Race #221
10k #18
2023 Race #14
2023 10k #2
Jingle Jingle Bridge Run 10k #1
This race just happened to occur halfway through the longest run of the cycle. Of course, we planned our run around the race. I did not plan on full out race effort but I wanted to aim for near marathon pace.
About an hour before the race started we headed out from the condo to run to the race start. We had to wait only a few minutes before we started and managed to get a pre-race picture with Kathleen and David who ran the 5k.
As has been the case in the past few races, Mom and I attempted to start together but quickly got separated and ended up running separately.
I don’t remember thinking about a specific pace, rather I ended up settling into a faster effort I knew I was capable of maintaining.
Mile 1 – 8:12
I think that’s the course was basically the same as the previous time we ran but I do not really remember the course. This ended up surprising me when we headed towards the Cross Island Parkway.
After getting up and over, the 10k runners split off from the 5k runners who had just a little bit more to go before turning around.
At this point, I was running just a little bit behind a guy at that awkward distance where you’re not really running with them and you know that you’ll probably end up passing them eventually. I started to increase my pace just a little but then so did he. I settled back into my previous pace, not all that different. I ended up trying to pass a few times but he kept increasing his pace to stay ahead. This made me shake my head. I wasn’t trying to prove anything by passing him but he didn’t want to be passed. After the turn around when we headed back over the bridge, I maintained my pace and easily passed him.
Mile 2 – 8:07
Mile 3 – 8:17
Speaking of the turn around, when I first noticed the runners returning, I started to count the women to see where I placed. I got to 5 and then looked ahead to see the actual turn around and no other women in front of me. I was in 6th. This pleasantly surprised me
I didn’t plan to rank highly but figured I would try to maintain my position. (Enough of a gap existed to fifth that I didn’t want to push it too hard to try to pass her. I had the rest of my long run to consider.
A little ways after the turn around we headed back onto the cross island parkway and back over the bridge.
Mile 4 – 8:15
I definitely have a competitive streak though and I couldn’t shake the idea of trying to aim for as close to an 8 minute pace as possible.
Mile 5 – 7:56
As we got close to the finish, I knew of a spot where the 5k runners would turn left and be practically finished but the 10k runners would turn right and have about half a mile to go.
Right before this split, I passed my aunt who was about to finish the 5k. She did so well!
I wondered if I would catch up to either her or her husband so it was fun to just manage to do that
I definitely felt the pace on this last short out and back section. I kept telling myself that it wasn’t much longer before I could settle into slower miles.
Mile 6 – 8:01
Of course, I couldn’t help a sprint to the finish, even though it was rather treacherous with oblivious 5k walkers taking up most of the path.
Last .2 – 7:41(!)
Overall – 50:15
I finished in sixth place with my 6th fastest 10k time ever. This training cycle has been so much fun.
The last few miles of the long run those? Those were an altogether different kind of fun.
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