Race #178
8k #14
2019 Race #22
2019 8k #1
TreesGreenville Turkey Day 8k #10
I have reached the double digits and celebrated my tenth year in a row running this race. I hope that I will get the chance to run this race every single year for the rest of my running career. (Said without a hint of hyperbole.)
Prior to this race I told Mom that I planned to go out at an 8 minute per mile pace and hold that as long as possible, hopefully the entire race. I wanted to use this race as a test to see where my fitness stood regarding the 5k coming up in less than a month. Last week, however, I struggled a bit and did not get in nearly as many miles as I had hoped what with the Youth in Government Conference and what appears to be another annual tradition, my November cold. I could not hit the prescribed paces for my last speedwork two days ago and wondered if the extra 15 points I carry since starting my anxiety medicine would keep me from ever getting fast again.
Of course, I knew that I could not dwell there. I planned out the rest of my marathon training for the two months after the 5k. When I got to the end of that, I knew that I want the 3:44 in Atlanta far more than a 5k PR which I do not have a high chance of achieving this go around. I went back and adjusted my workouts for the remaining month to make my focus the marathon which led me to look, again, at this race. After consulting the pace calculator, I knew that my goal of 8 minute miles needed to remain my goal. I reminded myself of the mental strategies I used during Tryon and told myself that I could do it again.
We arrived with just enough time, even with the 1500+ other runners there, to pick up our bibs, stop by the restrooms in Fluor Field, and head to the start line. They had approximate corrals but did not space the volunteers holding the signs out far enough. Also, runners had to step over orange construction-type barriers to get in the corral since everyone packed in so tightly. I made it over one but Mom did not join me. She decided to enter the race a little further back.
The six minutes passed by quickly and soon, with the traditional gobble, we were off.
Because we started so closely packed in, it took a little while to gain a normal stride. Thankfully, it did not take too long. I had made my way as far as I could up towards the front of the 7-9 minute mile corral.
We started heading towards Falls Park with a nice, significant downhill. I knew I would face temptation to run too fast at the beginning. I kept telling myself to find the 8 minute per mile effort and stick with it.
I glanced down at my watch a few times through this stretch to help my body hone in on the pace I wanted to keep for the race.
Right when we started to pass the entrance to Falls Park, a poor squirrel darted into the path of the runners, in an attempt to cross the street I suppose. The poor thing looked terrified as it stopped, doubled back, and then skittered off the road.
We started a short incline at this point and I reminded myself of something I said two years ago, I eat hills for breakfast. This is nothing, just an appetizer. Also, you will turn on McBee and that will come soon enough which it most definitely did.
We hit the first mile shortly after we turned on McBee and enjoyed the downhill.
Mile 1: 7:30 (just a tad faster than my goal)
At this point, I knew I ran faster than my goal but I felt good. I did tell myself to pull back just a little, to focus on the 8 minute per mile pace and to hold it for the rest of the race.
For most of the second mile we headed downhill. After cresting the short incline on McBee, we started back down the hill but did not run all the way down like other races do. Instead, we turned after crossing the bridge and continued downhill to enter Cleveland Park at a different point than I have ever entered before.
For this downhill section, I felt great and focused on keeping my stride and effort steady. I did not want the incline to get the better of me and push me into a pace I could not maintain.
Mile 2: 7:37
Once we entered Cleveland Park, the elevation levels out somewhat. I have found that on courses like this with significant downhills in the early miles, the negative, discouraging thoughts come with level terrain because it naturally feels harder.
Halfway through the third mile, I could feel those thoughts start to creep in, those doubts as to whether or not I could hold the pace I wanted for the rest of the race knowing the hills that lay ahead. I sensed them creeping in but would have none of it. I imagined a barrier, like a jail cell door, and slammed in shut in their faces. I did not have time for that. Instead, I focused on how good I still felt and started looking ahead in the park for places that I would soon reach, like I did in Tryon.
