Monday, June 8, 2015

Roselle Run for the Roses 2015 Race Recap

The plan for this race was simple: Go sub-18:00. However, it was not to be. On the bright side, I ran my 4th fastest 5k ever despite running in shoes filled with rainwater. Anyway, my plan had been something like this:


5:50, 5:43, 5:43, 5:00

This was not gonna be easy. My PR set in April, was 10 seconds slower than than my goal for this race. However, I figured why not set my sights high and see what happens?

Pre-Race:
I woke up at 4:30 am for a two mile shakeout run around Welles Park. When I returned home, I had my standard pre-race fare: a cup of coffee, and a bagel with peanut butter. I checked the forecast and it looked like rain was supposed to hit the area right around 8:00 am, which also happened to be the time the race started. Oh yeah, thunderstorms were also "likely" around that time - so things were not looking good. In any case, my dad, who was also running the race and I jumped into the car and we headed out. We got to the race parking lot in about 35 minutes.

Waiting for the race (and rain) to start
We picked up our bibs and race packets, then sat in the car for a 30 minutes and watched dark clouds roll in. About 10 minutes before the race was scheduled to start, the skies opened up and it began pouring rain. We debated whether to wear disposable ponchos over to the start line, but decided not to, since we were going to get wet regardless once we took them off once the race started. I did put my hat on to keep some of the rain out of my eyes, which I think was a good call. When I got in the corral, the rain was still coming down and suddenly there was a flash of lightning then a loud boom of thunder. I was wondering if the race emcee was going to announce that the race was cancelled. Instead, he introduced a former Chicago Bear (Desmond Clark?) and then the Roselle "Rose Queen" who was wearing a sash. She promptly pressed down on the button of an air horn and we were off!

Start of the Race (see Desmond Clark on the RHS) (src)
The Race:
Mile 1:  It was raining so hard that there were already big puddles on the side of the road. There was a group of about 20 soaked spectators holding signs and cheering wildly, which shows a lot of dedication! Anyway, after about a half a mile, my clothes, my hat and my shoes were completely waterlogged. I also had to do quite a bit of weaving around smaller kids who had gone out way too fast. On top of all of this, we were running headlong into strong storm winds. Just before the "Mile 1" marker, I glanced at my watch and realized I has slipped ten seconds behind my goal pace. 5:55/mile.

Mile 2: Yes, I was only ten seconds off of my pace, but that was a huge ten seconds to make up - I was giving it my all and weighed three pounds heavier since I was soaking wet. I realized that a sub-18:00 was not in the cards but was hoping to get a shot at my PR at the very least. We made our way through a typical 1970s suburban neighborhood. One of the runners next to me plashed in a puddle and yelled "puddles"! At the "Mile 2" marker I saw that I was 20 seconds off of my goal pace. 5:55/mile.

Mile 3: I felt like my legs could not turnover any faster, so I knew that a PR for all intents and purposes, had slipped away. Since the race was nearly over, I told myself to use any energy that was left "in the tank" to get in a fast mile. In the pouring rain, I began "pour" it on with all I had left. My legs did not feel like they were moving faster, yet I was passing other runners. I guess that even a small increase in speed over the last mile is enough to pick off runners that are slightly fading. Crossing the "Mile 3" marker, I finally got close to my goal pace (5:45)! 5:46/mile.

Mile 3.15: There was a sharp, speed killing turn and then a 50 yard dash to the finish line. I used a last burst of speed to pick off two more runners right at the end.  5:05/mile.

Stats:
Official Finish Time: 18:20
Official Pace: 5:55/mile
Garmin Pace: 5:50/mile

Place Overall: 44th out of 790 
Place Age Group: 5th out of 38 


Standing in the post-race rain
Analysis:
I could complain about the conditions, and maybe I could have run a handful of seconds faster if it wasn't raining, but I won't. Conditions are never perfect for any race, and one day when I have enough sub-18 speed in my legs, I will go sub-18. One thing I would do differently would be to force myself to run a faster first mile. If I get too far off of goal pace in a 5k, it makes it nearly impossible to make up the time, since it's such a short race. For my next 5k, I'm going to try to make sure and hit goal pace the first mile and try to somehow hold on for the rest of the race. Maybe I'm leaving too much in reserve until the end of the race?

