Race #220
8k #18
2023 Race #13
2023 8k #1
TreesGreenville Turkey Day 8k #14
This race went unexpectedly, fantastically well!
It did start out a little unnervingly though.
Mom and I arrived with plenty of time to go pick up our bibs. We accidentally left the pins we brought in the car so we went over to the provided table to grab some.
While there, I saw a woman who had her son pinning her bib on her back. As is often common in holiday type races like this, a lot of people come out to run who do not know some of the logistics, like the fact that bibs go on the front for course safety and timing reasons.
I said, in a fairly inoffensive tone, “bibs are supposed to go on the front.”
She snapped back, “I don’t care.” Condescension poured off of her. “It’ll go where it goes.”
Her son said something to her, probably asking what she was talking about.
She told him, plenty loud enough for me, because of course this was directed at me too, “someone was telling my me what to do and I didn’t ask them.”
Another guy had come up to the table and for some reason joined in the conversation to reply “wasn’t me” and hold his hands up.
She told him that it wasn’t him and then glared at me before snipping (with an eye roll) “Happy Thanksgiving” and walking away.
Um. What just happened?
It definitely shook me because just two days earlier, I had a runner (who afterwards I realized looked very similar to that man who had joined into the conversation) come up behind me and start telling me how to hold my arms and continuing to mansplain to me as I told him to stop talking. I did not appreciate the advice and had made a post about people needing to keep their mouth shut if no one had asked.
Had I just done the same thing?
I don’t think I did but it still unsettled me.
Shortly there after it was time to start.
Mom had asked me if I planned to run fast. I told her that I didn’t plan to race it but planned to run fast-ish. I really did plan to stick with her.
Then the race started and with nearly 1500 runners, we could not stick together. After a couple glances back on my part, we decided to go our separate ways.
I did not have any plans although at that point I thought it might be fun to aim for sub 8 pace. I didn’t look at my watch though except at the splits; I just wanted to get in a good hard effort.
On that first mile, we have a massive downhill that I always remember running up repeatedly in a timed race I did several years ago. Each time I run down that hill, I’m thankful that we get to run that direction instead of the reverse.
At this point, I also saw a figure up ahead that looked quite similar to that woman, complete with the number on her back and a younger boy, the son, running beside her. I so wanted to say something but settled for easily passing her and continuing on.
I expected a fast split for that mile and definitely got one.
Mile 1 – 7:35
The next mile evened out which made it feel a little more difficult but not too bad.
I had planned on listening to my audiobook but decided just prior to the race start that since I was going to try to run faster, I would put on my playlist instead. It seems to work pretty well.
Mile 2 – 7:43
Having run in downtown Greenville quite often, I know and expect that what goes down must come up.
Most of that uphill came in the middle mile.
Mile 3 – 7:54
After seeing that split so close to 8, I knew that I did not want positive splits so I focused on pushing the pace a little, increasing my effort just a little.
We had a fairly flat fourth mile which included the trail so this plan worked fairly well.
Mile 4 – 7:44
In the last mile. I knew that I would probably have some incline to get back up to the level of the start line. I want to to get a negative split for that last mile so I started to push it ever so slightly, not wanting to start the sprint too soon like Tryon only a few days before.
The last hill going up the street beside the Peace Center did not feel nearly as difficult as it has in prior races which felt fantastic.
Only a little more remained so I started the fast finish.
Mile 5 – 7:35
I could not believe my eyes when I finished. I had come in sub 39:xx. I knew I had done well but my brain could not math at that point so I didn’t know how well.
Overall – 38:29
I tried to track Mom but after three tries realized the fruitlessness of my efforts. She had left her phone in the car. 😂
A few minutes later she came in looking really strong and we started to head back to the car.
While walking back I pulled up the race pace on this site and looked to see where this race effort fell in my previous 13 attempts. (This is the only race that I have run every year since starting to run.)
It was then that I realized that almost with ease I had completed my second fastest time at this race, second only by 10 seconds and fifth overall 8k time…without even trying.
I am loving this training cycle.
