White Mills 5K Race Report

Goal: 19:00. No dream goal. Minimum goal: 20:00.

This was my last 5K before the start of my systematic marathon training. I mostly just wanted to have a race experience; no specific goal, maybe winning something. I knew it would be hot and humid, as most July 4th races are in Kentucky, but hey, it is equally hard for everyone.

It turned out to be a very small race. About one hour of driving from home, in the middle of the beautiful and fertile rural Kentucky. I did a nice and relaxed warmup (though I didn't feel great), and lined up right behind the start line. I don't think I was excited enough: my mind was not really in the game. I started to think about my excuses before the start!

The race was an out and back course. A bit hilly, starting with a steep downhill for probably less than a quarter of a mile, and a wooden bridge crossing. Then a modest uphill for the rest of the first mile. Rolling hills in the second mile, followed by mostly downhill for the third. And of course, the steep uphill finish.

The weather was less than ideal. Temperature in low 70s, but some sunny areas, and nearly 100% humidity. Rain probably would have been easier, but it wasn't going to happen.

At exactly 8am, we were off. I was careful on the downhill (a fall can ruin your entire race), and then I started to run an effort that didn't seem very hard. One person passed me at 0.25 mile. I mention this, because after this, my position remained constant, and in fact I was running fairly closely behind a 16-year old guy for the whole race with nobody following me in sight.

Mile 1: 6:07

This was right on pace for 19 minutes, and since this was largely uphill (or so I thought, forgetting about the first steep downhill), and it didn't feel very hard, it made me optimistic about the sub-19 prospects.

After the climb we entered the rolling hill territory. I think it was more sunny here, and I didn't feel like I was slowing down, but I did command myself to run conservatively. I almost passed the 16-year old, but he started to run faster, so I decided to just follow him. In all honesty, this was a pretty flat mile, but somehow I just felt now that first mile sucked the energy out of me.

Mile 2: 6:27

Well, this was unexpected... Not even 20-minute pace! But I wasn't sure what to do. I was hurting like I was supposed to---and I knew not to kill myself, because I would have to run up that last steep hill. I tried to power up harder on the hills (which I just noticed---previously I thought this mile would be all downhill), and coast on the downhills.

Mile 3: 6:34

By this time, I basically gave up. Just end this embarrassing experience quickly! My only goal remained to finish this race under 20 minutes. I somehow summoned up enough power to run the last uphill at a sub-7-minute pace.

Last 0.1: 41 seconds
Time: 19:49

This was good enough for 7th overall and 2nd in age group (35-44). The organizer did manage the mess up the results again(!), and announced a wrong age-group winner. But I actually talked to the guy before and after the start and we both knew that I beat him, so he was nice enough to tell the organizers that he did not win the age group. Then they gave me the medal! But in fact, now that I see the results posted, it seems like I didn't win either: somebody ran 19:29. Edit: The organizers just emailed me that something may still be wrong with the results, and they are working on the correction.

In any case, this was a badly paced, badly run race. I don't know what else to conclude. The time is dismal, but it may not be that informative. It may also be the sign that I'm getting older, and my glory days are behind me.

I will go on with the marathon training now. If I can do 3 hours in Bowling Green, then all is well. If not, then I better find some really good excuse, or I will have to admit that my glory days are really over, and I'm just an old fart now.