I don't train half arsed so why would I blog likewise?,when Thursdays preposed long run fell by the way side due to work and the final day of #5 heatwave I said"feck it" at this point a Saturday run seemed pointless as I opted to"keep my powder dry" for Sundays Philly 10k,my last Summer road race and the kick off to my Fall season.
Last year was my debut at the recently added Philly 10k to the race calendar,I believe last year was the 5th year of the race and having sampled the delights of racing through South Philly and Center City I was keen to "have at it again"
Last years race not only yeilded a 41.02 finish off 6.33 mile pace and victory in the 50-54 age age group it also served as a "seven year itch" as my previous 10k was back in Nov 2011 at the Bridge Run where I finally got my "Holy Grail" a new 10k PR as mine had stood since my second ever 10k way back in 1984.
I went into this race w/ a two pronged goal,a sub 40 time and another age group win,I did feel the first would aid the chances of the second but as almost 56 I realize that sub 40 isn't a given, now I have to work at it and comparing last years training schedule {6 weeks,July 51 miles,Aug 129 miles and 2- 8 mile tempo runs} to this years{8 weeks,July 177 miles,Aug 91 miles 6- 8 mile tempo runs} it was clear I had put more work in this year.....this however doesn't always translate to a better time but as I'm reminded on a daily basis on a hand written sign on my bathroom wall.....
"Remember The Seven P's
Proper
Prior
Preperation
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance
I arrived at the 7.30am start w/ enough time to drop my bag off,hit the bathroom"one last time"{it never fails I go b4 leaving home figuring there will be lines ungodly at the Portajohns and yet once I get to the race I have to go again!!!}and take my place in the first corral to get a clear start
I missed the mile marker at 1 mile but retrospectivly checked my Garmin post race 5.57,a testimony to my level of fitness that brisk opening mile didn't hurt and prehaps those 6 lung busting 8 mile loop tempo runs had served me well
Down 6th St to Snyder Ave upto 13th St and Passyunk Ave to Washington Ave I'd now passed mile markers 2 and 3 but given I was 16 seconds behind the gun time I didn't bother to check my Garmin to see what my actual time mile splits were,when I crossed the 5k marker I saw 19.00,another 3 miles at this pace and sub 40 was there for the asking.....
Left on Washington Ave and upto 13th St b4 another left I was aware it wasn't as hot and humid as last year or if it was I was better trained and prepared for it
Mile 4 came and went now it was about diggin' deep over the final 2 miles and getting what I came for
I passed my good friend Colin on the sidewalk who was in cheerleader mode as sadly his season has come to an end due to injury,we exchanged high 5s as I continued down 13th St to Chestnut St,a sharp right down to 12th,right again and down 12th St to Christian St
I forget what the clock at 5 miles read,low 32s I think but now it was a matter of focusing on the final push
Left onto Christian St and down to 7th St,another left along to 7th to South St,right and the finish line just between 6th St and 5th St was in clear view
Remembering the old Carl Lewis quote" I just wanted to know I left it all out there" I made sure I'd done just that.......and then some........
38.55.0.......off 6.13 mile pace,Boo feckin' Yah!!!!!
My splits read:5.57-6.04-6.14-6.19-6.29-6.18-1.33 yes a tad uneven but way to close after allowing my slowest mile between miles 4 and 5
Sub 40 check,age group win check{almost 4 mins ahead of 2nd in the 55-59 age group} and my 50th sub 40 10k time in 57 10ks dating back to my debut in Wimbledon on Sept 11th 1983
Yes I'd put the work in even though I missed some runs due to the bastard heat and humidity.....and the bastards at work who often conspire to derail my training schedule but I did it......and never one to sit on my laurals it's back at it tomorrow to prep for the Philadelphia Rock & Roll Half Marathon and hopefully medal #197
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