Official Time: 10k - 46:55
Place Overall - 491 out of 3584
Men 387 out of 1831
M 40-44 62 out of 285
Age Grade 59.15% Place 793
Finish 46:55 Pace 7:33
5k 23:45 Pace 7:39
Chip time 46:55
Gun Time 48:17
Splits (unofficial off my watch)
(7:38,7:45,7:20,7:30,7:47,7:24,1:31)
The Dana Point Turkey Trot is one of the bigger races in Southern California. The 10k had over 3500 runners and there was also a masters 5k and open 5k that followed. The result was a lot of people coming to an area that is not made for it. The 10k started at 7am and I got there shortly after 6. Parking wasn't too difficult though if I had gotten there later it would have been tough. I felt sorry for those coming later just to run the 5k. I made my way to the race area, jogged for about a mile to warmup then sought out a place at the start.
The race started (about 15 minutes late which was a minor thing for me but I can't imagine the elites and faster runners were too happy about as I'm sure their warmups are calibrated down to the minute) and over a minute later I got to the start line.
Now I had figured I would have some traffic to deal with at the start but I ended up spending the whole first mile going in between and around people, speeding up and slowing down. I was amazed at how many people that were jogging at around 9-10 minute per mile pace had lined up near the front. I tried not to expend too much energy going thru traffic telling myself to relax and that i would be able to make up time later. The first mile split came in at 7:38 which was right on except that I knew I had worked harder than I should dodging people at that pace. The second mile finally allowed me to get into a rhythm and I tried to find a comfortable pace as I wanted the first 2 miles to be easy. Mile 2 came in at 7:45 which overall put me about where I wanted to be (7:35 pace being my goal). Since I was feeling ok I tried to pick it up just a notch and carried that back past the start/finish area. I missed the Mile 3 marker and I guess the start line was also the 5k mark as evidenced by the 23:45 5k time my chip registered. As I reached the 4 mile mark I was starting to feel the effort. When I breath hard I start to make what sounds like a slight wheeze. I was right at that point in my breathing. The 4 mile split was 30:13 or 14:50 for the 2 miles (based on how I was feeling and how Mile 5 came out I am going to estimate Mile 3 at 7:20 and Mile 4 at 7:30) which put me 7 seconds ahead of pace for my 47 minute goal. This was my dream goal for the race so I wasn't banking everything on it but since it was in my sights did not want to let it go easily. I told myself I could ease up a little to control my breathing but not too much. Mile 5 was more difficult and the slight (very slight though it didn't seem like it this time over - we had crossed it after Mile 3) incline for the bridge made it difficult to maintain pace the last part of the mile. The mile 5 split came in at 7:47 and I was at 38 minutes even for the race. I was hurting but told myself to keep going since I still had 47 minutes within sight. Worst case was I was going to get my 48 minute goal easily. I made a deal with myself that I would keep pushing and if I got to the 6 mile mark and didn't have 47 within reach I would ease up and coast in. The whole 6th mile I concentrated on nothing but taking one step at a time, using my arms and legs, and trying to take in as much breath as possible. Runners were passing me or being passed by me (mostly being passed) but I was completely in my own world and oblivious to all of that. I approached the 6 mile mark and with a quick check of the watch saw that I was going to be right near the 45:30 I needed to be at to have a chance at hitting 47. The Mile 6 split was 7:24 or 45:23 overall. I knew that if I could just keep that same pace I found over the last mile I was going to make it and just told myself to keep going. I was spent though. My legs were feeling rubbery and my breathing was very hard. I'm dreading to see what my form there looks like in the finish line photos....(lol) I continued on and felt like I had to be slowing down. The finish line and final clock time came into sight and with a quick glance of my watch made a quick conversion of what I needed on the clock time to break 47. 48:22 was what I came up with and as I came towards the finish saw that I was going to make it. What a feeling it was as I stepped on the chip mat and was able to stop! Though I thought I was slowing down I did the last .21 in 1:31 which by my calculations is just over 7 minute pace.
I felt so good afterwards and though my body was spent and I had run about as hard as I could the training had paid off and I had successfully completed the first phase of this running journey and became a runner. I got my chip cut off my shoe, grabbed any water or anything else to drink they were handing out and stood there for a few minutes taking everything in and enjoying the moment. With what must have been a big smile on the inside at least, I made my way to the car and headed home to enjoy Thanksgiving with the family.
My next phase was being planned in my head. I will post that soon!