Race Report: July 4th Harvard Pilgrim 10K (hopefully fixed formatting)
I ran this race last year, it's appeal is that it finishes on the 50 yard
line at the New England Patriot's field, Gillette Stadium. It was very hot
and humid last year, and even though I'd run a half marathon the month
before, I found this 10K to the hardest race I've ever run due to the
conditions.
I had hoped the weather would be kind this year, and all forecasts pointed
to my redemption this year. My training has been.... um.... well, lacking
this last month, but I was still hoping to match my time from last year,
at the very least.
Then the forecast changed, as it does in New England. We awoke to 70s and
90% humidity. that was 2 hours before race time. Then the sun broke
through. I stopped checking the weather and kept drinking water.
The race began in the shopping center this year. Loved hearing that the
start line was next to Old Navy and Victoria's secret. Running AND a mall?
So I lined up in the unrealistic 9 minute corall with my friend who was in
town hoping for a sub 60. I had tossed that idea out the window with my
poor training, and with the humidity (and my asthma) just hoped to "do my
thing" whatever that was meant to be. I lost her right at the beginning,
and wondered if my boyfriend, who had carefully taped his ankle and started
with the 12 minute pack would catch up to me. I ran/walked most of the
course, taking advantage of the few patches of shade, every water station
and making the spectators cheer for me along the way. The course is mostly
flat with a few small rollers, but the sun was brutal with very little
shade to be found.
At the las****er station, when we turn into the access road to the stadium
a lot of young men (a local track team perhaps?) was manning the station
and they were splashing folks *****quested it "say 'splash' once for on
cup, say it twice for many", so as i approached i yelled "splash splash
splash" and got a wave of water thrown at me. it felt DAMN good. I had no
idea how long I'd been running, but I was hot. I wore my Garmin, but I
purposely never looked at the timer. I occasionally glanced at my pace
when I was walking, just to make sure I was not going too slow, as I decided
along the way I was hoping for a 12 minute pace average. Then with about
.4 to go a splash of water hit me in the back, and my boyfriend greeted me.
He had just sprinted his way to catch up to me. We ran to the finish
together, which was perfect since I liked having someone to chat with and
distract me from the misery of the conditions. We agreed that this was one
race worth NOT sprinting to the finish because we wanted to enjoy running
through the inflatable helmet onto the football field and across the fifty
yard line. No sense in rushing through that! This was his first 10K (and
longest race yet), so a PR for him, and for me, a PW!! (personal worst).
I will conquer this course someday, but yesterday was not the day to die trying. My friend did not make her sub 60, which would have been a PR by 4 or 5 minutes for her, and I tried to explain to her that we can't PR every time, and that conditions such as weather, course terrain and a million other factors are going to effect us! By the end of the day, she had become pretty pleased with her effort, but it does suck to be disappointed and frustrated with things beyond our control.
My official results:
Div Guntime Nettime Pace Name
F3039 1:14:32 1:13:12 11:47 Sue Doucet
garmin link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97111999
and a photo of me pre-race... my headband was chosen to match my plan for the race.
After the race we grabbed some food and spent the afternoon soaking in the sun at my mom's pool. No better way to spend a post-race day, as far as I'm concerned. I recommend this race to everyone! Great chance to finish a race, on an NFL field with your face up on the jumbo-tron!
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
i would love to finish on the 50 yard line of an NFL field, that would rock. sounds like a tough day, i usually ask the volunteers during sprint tris to just throw the water at me like you did on the run, feels so good on hot -n nasty days. you'll get em next time.
Where are we going?? And why am I in this handbasket??
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
Thanks for the report. The week I was going to sign up my jail closed and I got transfered to another. My schedule changed and I would not have been able to do it this year. I guess it was good timing but bad luck. I had my Eli Manning jersey already picked out!
Again, thanks for the report. I'll see you there next year even if I have to be a little sick! Cough - cough
Again, thanks for the report. I'll see you there next year even if I have to be a little sick! Cough - cough
Scott
Link to my running journal
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1303681
4 full's - 14 halves - 2 goofy's and one Mt. Washington!
Link to my running journal
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1303681
4 full's - 14 halves - 2 goofy's and one Mt. Washington!
I will see you there! I'll be the one with an oxygen tank at the ready!
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
How cool is that - finishing on an NFL field! Thanks for sharing the report Sue. I know you called this your personal worst but for me, who is still in the very early stages of my journey, it is kinda of welcoming reading a report that reminds me that we are human and not every win is about a PR but we still celebrate crossing the finish line with fists raised in victory. THANK YOU for that; it means more than you can know.
I am creating my own revolution and PAMdemonium reigns!
RNY 11/16/2010
SW 270, CW 155, GW 135
1st 5k time 40:34 (Dec 2013)
Pam,
Much like weight loss, sometimes your athleticism plateaus, goes backwards, inches forward... we are human, and that's just how it goes.
My friend had a hard time not seeing improvement in her 10k time, and while sure, I would love to have done better than last year, or better than the last 10k I did, sometimes, it's just not reasonable to achieve it. we do not run/walk/bike in a vacuum.
So, as you progress in your fitness journey, definitely keep in mind that the beauty is in participating, trying and having the guts to just keep going. The only way to fail here is to quit before you even try.
I'm glad my PW (which I type with a grin on my face), is helpful!
-Sue
Much like weight loss, sometimes your athleticism plateaus, goes backwards, inches forward... we are human, and that's just how it goes.
My friend had a hard time not seeing improvement in her 10k time, and while sure, I would love to have done better than last year, or better than the last 10k I did, sometimes, it's just not reasonable to achieve it. we do not run/walk/bike in a vacuum.
So, as you progress in your fitness journey, definitely keep in mind that the beauty is in participating, trying and having the guts to just keep going. The only way to fail here is to quit before you even try.
I'm glad my PW (which I type with a grin on my face), is helpful!
-Sue
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
Thanks Sue! This was one of those weeks I just felt like I hit a brick wall with both running and strength training. I didn't give in but I did do back to back rest days and just worked on nutrition and hydration, making sure I had not let something slip which may result in my wall. Decided it was just one of those plateau thingys and now back at it.
I am creating my own revolution and PAMdemonium reigns!
RNY 11/16/2010
SW 270, CW 155, GW 135
1st 5k time 40:34 (Dec 2013)
As always, I love your choice of race apperal! Seems like you had a good day with your boyfriend despite the conditions. So what if you didn't get a time you were happy with, you went out that morning and did something 99.9% of the people in your area didn't do. Congrats on another 10k in the books!
Jillian
Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, Army Wife, 3x Ironman Finisher