Running With Jack

Last Wednesday night when I ran with my Running Club they had a sign-up sheet for a 10K race today. It was a local race in a nearby town and our group normally shows up in full force. At first I declined, but they twisted my arm and talked me into it.

Well yesterday I ran my first long run in several weeks, so when I woke up this morning I started looking for excuses not to go. I had myself talked out of it, thinking that I shouldn’t miss church, but then my wife reminded me that I said that I would be there and living a Christian life means keeping my word – ouch!

So I ate a quick breakfast and got ready to go. The race started at 9:30, I left the house about an hour before and arrived about 45 minutes before the start. As I went to pick up my race number our running club leader handed it too me, she said the club was paying for the race today, cool!

I chatted with some of the club for 15-20 minutes, then went to find a bathroom and warm up for the race. I was quite stiff and sore from my long run the day before, but as I jogged around the track at the sports club I began to loosen up a bit. As I ran I tried to figure out a strategy for the race – I knew that it was too soon after my injury to even think about running a fast race, so it was more a question about what sort of pace I could maintain.

As I lined up at the Start I cleared my head of any time stress and decided to just run how I felt and see what happens. I noticed a few of my running club farther up front, but they were looking to set personal records, so I stayed more towards the back. The weather was almost perfect, clear skies, mild temperatures (around 19C/56F), the only problem was a slight wind.

As the start pistol went off I inched forward with the crowd, but was able to speed up fairly quickly as the crowd surged forward. The sport center is located in an open field between the towns of Neuthard and Karlsdorf, and we headed out over a bike path towards Neuthard. I passed the first kilometer marker in 4:52 (7:50/mile pace), better than I expected.

The race course entered Neuthard and wound its way around the town. Dozens of residents were out lending there support to the runners. The course wound its way back out of town and over bike paths to Karlsdorf. Again crowds were out cheering us on as we wound our way through town. From Karlsdorf the course again headed out over a bike path back to the sports center, end of the first loop.

I finished the first 5K in 25:20, a bit slower than I hoped for, but not surprising. Over the next couple kilometers I started slowing down, my legs were tired from the long run the day before. As I passed the 7K marker several people started passing me, so I tried to pick up the pace a bit. By kilometer 9 I had managed to pass all but one of those who passed me. As I headed out across the field towards the finish line I tried my best to at least maintain my pace. As I ended the stadium I broke into a sprint and almost caught the person in front of me as I crossed the finish line.

Catching my breath I walked it out, then joined some of my running club near the finish line. After hanging out for awhile I made my way back home for a shower and some lunch. I ended up finishing the race in 51:25, not bad for barely having my stitches out for a week – and completing a 20-mile long run the day before.

My legs are a bit tired as I write, but my knee seems to be holding up really well. In two weeks is the Baden marathon in Karlsruhe, this weekend has shown me that I can make it over the finish line.

Have a nice Sunday!