1.5 miles and one is the guy that's about
my age. The last 0.1 mile is back down hill. I catch the
younger guy only, and pass him. My wife is patiently waiting
by the finish line.
Time: 19:50 Mile 1: 6:19 Mile 2: 6:40 Mile 3: 6:25
Mile 3.1: 0:36
Note: I don't object to slow runners or walkers
participating in these races, I just with they
wouldn't start up by the front.
Firecracker 5000
Distance: 5K Date-Time: July 3 11:55pm Place: Seattle Center
(Space Needle, Key Arena, etc) Weather: 58 Degrees and dark
with street lights
This is a tough race course. I've run it four times now in
the past 15 years and the course is always different. What
makes it tough is it's hilly. 5 separate up hills and 6
downhills. Two of the up sections are almost 1/2 mile long
and at a significant incline. The last hill is 1/4 from the
finish and is fairly steep.
Another hazzard in this race is that not only is it dark,
the streets are not that smooth. More than once I found
myself following too close behind someone and almost stepped
on either a rock or into a pothole. Since it's dark I needed
to have a better view of the street surface.
As it typical, I was getting passed going up hills, but not
the first two, and I was doing the passing going down
hills. At about
1/2 mile into the race I caught this one long gray haired
guy that looked a year or two younger. For the rest of the
race we played cat and mouse, passing and getting passed
by each other. I emerged victorious in the race between
us. The last 150 yards was downhill of course.
Even though my time on this race was slower, I put forth a
greater effort. It just shows you how hills can really
slow you down.
Time: 20:53 Mile 1: 6:30 Mile 2: 6:57 Mile 3: 6:53
Mile 3.1: 0:33
Distance: 5K Date-Time: June 27 8:30am Place: Lesci Park to
Madison Park Weather: 60 degrees Sunny
An incredibly beautiful morning. Mt Ranier was in its full
glory looming over us on the shores of Lake Washington at
Leshi Park. It was a "take your camera" morning. The 5K race
was the little brother to the 6.7 mile Seward Park to
Madison Park race that started a half hour later; also along
the shores of Lake Washington.
The first mile was flat with the first 200 yards filled with
people that can't even run a mile. Dodge one on the right,
then one on the left, now squeeze between two more. After
1/4 mile all the slowpokes have died off. The first hill
arrives a few yards after the 1 mile mark. It's a healthy
hill about 1/4 mile long and maybe a 50 foot climb. For once
nobody passes me on the way up. At the top I spot a couple
of guys my age 20 yards ahead. It's a gradual down hill and
I catch them. I run downhills well. Then there's another
small uphill section. One of the two catches me. Next there
is a long gradual down hill and I pass him back. Now the two
mile mark is reached. Still some more down hill and I try to
increase the pace. At about a half mile from the finish I
feel myself slowing down. At about 1/4 mile there's a 200
yard uphill section and I'm struggling. Two people pass me,
the first in over 1.5 miles and one is the guy that's about
my age. The last 0.1 mile is back down hill. I catch the
younger guy only, and pass him. My wife is patiently waiting
by the finish line.
Time: 19:50 Mile 1: 6:19 Mile 2: 6:40 Mile 3: 6:25
Mile 3.1: 0:36
Note: I don't object to slow runners or walkers
participating in these races, I just with they
wouldn't start up by the front.
Firecracker 5000
Distance: 5K Date-Time: July 3 11:55pm Place: Seattle Center
(Space Needle, Key Arena, etc) Weather: 58 Degrees and dark
with street lights
This is a tough race course. I've run it four times now in
the past 15 years and the course is always different. What
makes it tough is it's hilly. 5 separate up hills and 6
downhills. Two of the up sections are almost 1/2 mile long
and at a significant incline. The last hill is 1/4 from the
finish and is fairly steep.
Another hazzard in this race is that not only is it dark,
the streets are not that smooth. More than once I found
myself following too close behind someone and almost stepped
on either a rock or into a pothole. Since it's dark I needed
to have a better view of the street surface.
As it typical, I was getting passed going up hills, but not
the first two, and I was doing the passing going down
hills. At about
1/2 mile into the race I caught this one long gray haired
guy that looked a year or two younger. For the rest of the
race we played cat and mouse, passing and getting passed
by each other. I emerged victorious in the race between
us. The last 150 yards was downhill of course.
Even though my time on this race was slower, I put forth a
greater effort. It just shows you how hills can really
slow you down.
Time: 20:53 Mile 1: 6:30 Mile 2: 6:57 Mile 3: 6:53
Mile 3.1: 0:33
