RACE REVIEW:BAA 10K

"we are all made for every moment we encounter. 

whether the moment  makes us or we make the moment. 

whether we are helpless in it or on top of it, 

the predator or the prey. 

we are made for that moment."

~ Matthew McConaughey, 'Greenlights'

Last week we took the Lex kids to Oregon to compete at Nike Outdoor Nationals.  We were out there for almost a week and it was an absolutely epic trip; mainly because every single one of them competed to the best of their ability and/or beyond.  Which is all you can hope for as a coach.  That and that the kids have fun while they're doing it, which I think I can safely say they all did.

We flew home on the redeye this past Monday and I promptly went to bed for 48 hours to catch up on all the sleep I'd lost over the past five days.  Just kidding.  I went for a run and to the grocery store and then tried to keep myself busy so I could stay awake until 8pm.  For real, though, I haven't been that tired in quite some time and by Tuesday I was feeling it.  My running was garbage.  I was shuffling along with heavy legs and even heavier lids.  Normally, this isn't a big deal.  I just take a week to bounce back and then jump back into my training full speed.  But I didn't have that luxury because I was signed up for the BAA 10K on Sunday and I intended to race regardless of how I felt.  Or, at least, I thought I did.  By Saturday, I wasn't so sure.  I reached out to my coach, Ruben, and let him know that I'd been having a tough week.  Maybe it was because I hadn't been able to recover post Oregon, or maybe because I hadn't fully recovered from my entire, very long and intense spring track season in general or maybe it was because I'm 47 and I'm freaking tired.  Regardless, Ruben was concerned and wondered if perhaps I should bail all together given the situation but that was not an option.  I was signed up.  I'd paid.  I was racing.  And he understood.  So we came up with a new race plan with a pace strategy that would likely make for a more successful race and while I was bummed because I'd hoped to run hard and test my fitness, I was also relieved as the pressure to perform was not quite as high anymore.  As always, I laid out my kit and went to bed very early (yes, even earlier than usual) knowing that one more sleep could only do my head and body good.    

Even though it was late June, typical summer weather hadn't really hit us yet in the Boston area.  Until Sunday.  Obvs.  At 6:00am it was already nice and warm out and just a bit sticky.  I still sat outside and enjoyed my coffee as usual.  It was a lovely, quiet moment to myself.  My entire family, including the dogs, were scattered about in various other places and I'd just made a quick, solo trip home for this race.  It was very weird to be alone in my house.  Never happens.  Not gonna lie, kind of nice.

I left home around 6:30, zipped into Boston easily and found parking without any issues because it was early Sunday morning and the city was still asleep.  Added bonus?  No meters on Sunday.  Love that for me.  I walked over to the Common and met up with Ruben.  I've actually been woking with him for a while now but we'd never met in person before Sunday so it was nice to put a face to the name.  We talked a little bit more about the race and how I should try manage it given how tired and off I'd been.  His main advice to me was to welcome the pain in.  Right, I thought.  I mean, the pain was coming no matter what.  Might as well invite it in.  

I thanked him for his words of wisdom and took off for my warmup, not that I needed much as it was now in the 70s and the sun was starting to do its thing.  No complaints, I thought to myself.  Welcome the pain.  Let's go.  I stopped by my car and changed shoes and then made my way over to the start area to do some final dynamics and strides.  Which didn't really go as planned.  I did my dynamics as I waited in the very long line for the bathroom and then because that had taken forever there would be no strides.  I needed to bust a move over to my corral or I'd be stuck in a spot that I didn't want to be in for the start.  Oh well.  

