Bluegrass 10,000 Preview

Don't ask why, but the race organizers seem to be insistent on calling this the "Bluegrass 10,000" instead of the more conventional "10k." However you express it, the annual Fourth of July race in Lexington, KY features ten kilometers on sun-baked pavement for runners to enjoy/hate. This is the 39th installment of the race and it starts at the yawn-inducing time of 7:30 am.
The race stars on E Main Street just pass the cross street of Elm Tree and nearby Thoroughbred Park.

It follows E Main until making a right turn onto N Limestone Street in front of the "Taste of Thai" building.

Limestone may feature a slight incline, which no one can claim is a "hill." The next turn is a left onto W Third Street followed by a left two blocks later onto N Mill Street. Transylvania University will be on the right and Mill Street will take everyone through a very residential area.

Runners will spend five blocks on N Mill before turning left on W Vine Street. Once on W Vine Street, the race stays straight for over 10 blocks; the course circles past the start point and leads runners farther out E Main Street until it becomes Richmond Rd. Runners will make a U-turn at Lakeshore Drive, shortly after passing the Shriners Hospital for Children.

A strip mall will be on the left, along with all the runners faster than you. The course then backtracks on E Main Street pass the start point before ending at N Limestone Street.

And down the stretch they come!

I ran this race in 48 minutes and 39 seconds back in 2011. That was a humid day and I was running on very little sleep. Although I would expect to beat that time under better circumstances, my lack of training could end up making 2015 comparable to 2011. The rest of PTR is welcome to set their goals for our second joint race of the year. I'll see you in Lexington.

Run for Your Life 2015 Review

The Stats
6/20: 5.0 miles; 46'56"; 9'24" avg. pace

I have heard two descriptions of doing the same activity over and over again and expecting different results. It is said to either be insanity or hope. When it comes to the CAMC Foundation's Run for Your Life 5-miler I still don't know which trait I'm exhibiting. This year I probably leaned slightly more toward insanity, because my training activity has been at an all-time low. That unforgiving climb up to Spring Hill Cemetery holds no sympathy for the faint of heart and weak of legs. Two days later, I am still paying the price for adherence to tradition and a determination to feel forever 23 years old (the first time I ran this race).
The race starts innocently enough on Court Street at Kanawha Boulevard. A flat mile ensued where I tried to keep my pace slow and steady and save any endurance I might have for the hill. I had some quarters in my pocket to pay the parking meter and set them down on the median before leaving Court St.; you're welcome, drifters of Charleston. Too soon, I found myself glaring at the incline of Farnsworth Drive that ascends over the interstate in a spiraling fashion.

Then, the run really began. I tried to stay loose and keep a jogging pace, however slow it may have been, in order to climb the entire hill without walking. I looked at my run tracker at the bottom of the hill to give me an indication of how far I was from the top. If memory served, the entire climb was close to one mile. As I left the interstate behind and began the slog pass tree shaded houses, my heart rate elevated and my breathing became labored. I wondered if the surrounding runners were having the same difficulty getting oxygen. Even with these struggles, I ran at a pace that did not actively make my legs feel sore. Nearing the cemetery gates, I made sure to continue a slow pace because the hill continues well into the grave yard. I was sucking wind very hard, but knew I could at least summit the beast before being reduced to walking.
After cresting the hill I remembered how rolling the cemetery grounds were and started to cry a little inside. I felt a little spacey and knew that heat exhaustion was a serious threat. I managed to keep the pace low and trot over the short, steep hills inside the cemetery. They took a toll and I could feel any last reserve of energy being drained from my body. There is a final ascent inside the cemetery ground before leaving, one last kick in the pants for runners. Having made that mark without walking, I was safe to fall off the face of the mountain, down towards Charleston to the beat of bongo drums being played by some curious musicians at the top of the hill.
The descent off of Farnsworth feels good except that my legs were so tired and devoid of energy that I couldn't even run fast downhill. "Controlled falling" is a more accurate description of what happened. Still, that mile coming downhill was my fastest split time at slightly over eight minutes.

