Robert Karp
What: American Cancer Society 5K/10K Run/Walk Where: Warner Park, Madison, WI When: 04/12/2003
Weather: 41°F, Sunny, NE winds 5-10 mph
This isn't very well organized though it does draw about 6,000 people for all events combined.
There's no advance registration by event; one just lines up for what one wants on race day. Only the
first 100 finishers are timed. I'm wearing the Timex GPS distance monitor so I'll be able to record
my time and splits. Since I don't expect to receive an official time I'm not really striving for
anything in particular and only run this event out of sentimentality (the 2001 was the first race I
ever ran in). I'm not really sure what to expect in terms of time or performance. I didn't take any
time off during the winter so I should be in shape but I'm not really a runner either, I just run. I
don't do speed work or tempo runs (whatever they are), etc. I just run.
I'll be doing the 10K run. My previous best for a 10K was 49:30 last June (Bellin Run in
Green Bay, WI).
The 5K runners are off at 10:00a on the dot. We're set to go off two minutes later. Fire up the GPS
receiver and make sure we're receiving a signal. We are. I'm ready to go.
Off we go. The start of this race is awfully slow and congested. The beginning of the course is
far too narrow for the number of people involved. It's a very beautiful course overall, though.
We're going to eventually head uphill for a while through the Mendota Mental Health Institute
campus on the NE shore of Lake Mendota, through some lovely residential areas with wonderful views
of the lake and Madison skyline. But for now it's trot along, try to find some open space and not
step on anyone.
Feeling good. The first mile marker is coming up and there's a woman shouting "1 Mile" and "7:42".
My watch says we're not at 1 mile yet and it's about 8:30 into the race. She's not even close. I'm
not surprised; as I said, this isn't a very well run event. She's also only one of two mile markers
for the entire course (the other being at mile 5).
Eventually my watch signals the first mile and the time is 8:34. I figure why not take it easy as
this doesn't seem like it's going to be a serious endeavor at all.
I'm plodding along passing some folks, a few pass me by. There's a serious looking couple ahead that
seem to be moving along pretty well. I'll try to stay with them. I pass them, they pass me, etc.
Eventually I lose track of them as I spot someone else that looks like a challenge to keep up with.
Hey, that's the end of mile 2. I'm not checking the time as I figure it doesn't really matter.
Oh, now we're into some steep hills. Hills are my strength, and I have little trouble gaining ground
on many people ahead. My weakness is going downhill, however. I have a very sore left Achilles
(which is never going to heal completely since I won't stop running) and the down hills seem to
bother it more than uphill (odd, I know). Today, though, everything seems to be working well. I'm
just cruising downhill without losing ground to people as I usually do.
We're at the turnaround point now. Psychologically I think we're half-way through but my watch
hasn't signaled mile 3 yet. It's another steep climb. This one's tougher. I think "whatever goes up
must come down" so try to focus on the eventual downhill. Ah, mile 3 at last. A few minutes later
someone yells to ask if anyone knows the distance. "3.2" I reply.
I'm still feeling pretty good. No one seems to be passing me. I'm slowly gaining ground on some
pretty good looking people. Hmmm. Wow, there's two women right ahead of me that are moving along
like a couple of gazelles. I'll try to stay with them. Man, they're fast. It's a struggle. I'm not
going to overtake them but maybe I can stay close. Oh drat, they stopped for water. "You can't do
that", I think to myself, "I was counting on you for pacing".
I'm rather alone now. Feeling a little fatigued but I'll keep this pace. Mile 4 just passed. I know
where we are now. We're definitely headed back home. I need someone else to zero in on. Ah, there's
someone I think I can catch. Whew, this guy's fast. Just a little more ... got him! Wait, he's back.
No, I've got him again. Gone.
Mile 5. There's someone calling out times again. Undoubtedly they're inaccurate. But amusing, right?
She says we're under 39 minutes after 5 miles. Yeah, right, I think. I'm feeling decidedly tired
now. What a drag. I must be in far lousier shape than I realized. That's tough to swallow after
running all winter and building my weekend long runs up to 13½ miles (I'm running in my first ½
marathon in May). Oh, well.
Well, we're finally coming up to mile 6. The finish line is in sight. Here's someone coming up fast
on my right. There's someone I'm catching on my left. No, I'm not going to let that guy on my right
pass me. No way. I've got to have something left. If I do, it feels like it's about to come back up
(if you catch my drift) but let's dig in and see what happens. What?? The master clock says 46
minutes and change. No way. There's no way that can be even close to accurate. No way.
Come on now ... just a few more yards and ... we're across the finish line! What ... they took my
number?! No way (recall, only the first 100 finishers are recorded).
Well, let's get the straight scoop, shall we? What does our watch say?
Mile 1: 8:34 Mile 2: 7:58 Mile 3: 7:42 Mile 4: 7:23 Mile 5: 7:28 Mile 6: 7:24
Official time: 46:48 (I think the course was short by .14 miles)
Wow! I've never recorded a sub 7:50 mile before. And my previous best 10K was 49:30 last June and I
was mighty satisfied with that. I just bested that by nearly 3 minutes!
I finished 64 (out of how many I don't know). I never expected to finish in the top 100. Wow. If
only this were a good omen for things to come in the future.
