Today's race was the "Jet to Jetty" which is at the beach right next to LAX. So jets take off over our heads every 5 minutes or so.
As you can see, the marine layer was thick, temps were in the 50's, the course was basically flat with some downhill - another perfect day to go for a PR.
My (idiotic) plan - to race the 5K at full speed and claim the PR that was denied me last week; Then catch my breath, head back to the start line and do the 10K ten minutes later with loopster Atombuddy if I could get my body to cooperate. The wife and I met up with AB and his lovely wife, and his friend M, who would also be running about the same pace in the 10K. I warmed up with AB, and then headed to the start.
My 5K plan: 6:45, 6:35, 6:30, shooting for 20:30. Started out a little fast, but used G to get me back on plan, and went through mile 1 at 6:41. Feeling pretty good.
I was rocking my magic loopsterfest shirt, the sluttie shorts and the Kinvaras, and my midfoot strike was feeling good. Those shoes just FEEL fast.
Mile 2 was steady hard work, but feeling good. 6:35
Mile 3 we get a little downhill, and then it is full guts to the finish. My pace drops below 6:30 and I know this PR is mine. I'm confident enough to throw down (or up) a BP 3 tenths before the finish to celebrate.
Mile 3 was 6:27, and the last tenth was at 5:37 pace, for an official AGPR of 20:20!!!!
Well! I was very happy with that. But I grabbed a water and started heading back up the hill to the start line. More work to do! I met up with AB and M and ended up with about ten minutes to rest and prepare for a 10K. ABs plan was 7:45 1st mile and then 7:30 the rest of the way. I really had no clue how my body would react to that after my race, but it should feel slow after averaging 6:32 for a 5K, right? Right? Never mind that I only go sub 8 on speedwork days. My calves were a little tight, but, off we went!
First mile we are under 7:30, slow down to about 7:30, but then stay there. I try to stay behind AB so he will slow down, but he seems happy with 7:30 pace. Mile 1 was 7:33. Mile 2 starts and we are about 7:20. I slip back a little at a water stop, and it takes quite an effort to catch back up. Soon I start falling off the back. AB is on a roll, and it looks like I won't be able to keep up. He has his friend M with him, so I figure my work is done and I better just figure out what I want to do with the rest of this race.
I settle back to about 7:40 pace and feel more comfortable. It is a race after all, so I automatically try to do the best I can, within reason. The course is out and back and out and back and out and back, so there are plenty of chances to cut corners, or drop out. But I feel the pressure of the Loop since I went and said I was doing this, so I better darn well do it. And in less than 8 minute pace, thank you very much. Miles 2 and 3 were 7:32 and 7:50.
Then a funny thing happened. I started to feel better. Perhaps it was the GU I had. Miles 4 and 5 were 7:36 and 7:43. Went by the paparazzi and since I wasn't in race mode, I threw out a Dorky Teen pose to honor him as he goes off to college (yesterday).
Meanwhile Junblack and AB were rocking good races and I got to cheer them twice as they went by.
I get to the final straight and give it a little push - it is a race after all. Mile 6 was 7:29 and the last bit was 6:58 pace. Finished with a 10K of 47:12 or 7:36 pace. Not bad for round two! Celebrated my double dip...
So, over 10 miles on my Kinvaras and my calves are not real happy, but overall, I feel pretty good, considering. Group shots...
Finally checked the 5K results, and....I got 3rd in my AG! By 4 seconds! Later we learned that AB and JB also earned medals, so here's the money shot.
And as one more bonus, In 'N Out Burger had a truck there, so we had a hearty breakfast of beef. Life is good!
As you can see, the marine layer was thick, temps were in the 50's, the course was basically flat with some downhill - another perfect day to go for a PR.
My (idiotic) plan - to race the 5K at full speed and claim the PR that was denied me last week; Then catch my breath, head back to the start line and do the 10K ten minutes later with loopster Atombuddy if I could get my body to cooperate. The wife and I met up with AB and his lovely wife, and his friend M, who would also be running about the same pace in the 10K. I warmed up with AB, and then headed to the start.
My 5K plan: 6:45, 6:35, 6:30, shooting for 20:30. Started out a little fast, but used G to get me back on plan, and went through mile 1 at 6:41. Feeling pretty good.
I was rocking my magic loopsterfest shirt, the sluttie shorts and the Kinvaras, and my midfoot strike was feeling good. Those shoes just FEEL fast.
Mile 2 was steady hard work, but feeling good. 6:35
Mile 3 we get a little downhill, and then it is full guts to the finish. My pace drops below 6:30 and I know this PR is mine. I'm confident enough to throw down (or up) a BP 3 tenths before the finish to celebrate.
Mile 3 was 6:27, and the last tenth was at 5:37 pace, for an official AGPR of 20:20!!!!
Well! I was very happy with that. But I grabbed a water and started heading back up the hill to the start line. More work to do! I met up with AB and M and ended up with about ten minutes to rest and prepare for a 10K. ABs plan was 7:45 1st mile and then 7:30 the rest of the way. I really had no clue how my body would react to that after my race, but it should feel slow after averaging 6:32 for a 5K, right? Right? Never mind that I only go sub 8 on speedwork days. My calves were a little tight, but, off we went!
First mile we are under 7:30, slow down to about 7:30, but then stay there. I try to stay behind AB so he will slow down, but he seems happy with 7:30 pace. Mile 1 was 7:33. Mile 2 starts and we are about 7:20. I slip back a little at a water stop, and it takes quite an effort to catch back up. Soon I start falling off the back. AB is on a roll, and it looks like I won't be able to keep up. He has his friend M with him, so I figure my work is done and I better just figure out what I want to do with the rest of this race.
I settle back to about 7:40 pace and feel more comfortable. It is a race after all, so I automatically try to do the best I can, within reason. The course is out and back and out and back and out and back, so there are plenty of chances to cut corners, or drop out. But I feel the pressure of the Loop since I went and said I was doing this, so I better darn well do it. And in less than 8 minute pace, thank you very much. Miles 2 and 3 were 7:32 and 7:50.
Then a funny thing happened. I started to feel better. Perhaps it was the GU I had. Miles 4 and 5 were 7:36 and 7:43. Went by the paparazzi and since I wasn't in race mode, I threw out a Dorky Teen pose to honor him as he goes off to college (yesterday).
Meanwhile Junblack and AB were rocking good races and I got to cheer them twice as they went by.
I get to the final straight and give it a little push - it is a race after all. Mile 6 was 7:29 and the last bit was 6:58 pace. Finished with a 10K of 47:12 or 7:36 pace. Not bad for round two! Celebrated my double dip...
So, over 10 miles on my Kinvaras and my calves are not real happy, but overall, I feel pretty good, considering. Group shots...
Finally checked the 5K results, and....I got 3rd in my AG! By 4 seconds! Later we learned that AB and JB also earned medals, so here's the money shot.
And as one more bonus, In 'N Out Burger had a truck there, so we had a hearty breakfast of beef. Life is good!
Congrats on 2 great races!!! I wish we had In N Out Burger in IL... that looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteYAY, looks like Southern California Loopsters were well represented racked in all the hardware! Did you leave any for any non-Loopsters? :) Congratulations on a couple excellent races, wow! Loving the Kinvaras, too - my shoe of choice and I feel I could run in them forever. I've managed 15 in them, but not as speedy as you. Yet. :)
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