Monday, September 17, 2007

Bloomingfoods 5K Breakaway race report

After a sluggish, sleepy week in which almost no running occurred, I felt the need to spice things up. The corporate challenge track meet was postponed because of the earlier start time of the IU football game, so I filled the void with this nice little 5K. It's an inaugural, and well-run. I enjoyed the course and the weather was perfect, though sunny; I was glad I remembered sunglasses. My only complaint was the lack of traffic control. There were cops directing traffic at major intersections, but they weren't exactly overzealous in their exertions. I was forced to stop completely before crossing College on 10th Street, and I heard that that Jessica Gall, the women's winner, had to stop and actually wait, adding 17 seconds to her time! There was a huge gap in front of me at the end and I couldn't see exactly where to go, so my last tenth was somewhat hesitant (though of course this is not their fault). I call it a keeper, though. I'm sure things will improve. Downtown Bloomington and the IU campus are both charming places to run, and I'm glad to race here whenever I can.

My time was 23:31. I was hoping for faster, but I was pleased nonetheless with how even the splits were (7:29, 7:40, 7:35). The last mile had the only real hill on the course (up 10th Street, nothing to sneeze at). I passed two people going up. I think if I'd been sure of the last half mile and had not had to stop it would have been more like 23:15 or so. So it's getting down there, bit by bit. I'm going to run the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K as part of my company's team (and of course it's for a great cause), so we'll see what happens, perhaps, if I try going out a bit faster. That will be my last hard run before the marathon.

Last night I went to do my last 20-miler, but underestimated how soon it gets dark. By 10 miles it was almost completely dark. I cut it off at 11.2, not wanting to do that much in the dark (not to mention it was actually getting rather cold). I had figured on having another hour or so of light, but the days shorten fast in September. I should have known, and gone earlier. I suppose I could have finished up by running up and down Basswood or even on the treadmill at the SportsPlex, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do so. I'm not sure what to do. I still feel like I need that last 20-miler, especially the lackluster training of the past two weeks. I might have to suck it up and do a large portion of it on the treadmill during the week, or leave it until next weekend and only give myself two weeks of taper before the marathon.

Ack, ack, ack.

4 comments:

Nitmos said...

Nice 5k.

You have to decide if you really, really need that 20 miler. Or of maybe 16 or 18 will do. Make it beneficial. Don't do 20 just to do 20. Quality rather than quantity.

Ofcourse, this is coming from someone who frets if I even leave off 1 mile early on my scheduled run!

jen said...

Wow, smokin 5k time Mir!! :) Way to go!!

I think I'll vote for 18 miler next weekend. Still a nice long run, but I wouldn't suggest 20 at this point. So like nitmos said, 16 or 18 next weekend then take your 2 week taper very seriously.

You'll do great. You've obviously got the speed, the endurance, and the motivation! you can do it! :)

Al Durham said...

Great time on the 5K. You could get the 20 miler in by running twice in one day. 10 in the morning and 10 in the evening, or some combination like that.

GB said...

Congrats Mir on the 5K. Great, speedy race!

I'm with you on running after it's dark out, I'm just not a night time runner. When the days are short like they are now and I need to get the miles in... I head to the gym and run them on the treadmill. Yes, I know. But at least then I'm in a safe environment and I can people watch/listen to a headset/watch the tv.

You'll get it done! I know it.