Aaron
Race report: Al's Memorial Run & Walk for Children's Hospital Distance: 8K Participation: 3000+
runners, 16,000 total. Course: mostly flat, downhill, some uphill on the second mile. Winning time:
24:29 My goal time: 29:15 My time: 28:25 (PR by 44 seconds) 38th overall
I had been looking forward to this race, since it is the most popular race in Milwaukee (well, this
and the Lakefront Marathon). I even got an elite runner number based on my sub 30 minute performance
at an earlier 8K this summer. Because of the size of the race and that the start is located in the
Marquette University campus in downtown Milwaukee, I had someone drop me off about 6 blocks away
about 30 minutes before "go" time. I figured I could jog to the starting area, stretch, warm up and
be ready to go. I was even in my racing gear, my racing flats were on, no warm ups and I had my
number pinned on already (my packet was mailed in advance). This strategy backfired horribly when
they delayed the start a half hour because public transit was having a hard time transporting people
to the start. So I had to stay warm for a long time, with the outdoor temperature being about 55-60
degrees and I didn't have my warm ups. Finally, the runners line up and are ready to go, and
Wisconsin Ave. is soon filled with runners and walkers. The start headed slighty downhill, and I
kept reminding myself not to go out to fast so I could have a strong finish later. My first mile
split was about 5:22, which totally clashed with my goal. Second mile headed slightly uphill, and I
was trying to recover quickly from the first mile, so I paid the price with a 6:00 second mile. At
about this point, I got passed by the two women who finished one and two in the women's division
(winning time
28:10). Third mile I got back into the swing of things with a 5:38, thanks to a steep out of control
downhill. As I was running the fourth mile, I began thinking that if I could break 29 easily
if I got to the fourth mile mark at around 23:00, which I did, at 22:55. My fourth mile split
was 5:55. We then begin the dash to the finish line, and finish up the last 0.97 at a split of
5:30, which gave me a total time of 28:25. I had a respectible kick at the end, able to pass a
person in the last 100 meters and according to the results, finish in a tie with another
runner. I was 9th in my age group, so no awards, but I didn't expect any, especially for a
race this size. However, I met all my personal goals, and it was a nice day for a race. Full
results can be seen here: http://www.badgerlandstriders.org/results/3ALS.ASP
-Aaron TheYAM.net
runners, 16,000 total. Course: mostly flat, downhill, some uphill on the second mile. Winning time:
24:29 My goal time: 29:15 My time: 28:25 (PR by 44 seconds) 38th overall
I had been looking forward to this race, since it is the most popular race in Milwaukee (well, this
and the Lakefront Marathon). I even got an elite runner number based on my sub 30 minute performance
at an earlier 8K this summer. Because of the size of the race and that the start is located in the
Marquette University campus in downtown Milwaukee, I had someone drop me off about 6 blocks away
about 30 minutes before "go" time. I figured I could jog to the starting area, stretch, warm up and
be ready to go. I was even in my racing gear, my racing flats were on, no warm ups and I had my
number pinned on already (my packet was mailed in advance). This strategy backfired horribly when
they delayed the start a half hour because public transit was having a hard time transporting people
to the start. So I had to stay warm for a long time, with the outdoor temperature being about 55-60
degrees and I didn't have my warm ups. Finally, the runners line up and are ready to go, and
Wisconsin Ave. is soon filled with runners and walkers. The start headed slighty downhill, and I
kept reminding myself not to go out to fast so I could have a strong finish later. My first mile
split was about 5:22, which totally clashed with my goal. Second mile headed slightly uphill, and I
was trying to recover quickly from the first mile, so I paid the price with a 6:00 second mile. At
about this point, I got passed by the two women who finished one and two in the women's division
(winning time
28:10). Third mile I got back into the swing of things with a 5:38, thanks to a steep out of control
downhill. As I was running the fourth mile, I began thinking that if I could break 29 easily
if I got to the fourth mile mark at around 23:00, which I did, at 22:55. My fourth mile split
was 5:55. We then begin the dash to the finish line, and finish up the last 0.97 at a split of
5:30, which gave me a total time of 28:25. I had a respectible kick at the end, able to pass a
person in the last 100 meters and according to the results, finish in a tie with another
runner. I was 9th in my age group, so no awards, but I didn't expect any, especially for a
race this size. However, I met all my personal goals, and it was a nice day for a race. Full
results can be seen here: http://www.badgerlandstriders.org/results/3ALS.ASP
-Aaron TheYAM.net
