Mike R.
Tyler's Run Miami Whitewater Forest, Harrison, Ohio Oct. 11, 2003
Last week, I read about a local race that benefits SIDS research http://www.tylersrun.com/. There
were actually 2 races; a duathlon and a
5k. The duathletes had to run a 5k, bike 17.6 miles and then run another
5l. The 5k's were all on the same course; an out-and-back on a 9' wide paved hike/bike trail.
Having just completed a triathlon the previous weekend, I opted for the 5k only. There were 321
participants in the 5k of which about half walked.
It was a beautiful fall morning. Sunny and about 55 deg. I arrived early to register and discovered
that the duathlon started first and then we were scheduled to begin 5 minutes later. The race
instructors said that there would be no passing for the first few hundred feet. Not wanting to be
stuck behind a much slower runner, I positioned myself close to the starting line. I was confident
in being able to maintain at least a 6:45/mile pace. We all wore timing chips but I don't think they
registered at the start (no mat/beep?). As we approached 1 minute to start, there was still an
opening on the starting line so I opted to move up and begin on the line.
The bullhorn (gun) sounded and we took off down the path. Being in the front, I moved out at a
pretty good clip and stuck with the leaders. The course meanders past a golf course, through a short
tunnel and over a bridge onto the long portion (7.8 mile loop) of the trail. I kept within 30' of
the three runners in front of me and passed the first mile marker at 6:12. It was mostly downhill
but I was moving out much faster than I had ever run before.
Soon after the first mile, I began to pass some of the duathletes who had begun to walk this portion
of the 5k (Family friendly event = finishers more so than competitors). The duathletes were easy to
spot, they had numbers written on their calves. About a minute later, I confronted the duathlon
leaders on their way back to the transition area which was adjacent to our finish line.
Less than a half mile later, I hit the turn around and saw that I was about 20 seconds back from the
5k leaders. At this point I was encountering 5k runners and duathlon walkers moving against my
direction and duathlon runner/walkers moving in my direction. The path suddenly became very
congested. It was very difficult to keep track of the leaders. I know I passed at least one but
wasn't sure if there were two or just one still out front. Given his distinct running clothing, I
was able to keep the eventual winner in sight until there was about 1/2 mile to go. By then I was
going back uphill and I lost sight of him in the curves.
At mile three, the course splits and the 5k heads down toward the water's edge, through the start
line and on to the finish while the duathlon heads to the transition area for their bikes. A sharp
right turn onto a grass covered slope led me up to the finish. Again, there was no mat or beeping to
register my crossing the finish line. I was immediately asked which age division I was in. It took
me a moment for the question to register and to respond coherently. I received an engraved pint
glass having placed in my AG.
I managed to record all of my mile splits but did not actually check the times while running. It
turns out the faster runners were competing in the duathlon. I would have placed at least 14th in
their group and most likely much worse if they were only competing in the 5k.
Results: 3rd place overall - 20:08.6 finishing time = 6:30/mile pace = (Previous PR -
23:11)Splits 6:12/6:31/6:57/0:28 2nd in AG (winner was in same AG)
Mike
Last week, I read about a local race that benefits SIDS research http://www.tylersrun.com/. There
were actually 2 races; a duathlon and a
5k. The duathletes had to run a 5k, bike 17.6 miles and then run another
5l. The 5k's were all on the same course; an out-and-back on a 9' wide paved hike/bike trail.
Having just completed a triathlon the previous weekend, I opted for the 5k only. There were 321
participants in the 5k of which about half walked.
It was a beautiful fall morning. Sunny and about 55 deg. I arrived early to register and discovered
that the duathlon started first and then we were scheduled to begin 5 minutes later. The race
instructors said that there would be no passing for the first few hundred feet. Not wanting to be
stuck behind a much slower runner, I positioned myself close to the starting line. I was confident
in being able to maintain at least a 6:45/mile pace. We all wore timing chips but I don't think they
registered at the start (no mat/beep?). As we approached 1 minute to start, there was still an
opening on the starting line so I opted to move up and begin on the line.
The bullhorn (gun) sounded and we took off down the path. Being in the front, I moved out at a
pretty good clip and stuck with the leaders. The course meanders past a golf course, through a short
tunnel and over a bridge onto the long portion (7.8 mile loop) of the trail. I kept within 30' of
the three runners in front of me and passed the first mile marker at 6:12. It was mostly downhill
but I was moving out much faster than I had ever run before.
Soon after the first mile, I began to pass some of the duathletes who had begun to walk this portion
of the 5k (Family friendly event = finishers more so than competitors). The duathletes were easy to
spot, they had numbers written on their calves. About a minute later, I confronted the duathlon
leaders on their way back to the transition area which was adjacent to our finish line.
Less than a half mile later, I hit the turn around and saw that I was about 20 seconds back from the
5k leaders. At this point I was encountering 5k runners and duathlon walkers moving against my
direction and duathlon runner/walkers moving in my direction. The path suddenly became very
congested. It was very difficult to keep track of the leaders. I know I passed at least one but
wasn't sure if there were two or just one still out front. Given his distinct running clothing, I
was able to keep the eventual winner in sight until there was about 1/2 mile to go. By then I was
going back uphill and I lost sight of him in the curves.
At mile three, the course splits and the 5k heads down toward the water's edge, through the start
line and on to the finish while the duathlon heads to the transition area for their bikes. A sharp
right turn onto a grass covered slope led me up to the finish. Again, there was no mat or beeping to
register my crossing the finish line. I was immediately asked which age division I was in. It took
me a moment for the question to register and to respond coherently. I received an engraved pint
glass having placed in my AG.
I managed to record all of my mile splits but did not actually check the times while running. It
turns out the faster runners were competing in the duathlon. I would have placed at least 14th in
their group and most likely much worse if they were only competing in the 5k.
Results: 3rd place overall - 20:08.6 finishing time = 6:30/mile pace = (Previous PR -
23:11)Splits 6:12/6:31/6:57/0:28 2nd in AG (winner was in same AG)
Mike