You would think at this point that I could finish the whole race running or jogging. But that last mile on the flat ground back to the Boulevard was terrible. I had no feeling in my legs. My breathing was labored and I felt like I could either pass out or throw up at some point in the future. I trotted on as long as I could, down Piedmont and toward Court Street. Before I made the turn onto Court, I finally gave in and started to walk. My pride wasn't worth succumbing to heat exhaustion. I walked the majority of Court Street. I passed the mall and came within view of the Boulevard and mustered some guts for the finish. Around Quarrier Street I picked up the pace again and made it to the Boulevard, stopping before realizing that I had to continue down into Haddad Park to finish properly. I jogged the remaining downhill bit and crossed the line.

After grabbing a finishers medal I bent over and tried to regain my senses. Then, I took a water and an apple and downed both in hopes of regaining energy. Ashley and Jessica finished a few minutes later and joined me on the pain train. We all swore off the race (which I have done before) while recounting our respective struggles. Next year I may be donating to colon cancer research and staying at home. 

"Honey, are you conscious?"

Statesman 10k Recap

The Stats
6.21 mi; 55'24" chip time; 8'55" per mile; 2,218 out of 14,389

Team PTR can mark Texas off the 10k map. The rain held off during our short stay in Austin despite thunderstorm predictions by weather forecasters. However, we were greeted by a heavy dose of fog on race morning.

"I'm a Texas girl who loves forecasting Texas weather (and yes, I get it right EVERY time)."

Congress Ave. Bridge

I took the option of starting in the first wave of runners at 8 am. If the weather had been bad early, I would have started with the rest of the family. Since the rain held off before the race start I jumped in line behind the elites. I was a little too close to the elites for comfort, but I was quickly left in their dust. In fact I was passed by other runners for the majority of the run. No matter, slow and steady finishes the race.
It is always difficult to look back on a race and recall the details. The memory turns into a large blob of pain, fatigue, and excitement only a few hours after hitting the finish line. All the same, a few tidbits do stand out.

• I ran behind a shirtless guy holding a full size Rastafarian flag above his head in the first mile. Why someone would put their arms through that is beyond me, and it did not seem to mesh with the laid back vibe of Rastafarian-ism. 
• The hill section behind the state Capitol was particularly exhausting. I made sure to dial back the pace so that the first 2.5 miles did not completely drain my energy. And I did not come close to winning the King of the Hill distinction.
• As with every race, I try to hit the water stops near the end of the table/section. Everyone seems to crowd around the front of a water stop and it creates a traffic jam of flailing and stationary legs. 
• My stomach was uneasy during the last half of the race. I appreciate the courtesy of race organizers to place port-a-johns on the side of the race course, but I also feel them tempting me to stop. The will to finish ultimately overcame any intestinal distress.
• The finishing stretch felt like it was over half a mile long. I was ready for the finish line after crossing the 1st St Bridge. An increased pace down the stretch led to my fastest split time coming in the final mile. The dude finishing beside me danced over the line and I kind of dodged him. 

  

Watch where you're high stepping!

The results were about what I expected. Given the elevation, the humidity, and the lack of early spring training. Mike closed the gap behind me to 10 minutes.

The 1st St Bridge was my best section

I was able to meet up with Mary in the park that hosted the post-race party. We missed Mike and Emily and met up with them back at the hotel. Recovering took some time. When we were able to move our legs again, we walked to a cafe for lunch. Then, we tried to shop in downtown Austin without much luck. Our evening entertainment was a trip to the Alamo Drafthouse where we saw a showing of Intergalactic Nemesis: Twin Infinity. I could try to describe what that was like, but I would fail miserably. We met one of Emily's high school friends for dessert later that evening. A sweet capping to a hard race and a long day.
In summary, Austin was kind a little underwhelming. I'm sure it would have been more fun with some extra time and some locals to shepherd us around. But the race was well organized and large. And now I have the motivation to make this a successful year of running. Onward and upward.

Statesman 10k Preview

The Participation Trophy Runners are one week away from the Statesman 10k in Austin, Tx. It will be my first trip to the Lonestar State as well. As I have become accustomed to doing, the following post will contain a detailed course breakdown. Let's start with everyone's favorite topic: elevation. The race organizers provided an incline/decline map to help us with that.

The first mile is broadly uphill. We will go up about 110 feet over that mile. The second mile levels out and ends up slightly downhill, but it leads to the course high point of 582 feet at the 2.5 mile mark. Before you stop reading in disgust, hear me out: the entire remainder of the route is downhill. We will drop 141 feet over the last 3.5 miles until crossing the finish line.
With the elevation picture clear, let's get some visuals of the race course. I've sourced route pictures from Google Maps that follow the official race map. As you can see from the top level map, we are doing a closed, rectangular route.

