Vancouver Sun Run Race Report
I send this email to the guys I train with. We have this thing where people would send a play-by-play of the race they ran. So I gave mine. I have fun writing it. A few people liked it and so I thought I would publish it on my blog. Here it is. This is the Vancouver Sun 10km Road race that took place on Sunday 9am (obviously in Van city). I made a few grammatical and spelling corrections for clarity, but it is otherwise untouched.
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Well in the fine tradition of Jay (and picked up by others), i thought
I would a blow-by-blow description of my race.
Well, woke up thinking I did not want to run, but figured that a race
would take less time than a pace run so off i went. Had difficulty
finding the front, as I seemed to have approached the start from the
back end. Didn't really warm up too well, as I ran quickly to the
start... but still felt surprisingly loose. At 3 degrees it was the
coldest it's ever been at this race, thankfully Toronto was much
colder for most of the winter... so no prob there.
The start was downhill, knew it was going to be too fast, but figured,
what the hell, and stay with the group
1st km pace -- probably too fast
The second km people were settling in to their group. Tried to keep
hustling without going to fast, still felt relatively comfortable...
not sure if that is good or not.
2nd km pace -- who knows
Somewhere between 2 and 4 km i thought I heard someone cheering for
the top woman. I wasn't sure, but put on a bit of an effort to make
sure I don't get passed. Not sure if I'm going too slow or she is
going fast or some combination, but I went faster either way. It is
at this point that Orange singlet guy (henceforth OSG) & arm sleeve
guy (ASG) pass me, and start to pull along the group that had seemed
to develop. We all start running as a pack of about 8 to 10 guys.
The first music group starts to appear... man they suck. I appreciate
the effort, but couldn't they do better?
3 & 4th km pace -- pick up a bit due to scare
Nothing eventful in the next km, OSG & ASG are both generally up front
leading the group most of the rest are just hanging on to the group.
End up hearing the 5 km split, 15:35, not sure if that is a good or
bad sign. I was shooting for an overall time of 31:20 or so... I
know I generally slow down, but still feel okay.
5 km -- 15:35
Just passed the 5 km mark is the bridge, and long slow uphill starts
to spread out the group. OSG & ASG plus one other guy are pushing
the pace still. As the group splits into two, i decided I need to
catch the front group. Put on a surge which reminded me of Chafe
attempt to diss me off during the last pace run by surging repeatedly.
I actually felt comfortable catching up, since I knew what to
expect... so I guess I owe Chafe a thanks. It may or may not come.
Just before I completely close the gap, we hit the downhill and their
pace picks up slightly. I'm hanging about 5 meters behind not really
closing anymore.
6 km pace -- ???
The next km has a lot more music acts and they all suck. Couldn't the
musicians have actually practised a little? Anyway, at this point
this red singlet guy (RSG) comes out of nowhere (he wasn't with the
earlier pack) to try and pass me. I figure since the pack in front
of me is getting further away, I should stick to this guy. He tries
to shake me, but I stick to him like Whitney on crack. He looks back
occasionally -- as if there is anyone else to worry about, i'm the
only one around, so not sure what looking back would do, since he
should be able to hear me.
7 km pace -- somepace/km
At this point, the pack of 3 in front (30 or so meters ahead) picks
off another guy and he joins them. RSG pace is good and he is doing a
good job of maintaining pace with that group. We're not closing or
loosing ground. I try to help him by going beside him and trying to
help the pace, but he decides he would rather race me. Having given
the effort of helping lead, and refused, I let him do all the work and
wind breaking. Fine with me... I know at this point he will not beat
me (not someone that dumb). I finely hear some music group i like, an
African group. And they sound good! Encouraged by that and the fact
they only started to play as me and RSG were about to pass, I give them
some props (via a gesture). This makes me smile and as I'm kinda
joking... it strangely causes me to surge pass RSG. Not sure why, as
I wasn't trying to surge, but it feels easy and I go with it.
8 km pace -- probably the same as before but more fun
My surge cause the distance to the pack to close to 15 meters in a
matter of about a minute. I'm inching closer and closer to the pack.
As we hit the last hill (I later find out) & the 9 km marker, OSG &
ASG put on a surge on their own on the hill. I manage to blow by the
other 3 runners (I think they picked up another guy from somewhere)
near the top. But I can't seem to close the gap on OSG & ASG
especially since they are now racing each other down the hill toward
the finish line. While I am running alone again. I'm about 200
meters from the end (maybe less) when on of the other runners passes.
It's one of the guy in the front pack, i match his pace, wait a couple
of beats and think...
"I guess these people are going to get a show today."
Then I kick into another gear dropping the other guy. Keeping another
gear in reserve just in case to finish the race.
