Race Report from NYRR Team Championships

The NYRR Team Championships 5 Mile Race has always held a special place in my heart for many reasons.  For one thing, it is a small ultracompetitive clubs-only race that brings out the best of the best for a no-t-shirt, no-goody bag, old fashion throwdown in Central Park.  For another, since the race is divided into two separate men’s and women’s races, it allows club members to spectate and cheer on their teammates of the opposite sex, which is always great fun.  On top of that, there is the group picture and picnic afterwards where everyone goes to and gives the entire team a chance to catch up.  Finally, and personally, because this race is held annually in the beginning to middle of August, it is often the first race I do right after my birthday (on the 2^nd) so my intent for this race each year is to start off my racing year with a bang!

Such is the state of mind I had when I found myself in the Red (2^nd) Corral a little before 8am this morning on the 102^nd Street Transverse.  I situated myself towards the back of the pack behind Flyers JD and GR because I wasn’t sure how I was going to run today or what I was capable of.  My running week has been quite tumultuous the past 7 days.  I did the Queens Half in a less than stellar 1:27 on Saturday, ran a recovery 10 miler on Sunday with a friend, completed a long 36K to celebrate my birthday, and turned my park into my personal track and ran a couple mile repeats until my Garmin died on Thursday.  I ended the week with a tight left hamstring I might have tweaked in speedwork that got me very worried for this race.  Last night right before bed, I was still rolling it out with a foam roller I had borrowed from my friend V and praying to the running gods that it’d feel okay by morning.  Lo and behold, when I got out of bed this morning, it felt okay and I was optimistic I would be able to run a good race.

My goals for this race coming in was twofold.  I wanted to break my 5-mile PR of 30:13 set in this race two years ago.  Given that my recent 5K and 4 mile race paces (both approximately 5:53 min/mi pace) are significant better than that 6:02 min/mi pace, I felt I had a realistic shot of hitting that.  Furthermore, if I can actually break 6 min/mi pace and go sub-30 minutes for the 5 miles, that would just be icing on the cake!  Still, as I was eying all the nervous runners around me and waiting anxiously for the start of the race, I reminded myself that avoiding injury should really be the number one goal today.

After a brilliant rendition of the national anthem that got me amped up and excited to go, the race horn sounded and we were on our way!  I was quite packed in for the first quarter mile or so, especially on the first corner turn off the Transverse.  My mentally for this first mile was to establish a strong race effort while holding as much as I could in reserve.  I passed by my two Flyer friends within the first half mile but still had no idea what kind of pace I was running (As a general rule, I don’t look at my pace in between mile markers).  I managed my effort conservatively over the series of hills and ran through the first mile in 5:57.  On the one hand, I was glad that my time was still sub-6 after going through the first mile hills.  On the other, I was disappointed that my pace wasn’t in the lower 5:50s which was my first mile time going over Cat Hill in the 4 miler just a few weeks ago.  I wondered aloud whether sub-6 pace would be just a pipe dream today.

I started mile 2 concentrating on what I told my brother just 12 hours earlier.  Yesterday, as we were coming home from the Nautica Expo (he is preparing for his first triathlon tomorrow – NYC Tri), he was asking my advice on what pace he should aim for in the first mile of his 10K run.  I remember telling him that in my experience, for the shorter distance races around the park, it usually isn’t the first mile that will define your race, but the second.  “Aim to start the run at whatever pace you deemed comfortable,” I told him, “ then adjust and readjust your pace after the first mile marker.”  As I rolled through the net downhill second mile, I focused intently on my own advice and ran this mile purposefully, in a manner as if it was going to define my race.  The mile 2 marker was passed in 5:54 which was a pleasant surprise.  In my mind, I had slowed down or was at most barely holding to my pace.  I had no idea that I had indeed gone faster.

Mile 3 took us around the lower loop of the park.  In my mind, I knew that if I somehow managed to keep a sub-6 minute pace here, then a PR would almost be inevitable.  After battling all the hills in the previous two miles, with some little ones and Cat Hill to come, I was already feeling a certain level of fatigue.  I did not try to run too hard but rather fought to maintain the effort I had previously established.  This worked pretty well as I was able to make it back over to the east side with a 5:59 Mile 3.  I was tired but happy.  Since I had only 2 miles left in this race, it seemed to me like a PR (and maybe even a sub-30) would be possible, if not probable!  The only problem though is that immediately passed the Mile 3 marker, Cat Hill looms in Mile 4.

I started this hill climb feeling a bit of pressure to run it well.  It was here last year, when I blew up , died, and lost about 30 seconds as well as my interest in this race.  I vowed that that wouldn’t happen again.  So I ran today with the purpose of reaching the traffic light at the end of the hill as composed as I can.  I was ready to slow to a 6:10 pace if it meant I would still be able to gather myself and run well in the final mile.  I tried to imagine my neighbors pulling me along as I ran, forcing myself to keep pace.  After what seemed like an eternity on those hills, the end of mile 4 was reached…6:13.  I tried to assess the damage but all I knew was that all my cushion time was gone.  If I wanted to PR or sub-6, I’d have to bust out a hard final mile.

Ever so slowly, on the straightaway next to the bridle path and the rez, I picked up my pace.  I ran about a quarter mile and started to feel really tired.  I asked myself whether this PR was really important to me, and I sped up a little more.  It was here that I suddenly realized my left hamstring has been fine the entire race, so I had no excuse not to push.  I rounded the corner with a half mile to go and see a bunch of clubs cheering widely on both sides of the course.  I decided I had no time to waste if a PR was going to happen today so I accelerated some more.  I went right by the Flyer cheering section in a bit of a mental daze.  I was told afterwards that I looked like I was running well although I felt like crap.  I was fighting tooth and nail for every second because I didn’t know how close to a PR I was.  I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I had let up in the final mile and missed it by a few seconds!  Finally, I reach the end of the road, make the final turn, see the clock at sub-30 and raced through the finish to claim my victory and a PR (my 6^th of the year, and first at my next age) once again!

After crossing the line, I rested next to the finishing chute and dry-heaved for a good couple of minutes.  It took a long while for my heart rate to settle down after this race.  Although the weather was cool and overcast for much of the race, it was very humid and I had trouble cooling down.  Still, given the circumstances, I’d say it was as perfect a racing day in August as we can have.  I’m particularly proud of my effort today not only because I PR’d and got my dream goal of running a sub-30 minute 5 miler, but also because I was able to bounce back quickly after a tough race last week and a 36K run just a few days ago.  I’m just glad I escaped the crazy part of my summer racing schedule (3 races in 4 weeks) with 2 PRs in those 3 races.  With all of these short races out of the way, I can shift my focus more towards marathon preparation and training now.

Thanks to all those who cheered for me today.  I especially thank my Flyer friends for racing, cheering, supporting and encouraging.  It was an honor to be a participant in the Club Champs race today.  No matter how you run, why you run, or what pace ran today, I truly believe we’re all champions because we’re all part of this great running community and we strive for success every single day!

Official Statistics
Finishing Time – 29:52 (5:58 min/mi); PR by 0:21!!!
Mile Splits – 5:57, 5:54, 5:59, 6:14, 5:48
Overall Place – 168/753
NY Flyers – 1st Male
AG Percent – 73.4%