We start the race on the south side of the Colorado River and head north across the Congress Avenue Bridge. Here is a scenic picture of the memorial plaque near the race start.

Crossing the bridge will take us downtown, past our hotel and toward the Texas State Capitol building. From the bridge you can see the Austin skyline.

Once we leave the bridge the route continues on Congress Avenue toward the Capitol in the distance. Hopefully we do not have a run-in with any bicycling policeman as seen in this Google Maps picture.

When we get to the Capitol there will be a right turn onto 11th Street. This will lead to us circling around the building as we gradually change directions from north to west. There is an aid station, I'm guessing with water, just after this right turn.

The next turn is a left, shortly thereafter. You will see a La Quinta and turn in front of it onto San Jacinto Boulevard.

Then, there is another left turn onto 15th Street. This will take us behind the Capitol building and up the steepest hill of the race.

As you near a hilltop the Capitol building will be on the left.

This is one of the longest straight stretches of the race. Continuing on 15th Street, we will approach the 2-mile marker and the "King/Queen of the Mountains" point. The cross street for this will come at West Avenue.

Mile 3 will continue along 15th Street as it becomes Enfield Road. It looks like this name change takes place at the cross street W Lynn. It starts to look fairly residential in this area.

A quarter mile later, we will hit the 3-mile mark and run underneath a bridge. On the other side of this bridge we will make the first turn in 1.5 miles.

Here is the left hand turn that will guide runners from Einfield Road onto Winstead Lane. It almost looks like an interstate off-ramp.

Winstead features a slight uphill incline, which will be very rare on this section of the course. I promise. Don't get mad because there is a short section of incline.

Winstead becomes Atlanta Street and then makes a loop. It starts with a right turn on Lake Austin Boulevard and then an almost immediate left onto Veterans Drive.

Right onto Lake Austin at the Pawn Shop

Left onto Veterans Dr. at the small dog statue

Veterans Drive will curl left and follow the Colorado River. This is the last main drag of the race. It will take us the final two miles to the last bridge crossing and the race finish. The low point of the race comes when passing under the S Lamar Blvd. Bridge.

Hey dude, you're going to wrong way!

The road becomes W Cesar Chavez as it nears the bridge crossing. Then, we go from north to south of the river via the First St Bridge.

After crossing this bridge there is a right turn onto W Riverside Drive. It is our last road of the race! And the last picture I have with which to annoy you! We will finish the run somewhere around this roundabout looking thing.

The finish party will be to the immediate right of the finish line. There you can enjoy some live music while eating/drinking some post race refreshments. Food trucks are apparently setting up shop there also, so bring cash. Wet your whistle at the Bloody Mary & Beer Garden or get some brunch to refuel those tired legs.
In summation, this course appears mostly downhill after the first 2.5 miles. That alone is reason for optimism. Also, the hotel is a short hobble across the Congress Ave Bridge. So our sore legs will find rest in short order. Huzzah!

Build Up to Statesman

The Stats
3/8:   3.10 mi; 24'36"; 7'53" avg. pace
3/12: 3.10 mi; 25'06"; 8'00" avg. pace
3/16: 3.10 mi; 25'10"; 8'04" avg. pace
3/21: 3.08 mi; 24'14"; 7'52" avg. pace

We are about two and a half weeks away from the Statesman 10k race in Austin, TX. I have been preparing by running five kilometers whenever there is a relatively sunny and dry day in March. The stats show that I am in my average running form, at least for the 5k distance. Stretching out that distance by two times may prove to be a different story. I do plan on jogging a few six mile training runs in advance of our flight to Texas. And then, hopefully, my first trip to the Lone-star State will be successful and fun.
The last run in my series of March 5k's was an actual race. Ashley, her workmates and I did an out-and-back course between The Capitol Market and the Capitol last Saturday. The race was WV's Foxtrot 5k which supports Parkinson's research. We all had good race times for the mildly chilly run. You can see the video clips of our finishes on YouTube (Matt at 2:40, Ashley & Jessica at 6:30). And here are a few pictures of our sweaty mugs below.

Watch out for the Statesman 10k preview in the coming week.