9 & 10 km pace -- a little faster... i think
1-5 km - 15:35
5-10km - 15:57
10km time -- 31:32.8
I ended up finishing just behind ASG & OSG. I'm sure if I had gone
out with them, or caught a little earlier I could have a few seconds
faster, but hey i didn't. Well that was it.
--------
Well in the fine tradition of Jay (and picked up by others), i thought
I would a blow-by-blow description of my race.
Well, woke up thinking I did not want to run, but figured that a race
would take less time than a pace run so off i went. Had difficulty
finding the front, as I seemed to have approached the start from the
back end. Didn't really warm up too well, as I ran quickly to the
start... but still felt surprisingly loose. At 3 degrees it was the
coldest it's ever been at this race, thankfully Toronto was much
colder for most of the winter... so no prob there.
The start was downhill, knew it was going to be too fast, but figured,
what the hell, and stay with the group
1st km pace -- probably too fast
The second km people were settling in to their group. Tried to keep
hustling without going to fast, still felt relatively comfortable...
not sure if that is good or not.
2nd km pace -- who knows
Somewhere between 2 and 4 km i thought I heard someone cheering for
the top woman. I wasn't sure, but put on a bit of an effort to make
sure I don't get passed. Not sure if I'm going too slow or she is
going fast or some combination, but I went faster either way. It is
at this point that Orange singlet guy (henceforth OSG) & arm sleeve
guy (ASG) pass me, and start to pull along the group that had seemed
to develop. We all start running as a pack of about 8 to 10 guys.
The first music group starts to appear... man they suck. I appreciate
the effort, but couldn't they do better?
3 & 4th km pace -- pick up a bit due to scare
Nothing eventful in the next km, OSG & ASG are both generally up front
leading the group most of the rest are just hanging on to the group.
End up hearing the 5 km split, 15:35, not sure if that is a good or
bad sign. I was shooting for an overall time of 31:20 or so... I
know I generally slow down, but still feel okay.
5 km -- 15:35
Just passed the 5 km mark is the bridge, and long slow uphill starts
to spread out the group. OSG & ASG plus one other guy are pushing
the pace still. As the group splits into two, i decided I need to
catch the front group. Put on a surge which reminded me of Chafe
attempt to diss me off during the last pace run by surging repeatedly.
I actually felt comfortable catching up, since I knew what to
expect... so I guess I owe Chafe a thanks. It may or may not come.
Just before I completely close the gap, we hit the downhill and their
pace picks up slightly. I'm hanging about 5 meters behind not really
closing anymore.
6 km pace -- ???
The next km has a lot more music acts and they all suck. Couldn't the
musicians have actually practised a little? Anyway, at this point
this red singlet guy (RSG) comes out of nowhere (he wasn't with the
earlier pack) to try and pass me. I figure since the pack in front
of me is getting further away, I should stick to this guy. He tries
to shake me, but I stick to him like Whitney on crack. He looks back
occasionally -- as if there is anyone else to worry about, i'm the
only one around, so not sure what looking back would do, since he
should be able to hear me.
7 km pace -- somepace/km
At this point, the pack of 3 in front (30 or so meters ahead) picks
off another guy and he joins them. RSG pace is good and he is doing a
good job of maintaining pace with that group. We're not closing or
loosing ground. I try to help him by going beside him and trying to
help the pace, but he decides he would rather race me. Having given
the effort of helping lead, and refused, I let him do all the work and
wind breaking. Fine with me... I know at this point he will not beat
me (not someone that dumb). I finely hear some music group i like, an
African group. And they sound good! Encouraged by that and the fact
they only started to play as me and RSG were about to pass, I give them
some props (via a gesture). This makes me smile and as I'm kinda
joking... it strangely causes me to surge pass RSG. Not sure why, as
I wasn't trying to surge, but it feels easy and I go with it.
8 km pace -- probably the same as before but more fun
My surge cause the distance to the pack to close to 15 meters in a
matter of about a minute. I'm inching closer and closer to the pack.
As we hit the last hill (I later find out) & the 9 km marker, OSG &
ASG put on a surge on their own on the hill. I manage to blow by the
other 3 runners (I think they picked up another guy from somewhere)
near the top. But I can't seem to close the gap on OSG & ASG
especially since they are now racing each other down the hill toward
the finish line. While I am running alone again. I'm about 200
meters from the end (maybe less) when on of the other runners passes.
It's one of the guy in the front pack, i match his pace, wait a couple
of beats and think...
"I guess these people are going to get a show today."
Then I kick into another gear dropping the other guy. Keeping another
gear in reserve just in case to finish the race.
9 & 10 km pace -- a little faster... i think
1-5 km - 15:35
5-10km - 15:57
10km time -- 31:32.8
I ended up finishing just behind ASG & OSG. I'm sure if I had gone
out with them, or caught a little earlier I could have a few seconds
faster, but hey i didn't. Well that was it.
--
ሰላም ዮሃንስ
posted by Selam at 6:13 p.m.
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