THE RACE 

Miles 1-6.2: 6:07, 6:14, 6:12, 6:07, 6:13, 6:15, 5:48

There were over 5,000 people racing and not surprisingly the start area was pretty tight.  Shoulders were bumping and people were pushing a little to find a place where they felt comfortable.  Normally this isn't a big deal but it's been so long since I've stood in a crowd this big that it was a little overwhelming.  I just tucked in and tried to keep to myself.  And sweated.  Already lots of sweating by the time we got going.  The race began at 8:00am but the elite men went first followed by the elite women and the para athletes so we didn't actually cross the start mat until seven minutes after eight.  It doesn't seem like a lot of time but when your squished in with thousands of hot and anxious runners the minutes go by real slow.  Finally, they sent us off and I followed the crowds out of the Common and onto Commonwealth.  Mile one came up faster than I anticipated.  I looked at my watch and saw 6:07.  That was not in line with the plan Ruben and I had discussed.  Not even close.  But instead of freaking out or making a major change I made the conscious decision to throw my plan out the window and let it ride.

You can see that we had some shade on our way out.  That was huge.  I did my best to stay relaxed for these first two miles knowing that three through six were going to be in full sun.  As we headed out to the turnaround we started to see the pros coming at us in the other direction.  Which was awesome.  It's just so inspiring to see these incredible athletes flying by, doing what they do best.  I also saw and yelled for Ruben who happens to be very, very fast.  It was a perfect distraction to get to mile three at which point I turned around and headed back myself.  So, three more miles.  I was hurting now.  And the heat was kicking in.  But I was also kind of okay; my breathing was relatively controlled and my legs were working with me which is not what I'd expected.  As far as inviting the pain in, yea, the pain was now in the house.  Actually, it kind of felt like the pain had settled nicely onto my couch and thrown on a movie.  It clearly wasn't going anywhere.  So I just moved over and gave it some room.  Lots of room.

The guy behind me, I would later learn, is also named Ruben.  Unbeknownst to me he had decided that my pace was working well for him and that he'd stay with me for the remainder of the race.  Which is why he is in every single photo with me.  But, it's all good.  We connected afterwards and he thanked me for being his rabbit.  It's a role I rarely take on as more often than not I'm using others to pace me so I was happy this worked out for him.

When you're running a 10k at a hard effort in the sun and you get to mile 5, 1.2 more miles feels stupid long.  On this final stretch you can see the turn for the finish but it's like a mirage.  It's there but it's not really there.  The pain train was in full effect at this point.  I was digging deep and hoping I didn't toss my cookies as we made the final push.  When you're running a 10k at a hard effort in the sun and you get to mile 6, .2 miles also feels stupid long.  But there it was.  The finish line.  And I could see the clock.  The time was 38 minutes and change.  And, college running aside, I have never run a 10k under 40 minutes.  So I freaking threw down and gave it every thing I had which was good for 38:49; about a 3 minute personal best.  EFF.  YES.  And HOLY. HELL.

What a trip.  I was toast.  And I was elated.  But mainly toast.  And it was worth every painful second.  I am constantly telling my Lex athletes that the well runs deep as far as training goes.  That you can show up for a practice or race and feel tired or out of sorts but still have a decent day because there is a lot of good work in there waiting to be tapped.  I tell them this all the time.  But I don't always tell myself when I'm lining up and I feel like shit and I think I'm going to have a bad day.  Which makes no sense. Why wouldn't I practice what I preach?  After this race, I will never doubt again.  Trust the training.  Trust myself.  Tap the well.  It's all in there.  

Once I'd gotten some water and some very hot Gatorade I took some time to run around and find all my friends who I knew where at this race with me.  I cooled down with Brian (bottom right) a good friend of mine for a few years now.  I caught up with Haley (top right) a former Lex athlete who has since graduated from college and is working in MA.  (oof, I'm old).  I exchanged hugs and congrats with Amy (bottom center) a dear friend and occasional training buddy.  I fought my way over to the main stage so I could say hi to Allie (lower left) who was on the mic and always puts in me in a good mood because she's just so full of positive energy and love.  And last, I tracked down Lauren (top right), my teammate, friend and running partner who I'm about start seeing a lot more of next month as we both dive into fall marathon training.  THIS.  This is what it's all about.  The run community is amazing.  I love the racing.  I love pushing my limits.  The good, the bad, the ugly; all of it.  I'm in.  But I love these people and the run vibe in general, the most.  The friends I've made through running are my other family.  And race time and place aside, they are the main reason I keep coming back for more.

