Big Dipper 5K Race Report

It has been a long time since I’ve raced a 5K.  The last 5K I did was the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run in February of 2011.  I’ll have to do some “research” to find my 5K PR, I think it was back in 2002 or so.  For racing I prefer the intermediate distances, 10 to 15 miles.  While I like longer distances to see how I hold up physically. My typical rule is if it takes me longer to drive there, back, and shower than it does to run the race, I’ll just run from my front door. 

This race was odd in several ways for me.  First, it started at 6pm.  I’ve never had a race that did not start in the morning.  It was weird to wake up on a Saturday and not go for run first thing in the morning.  It really threw me off having to eat several real meals before the race.  Normally, I wake up, start re-hydrating, and eat a banana and/or a piece of peanut butter toast for breakfast.  Second, I have not been training much.  With a series of injuries and issues, I have not put together the kinds of quality runs or mileage that I would like to have at this point in the racing season.  I knew this wasn’t going to be much of a race for me but more of a speed workout.  My goal was to do the best I could, push hard, stay mentally tough, figure out where I am physically/mentally, and then start my race season training.

I arrived at Tom Bass Park about 5:15, and met some friends of my friend Rebecca (who convinced me to sign up for this race then never signed up herself).  After saying hi to everyone and exchanging pleasantries it was time to warm up.  I went to find the start line and run a bit of the start just to see how it would begin.  For me a good time in the 5K is all about the start and mental toughness.  The race is so short there is not time to weave in and out of people at the beginning, and getting stuck behind walkers is the death nail to a good time.  After seeing the start I realized I needed to be up very close to the front.  To say the path was narrow is a bit of an understatement.  Two abreast at the maximum, and even then you might elbow rub.  I knew there would be no passing in the first quarter to half mile unless you were in the first 20ish people.  The course was an out and back, so if you got stuck too far back you could end up not being able to pass if the leaders were coming back at you.   

My decision to start up front was validated pretty quickly.  This was a fun run, and the competition at the front wasn’t very strong.  The start went out fast, but the main leaders were running a 6:40-6:50 pace.  I passed a handful of people who clearly started out too fast and too far up, then fell into my groove with another runner.  It was clear “tall guy in white” and me were going to be running about the same pace.  Mile 1 was 7:10 pace.  I felt good, and felt like I could keep this up for the entire race.  Those of us near the front of the race had settled in.  

Mile 2 had the turn around.  Which really was 3 sharp turns (a 90 degree turn, a hair pin turn, then the 90 degree turn again), none of which you could run around at anything close to race speed.  Especially since the path was so narrow and people were coming at you.  Mile 2 was 7:30 pace, but I used the tight turn around as my excuse for letting the pace fall off.   

Mile 3 we were well on our way back.  That’s when the toughness of a 5K kicked in.  My eating and drinking all day, led to me having stomach cramps at this point.  I did not feel good anymore.  I knew I could catch tall guy in the white shirt if I could mentally get into it, he was maybe 15 to 20 seconds ahead.  I couldn’t, I slowed considerably.  The front of the pack had become stretched thin so there were no rabbits to catch.  Unfortunately I became the rabbit for two people who passed me.  Mile 3, 7:50 pace.

I finished in 23:27 (7:34 pace).   For perspective that’s 10-15 seconds faster than my half-marathon pace in March.   

Overall not a great race time, but given the heat and stomach issues not terribly unexpected.  I wish I could have had closer to even splits, but such is life.  I give myself a C+/B- on this race.  I finished in 15th place out of about 300 people so I can’t complain too much about my race.  I learned a few things and the failure at the end is motivating me to get serious about my training again.  The race itself was a non-competitive fun run, and felt as such.  The narrow race path was a bit tricky, but staying up front made it a non-issue for me.  Overall, the event itself was pretty good.  Next year, top 5-10. ;-)