Stutensee-Buechig 10K Village Run: Race Report

Yesterday evening at 6 p.m. I met several members of the Graben Running Club in the village of Stutensee-Buechig for the annual 10K Village Run. As it was hot (30C/86F) and extremely humid most elected to run the 5K race, but a couple of us ran the 10K. The 5K started at 5:15 p.m., so I waited with the other 10K runners and saw them off. Our 10K race started at 6 p.m..

I relaxed in the shaded clubhouse of the light-athletic group that was putting on the race until about 20 minutes before my race was to start. The other runner’s from the running club were already gone, making their last minute race preparations. I stopped quick at the rest room, no lines today, then jogged around the block a few times to warm up. After only about 10 minutes of warmup I was already drenched with sweat, it was going to be a hot race!

As I made my way to the Start I passed one of the Graben Running Club members that ran the 5K, he confirmed that it was a difficult to run due to the heat and humidity. Well, I would just have to see what I could do. After coming so close to breaking my personal record last weekend, I really wanted to do it on this day.

I’ve run this race twice over the last three years, and on this day there were a lot less runners as usual, 318, compared to nearly 500 last year – probably due to the heat and the World Cup.

So the starting pistol went off at precisely 6 p.m. I quickly fell into my 10K pace as we did a quick loop around town and then headed out across the fields. I passed the first kilometer marker in 4:50 (7:47/M), so I was right on pace to at least match my best time. We headed over a couple bicycle trails winding through the fields surrounding Buechig, passing the 2K marker just as we turned into a forest section - I was still right on pace.

In the forest there was at least a little shade from the sun, but you could feel the thick, muggy air sucking the energy away. I concentrated on passing people, one at a time, just trying to keep my pace going.

I passed the 3rd,4th and 5th kilometer markers – passing the 5K and halfway point in 00:24:17. If I wanted to break my personal record I would need to pick up the pace!

I pressed on, again concentrating on passing the person in front of me, trying to keep my pace going, hoping that I didn’t burn out. I maintained the current pace through the 6th, 7th and 8th kilometer, then tried to pick the pace up for the last 2K.

I stopped watching my watch and just concentrated on trying to pump the arms and move the legs faster. As I popped out of the woods and rounded a curve I passed the 9K point – no time to look at my watch – just keep going.

As I ran the last kilometer dark clouds were forming overhead and it was thundering, definetly time to beat feet to the finish line. After an eternity I rounded the last curve and there was a 300 meter stretch the finish line. I knew I was close to my personal record so I did my best to sprint in, but as I crossed the finish line I knew that I missed it again.

Sure enough, I finished in 48:31, 13 seconds slower than my best time (set in April 2006) and 5 seconds slower than last weekend. But that is okay, it was a lot more humid on this day, and I ran a good race anyway, coming in 115th out of 318, which was 21st out of 42 in my age class (M45).

So after walking it out and stretching I joined a few of the Graben Running Club members to help celebrate our victories.