The course wound its way through Cleveland Park using an unfamiliar route, not that I have never run on those paths before, just not in that direction. That helped since I did not know exactly what to expect in that middle mile.
Mile 3: 7:59 (no longer aided by massive downhills)
I knew that the course ahead held several significant climbs. Once you run a race or two that finishes downtown, you know that Cleveland Park and Falls Park lie below street level so you will have to climb to get back up there. Instead of letting that thought discourage me, I told myself that I had three fantastic miles under my belt. I just needed to keep up the effort. I also made the subconscious decision (realizing it later of course) to stop looking at my Garmin as often as I did before. Instead, I continued to tell myself to put out the same effort, focus on effort.
In the fourth mile, we continued from Cleveland Park into Falls Park past the new Cancer Survivors Park and up that hill that used to always demoralize me. Instead, I told myself to eat it for breakfast and I did. I felt great on that hill. It hardly felt like a lot of effort at all which greatly surprised me. I took it as an opportunity to say something encouraging to the two people I passed who walked on the hill. I’ve been in that place before and it helps so much to hear an encouraging word.
We made the turn into Falls Park and headed towards the underpass that would bring us back up to the road. Even the slight incline on that portion of trail did not feel challenging. I took that as an encouraging sign and focused on getting my legs to release the uphill tension so that I could attack the final mile ahead, the one I knew would be almost entirely uphill.
Mile 4: 8:07 (my slowest mile of the race)
Once we made the turn around after the overpass and joined the road, we also joined with the 5k runners. Thankfully, I did not have to weave around too many, only two women walking directly in front of me after I got back onto the road. (Mom had quite a few more to contend with just a few minutes back.)
I have run this uphill more times than I wish to count. You turn off the Swamp Rabbit and head uphill towards Main Street. Then you keep climbing as you continue on S. Main Street after it splits from Augusta to climb up towards Fluor Field. You don’t start heading downhill again until you made that turn onto Markley Street and come around the stadium. I knew what lay ahead. I knew the challenge in store. I told myself that since the previous hills was the main course, this hill was dessert. (Yes, dessert for breakfast.) I told myself that this hill was actually a Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark square.
I kept powering up the hill. Kept pounding. Kept all the negative thoughts out of my head. I could do this. I had less than three-quarters of a mile left. I had already done so well. I knew that I would take pride in the race I ran today regardless of the time. I knew that the hill slowed me down and if it slowed me down enough that I missed my sub-40 goal, I could definitely live with that. I had already run a good race and had not given up on myself.
Then I looked down at my Garmin. I saw 7:50. My jaw figuratively dropped. I held this pace on the hill, the Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark hill! (Yes, I think I will rename this hill.) I grinned and kept pushing. Just a little bit farther. I could hold this pace for this short distance. I would finish before I knew it.
I made it to the top of the hill and rounded the corner onto Markley. All down hill from here! I saw Ellis at this point and waved, a huge smile on my face.
Little did I know how much bigger the grin would get on my face.
I made the last turn and sprinted to the finish line only then glancing at the overall time on my watch. (I had not looked at that part until I finished.)
Mile 5: 8:02
Overall: 38:50!!!!!!!!
Not only did I go sub-40, I went sub-39!
I have not had a confidence boosting race like this for a long time. I know that last year I said that I felt like an athlete again. This year I really mean it. I felt tuned in to my effort. I knew when to push and when to hold back. I managed the mental effort better than any race I can remember.
I proved to myself with this race that I can do it. I cannot wait for what this training cycle will bring.
Mom came in a few minutes later looking amazing!
I had made my way, on my cloud of euphoria, back over to Ellis who would have missed her entirely if I had not shouted out “there she is!” He managed to get the camera out in time for one shot at least.
When it came time to take the post race picture, I still rode my euphoria cloud which led to quite a few giggles and quite a few outtakes before we got a normal looking post race picture.
Onward and upward!