8 Is Not Enough

I was standing around before the start of the race on Saturday morning, when I heard announcer Dave Kappas welcoming runners to the 8th annual Soldier Field 10 miler.  I was taken aback.  I have been fortunate to run this race every year since it began, but it seems like maybe 4 or 5 years.  Time flies when you're running all the time.  But it was also a reminder that I'm quite no longer a 'young runner'. 

The race, though, is always a big focus of spring training for my training partners and myself, and my goal is generally the same every year.   I was hoping to break 70 minutes.  This might have been an unreasonable goal, given that I pretty much used up the tank a few weeks ago running a half marathon in 1:38.  That's about a 7:25/mile pace for 13, and I was hoping to run nearly a half minute faster pace for ten.  It kind of defied my math logic, but math was never my strong suit.  And for some reason, I am usually able to get pretty close to that goal.  I managed to break it once or twice.  Last year I believe I was within about 12 seconds. 

I made things tough on myself by arriving a little late and neglecting to warm up.  I know, I just wrote about the importance of warming up a couple weeks ago.  Things happen.  I also neglected to find a porto-potty, and that came back to haunt me.  But the temperature was about perfect, and it looked to be a good day.   

I had the pleasure of starting the race with a couple of friends, including Anthony Ponce from NBC-5.  Anthony is a really strong runner, who was showing me a little charity by running with me until about the five mile mark.  And we had a nice run for that first half, following the course on the east side Lake Shore Drive this year to account for the construction further south on the path.  It was different than previous years, but every bit as smooth.

Once Anthony decided to pick it up a bit for a couple miles, I wished him well, and watched him take off.  It would have been nice to go with him, but that was not in the cards, or my legs.  On the bight side, we were right on 7:00/mile pace through five.  I mean exactly. 

From this point on, however, I was on my own.  I kept the pace for the next two miles, but then near water stop by the 7th mile, the porto-potty I'd neglected before the start beckoned to me, and I gave in and stopped.  I figure it cost me nearly a minute, but, more importantly, I found it difficult to regain focus when I started running again.  I slowed to about 7:20 pace for what I believe is always the toughest mile on that course, the 8th mile. 

At that point in the race, you are physically pretty spent, and psychologically you are battling the perception that the tall buildings of downtown seem like a long way in the distance.  After 8, you can look forward to seeing McComick Place, and Soldier Field behind it.  The last mile is always one of the most exciting as you approach the stadium and look forward to entering the tunnel.  But you have to get there first.  And it felt like a long time.

Eventually it came into view though.  From the time I saw on the clock at the 9 mile split, I knew I had no chance of getting under 70 or even 71 minutes.    But pride was on the line.  So I tried to get the legs going as well as I could for a nice finish.  The feeling of entering the stadium, looking up and seeing yourself on the jumbo-tron, and crossing the finish line is really amazing.  I can't think of a finish line at any other race that compares.

I actually got so caught up that I failed to stop my watch at the finish, and had to check the results later to find my time.  It was 1:11:56, which averages out to 7:12/mile.  Well off my goal, but judging from how sore I am a couple days later, still a good effort.  If you'd like a complete list of results, you can find them at: http://www.soldierfield10.com/htm/features.html

I'm hoping to recover this week in time to run the 13.1 race on the South side next weekend.  Hope to see you out there.  In the meantime, see you on the roads.......

 

 
 
 
 
 

Comments

[Janet]

If you wanted to run 70 minutes and came in at 1:11 isnt that 71 minutes - not too shabby old man. It was a great day for a 10 miler for sure. And so what if you were already home by the time I finished in 1:55. I still had a great time.

[cheap sunglasses]

What a pity I miss seeing all those gorgeous knits! Thanks for sharing the photos.