Post Race:
I walked back along the course and found a relatively dry spot under a large tree and waited for my dad to run by. Then I ran the last 300 yards of the race with him. The day before he had run a 5k in Wheaton and finished 1st in his age group and on this day he got 3rd! Nice. We got to the car, changed shirts, socks and shoes, put towels on the car seats and headed home to dry off!

Next Up:
Two days of easy miles, then The Grim Mile in four days!

21 comments:

  1. Wow! Amazing job despite the rain! You are so fast! Good finish time. Even though 20 seconds is a lot at that pace, you were relatively close to all your goal paces! Congrats!

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    1. Thanks. Yes, unfortunately those 20 seconds were more than I could muster yesterday. Thanks again! :)

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  2. Way to push through and earn yourself a very, very strong finish despite those rain-logged conditions! 5Ks are so tough because there is so little room for error. I've run in many a 5K where my first mile was off, and then that just receded my plans for the entire rest of the race. But you did an amazing job staying focused and resolved, and woo hoo on passing folks during your final kick. Rock on, Pete!

    I love how you and your dad run these races together, and that your dad places in these races, too! The two of you obviously have some very speedy running genes. =)

    (BTW - I absolve myself for all blame of rain-day precipitation since I did not race yesterday. ;-) )

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    1. Thanks. Yes, I need to improve on that "room for error" margin that I give away too early in 5ks. You are right that I did not let my focus waver, maybe it was the competitor in me, or maybe I was hoping for my legs to turn bionic the last mile! :) You are absolved from the race day precipitation! Ha, ha. :)

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  3. I thought I saw you under that tree toward the end. Good race. I had no hopes of a PR, which I am glad off due to the rain.

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    1. Too bad I did not spot you. Thanks, and congrats again on the finish and CARA points! :)

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  4. Too bad this race wasn't on Saturday - you would have had perfect race conditions. You still kicked butt with an awesome time!

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    1. I know, it was so nice out on Saturday. Oh well, I wish we could pick the weather for our races. Thanks! :)

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  5. Congrats on getting close even with the rain and puddles! Just need a good day & good course now!

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    1. Thanks! I am still looking for the perfect day and course. It would also help if I could run slightly faster per mile! :)

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  6. Blech what a terrible day to run. I know a couple of races were cancelled. I still think you ran a great race and congrats to your dad!

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    1. Yes, we were lucky that it wasn't cancelled! Thanks! :)

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  7. Congrats to you and your dad for managing some tough conditions!

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    1. Thanks! We're lucky the lightning wasn't too bad or else we would have been running scared! :)

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  8. I think with all considered, you still had a great race!
    Since you are racing at really close to the top of your game, I think the weather is going to make a big difference in your race outcome. Especially when you talk about PRing by seconds. I have a super soft 5k PR so I could probably race in crappy conditions and still PR but I could probably take minutes off my PR still if I did speedwork!
    So I think you definitely still have a sub-18 in you given the right conditions!

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    1. Thanks. Yes, if you want to smash your 5k PR speed work is key. I hope to get that sub-18 before I slow down too much due to marathon training. Thanks again! :)

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  9. Good job running in those tough conditions (rain). You were so close to your 5k time goal.

    --Agnes
    https://aggieruns.wordpress.com

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    1. Thanks! Yes, I was so close - maybe next time I'll get it! :)

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  10. Nice job! It shocks me that with that speedy time you finished off the podium! But this is a CARA circuit race, right?

    And congrats to your dad for placing two days in a row!

    Do you think you'll try more even splits than negative for the next 5K PR attempt?

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    1. Thanks. Yes - it was a CARA race and competitive. Yes, I will definitely try more even splits next time. I've heard that is the best way to go in 5ks, and probably the only way for me to shave seconds if I don't get any faster/fitter in the near future!

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  11. WOW!!!! Great job!!!! Those are some speedy miles, I am surprised your placing wasn't higher!

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