Mt. Sac Olympic Development 10k Video
For some reason (Google owns YouTube) You can only post videos from YouTube to a Blogger blog. This video is from Flotrack. Click the link above to watch the thrilling half-hour of coverage of my epic heat of the 10k at Mt. Sac. Really though, it was getting late and you can tell the Flotrack guys are getting tired. It takes a special race for a track 10k to be exciting, and this one did not carry those traits. I do think (bias) that the way I ran was probably the most entertaining, which isn't saying a lot. With that much preamble, here's a recap:
I was really enjoying myself sitting around watching some elite track in the Mt. Sac stadium, which is wedged between two large hills amidst the mountains about forty miles inland from the coast. However, I had to get up halfway through the Elite Invitational heat of the 10k (that I really wanted to watch) and warm up for my race. I noticed that as the light was failing, the slight breeze coming from the west was gone. The temperature had dropped as the sun had, and it was probably in the upper 50's when I got my hip number and joined the crowd of skinny guys in a couple of nervous strides down to the start line. The officials were undoubtedly getting worn out from a long day, and were probably realizing that they had four more 10ks to do, so as soon as we were in a decent line, they got us going.
I quickly settled into a decent spot in the middle of the field, and spent the first mile and a half or so trying to work my way over to the rail. By the time I did that a group of ten guys or so had started making a small break in front. I was positioned in the second spot in the chase group, and we were clicking off 70s and 71s, so I settled in.
When I awakened at 5k, I realized that we had been running 72s and were on pace to run 29:40 or worse. I had made the mistake of thinking the chase pack actually was chasing the leaders, when in reality, they were running their race right there. I got in front and got back down to 70s. Unfortunately, nobody joined the party, and I was by myself trying to claw back some time. When I left the second pack, I was probably in about 15th place. Over the last two miles I cleaned up the carnage from the front pack that had exploded when the Kenyans in front decided to really push. I was having trouble gauging my effort, since running any pace on a track feels so fast to me. I had some left though and was able to pass about five guys in the last lap and run a 64. I went through the line and just kept going (not at race pace) around to talk to Coach. I was a little confused about my effort. I had run hard, but I'm just not used to a race being over in less than half an hour. Coach was happy about my intelligent racing (it happens sometimes) and my strong finish. I was pleased with a new PR, but it's still not a really strong PR. I don't have all the splits, but here's the interesting parts:
8th place - 29:28.08 (5k - 14:48/14:40)
I'm going to go down to Des Moines for the Drake Relays-on-the-Roads 8k next Saturday. For some reason, they didn't let me into the track 5k, so I'm going to go try to get some immature payback by trying to crush at their road race.
Hopefully I will post something more interesting later in the week, I'm just waiting for inspiration to fall from the heavens like an idea-filled coconut. What terrible imagery. Obviously I should wait until I get some decent ideas.
Keep your sticks on the ice.