Next race is the Meriter Nurses' 10K run on May 8th.
Thanks for reading.
Weather: 41°F, Sunny, NE winds 5-10 mph
This isn't very well organized though it does draw about 6,000 people for all events combined.
There's no advance registration by event; one just lines up for what one wants on race day. Only the
first 100 finishers are timed. I'm wearing the Timex GPS distance monitor so I'll be able to record
my time and splits. Since I don't expect to receive an official time I'm not really striving for
anything in particular and only run this event out of sentimentality (the 2001 was the first race I
ever ran in). I'm not really sure what to expect in terms of time or performance. I didn't take any
time off during the winter so I should be in shape but I'm not really a runner either, I just run. I
don't do speed work or tempo runs (whatever they are), etc. I just run.
I'll be doing the 10K run. My previous best for a 10K was 49:30 last June (Bellin Run in
Green Bay, WI).
The 5K runners are off at 10:00a on the dot. We're set to go off two minutes later. Fire up the GPS
receiver and make sure we're receiving a signal. We are. I'm ready to go.
Off we go. The start of this race is awfully slow and congested. The beginning of the course is
far too narrow for the number of people involved. It's a very beautiful course overall, though.
We're going to eventually head uphill for a while through the Mendota Mental Health Institute
campus on the NE shore of Lake Mendota, through some lovely residential areas with wonderful views
of the lake and Madison skyline. But for now it's trot along, try to find some open space and not
step on anyone.
Feeling good. The first mile marker is coming up and there's a woman shouting "1 Mile" and "7:42".
My watch says we're not at 1 mile yet and it's about 8:30 into the race. She's not even close. I'm
not surprised; as I said, this isn't a very well run event. She's also only one of two mile markers
for the entire course (the other being at mile 5).
Eventually my watch signals the first mile and the time is 8:34. I figure why not take it easy as
this doesn't seem like it's going to be a serious endeavor at all.
I'm plodding along passing some folks, a few pass me by. There's a serious looking couple ahead that
seem to be moving along pretty well. I'll try to stay with them. I pass them, they pass me, etc.
Eventually I lose track of them as I spot someone else that looks like a challenge to keep up with.
Hey, that's the end of mile 2. I'm not checking the time as I figure it doesn't really matter.
Oh, now we're into some steep hills. Hills are my strength, and I have little trouble gaining ground
on many people ahead. My weakness is going downhill, however. I have a very sore left Achilles
(which is never going to heal completely since I won't stop running) and the down hills seem to
bother it more than uphill (odd, I know). Today, though, everything seems to be working well. I'm
just cruising downhill without losing ground to people as I usually do.
We're at the turnaround point now. Psychologically I think we're half-way through but my watch
hasn't signaled mile 3 yet. It's another steep climb. This one's tougher. I think "whatever goes up
must come down" so try to focus on the eventual downhill. Ah, mile 3 at last. A few minutes later
someone yells to ask if anyone knows the distance. "3.2" I reply.
I'm still feeling pretty good. No one seems to be passing me. I'm slowly gaining ground on some
pretty good looking people. Hmmm. Wow, there's two women right ahead of me that are moving along
like a couple of gazelles. I'll try to stay with them. Man, they're fast. It's a struggle. I'm not
going to overtake them but maybe I can stay close. Oh drat, they stopped for water. "You can't do
that", I think to myself, "I was counting on you for pacing".
I'm rather alone now. Feeling a little fatigued but I'll keep this pace. Mile 4 just passed. I know
where we are now. We're definitely headed back home. I need someone else to zero in on. Ah, there's
someone I think I can catch. Whew, this guy's fast. Just a little more ... got him! Wait, he's back.
No, I've got him again. Gone.
Mile 5. There's someone calling out times again. Undoubtedly they're inaccurate. But amusing, right?
She says we're under 39 minutes after 5 miles. Yeah, right, I think. I'm feeling decidedly tired
now. What a drag. I must be in far lousier shape than I realized. That's tough to swallow after
running all winter and building my weekend long runs up to 13½ miles (I'm running in my first ½
marathon in May). Oh, well.
Well, we're finally coming up to mile 6. The finish line is in sight. Here's someone coming up fast
on my right. There's someone I'm catching on my left. No, I'm not going to let that guy on my right
pass me. No way. I've got to have something left. If I do, it feels like it's about to come back up
(if you catch my drift) but let's dig in and see what happens. What?? The master clock says 46
minutes and change. No way. There's no way that can be even close to accurate. No way.
Come on now ... just a few more yards and ... we're across the finish line! What ... they took my
number?! No way (recall, only the first 100 finishers are recorded).
Well, let's get the straight scoop, shall we? What does our watch say?
Mile 1: 8:34 Mile 2: 7:58 Mile 3: 7:42 Mile 4: 7:23 Mile 5: 7:28 Mile 6: 7:24
Official time: 46:48 (I think the course was short by .14 miles)
Wow! I've never recorded a sub 7:50 mile before. And my previous best 10K was 49:30 last June and I
was mighty satisfied with that. I just bested that by nearly 3 minutes!
I finished 64 (out of how many I don't know). I never expected to finish in the top 100. Wow. If
only this were a good omen for things to come in the future.
Next race is the Meriter Nurses' 10K run on May 8th.
Thanks for reading.