Quick note to close things out.  And it sounds braggy.  So I'm sorry.  But it's important.  Since turning 47, I have PR'd in every distance I've run from the mile to the marathon.  When I turned 40 I thought my window of opportunity to run fast and improve would start closing pretty rapidly.  Not so.  Not even close.  Who knows what I have left but that door is still wide open.  And pain?  He, she, it...doesn't matter.  They're not so bad.  I think we're gonna be friends for just a little while longer.  Turns out we like the same movies.  Up next, Falmouth.  Let's goooooo.

Listen to this:

Ain't Ready - Santigold

Santigold · Ain’t Ready

RUNNING IN NH: A TOP 10 LIST

 "Spitting off the edge of the world

Winds from the sky

Never had no chance

Will watch us rise"

'Spitting of the Edge of the World', Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

Our family has a place up in Sugar Hill, NH.  It's a small, quiet town; population 577 back in 2019 and that's the latest count I could dig up.  It's notably busier in the winter (skiing) and summer (hiking) but during the shoulder seasons?  Crickets.  And we love it.  This past Sunday I did a long run out on the mountain roads and trails near our cabin.  It was an absolutely perfect day; crisp, clear and a little cool and I could think of nowhere that I would have rather been.  As I ran, I thought about running up in NH, or any remote area for that matter, versus running back at home in the Boston area.  Obviously they are very different and they both have pros and cons, but I have to say I might enjoy the NH running a bit more.  Not that I'm complaining about running in the city.  I'm happy running anywhere, really.  But there are some key things about running in NH that make the experience such a treat for me and since I was out there for over two hours I made a mental note of each one which I ultimately decided would be fun to share.  Maybe you have a favorite place to run that's different from home so you can relate.  And maybe you don't but this post makes you want to make a trip up to NH or some other far away place to experience it for yourself, which I highly recommend.  And if neither of these apply, well, that's okay, too.  Sit back, relax and enjoy some NH photos.  

WHY I LOVE RUNNING IN NH: A TOP 10 LIST

1. First and foremost, the views from almost every location are stunning and more often than not they stop me in my tracks.  Pun intended.

2. The drivers are nice.  For real.  All of them.  Even the truckers.  And they tend to move far over to the other side of the road as they go by nodding or waving as they pass.  It's lovely.

3. Hills are more like mountains and they are everywhere.  So basically, every run has the added bonus of a strength workout within it.  Can't beat that.

4.  Nature is also everywhere.  Literally.  So if nature calls, you're good to go.

5.  In Sugar Hill, and likely in many other small towns, there is a single traffic light.  So, there is little, if any, stopping mid-run for anything other than bears or skunks.  Which you don't really even stop for, you just change directions.

6. There is some form of water.... lake, creek, river, pond.... along every route.  Thus a mid-run splash on the face or a post-run soak is always an option.

7. There are rarely other runners out on the road.  So when they are out there its really exciting and they're probably going to become your friend as you will likely stop and have a conversation.

8. If you get lost, which happens often, there is no stress.  You just use the force to find your way back to a main road.  Or you can safely wave your hand at the aforementioned nice drivers who will kindly let you know where to go.

9. Shade is in abundance.  Because trees are in abundance.  Which is particularly great in the summer months.  And it's not a problem to run on the wrong side of the street for the shade as people don't really care.  They still nod or wave.  Because they're nice.*  

*If you're wondering, yes, I get honked at and yelled at often when I'm running in the city, especially in the winter when I have to share the road.

10. And last, but certainly not least, unlike some of my days at home, there is truly not a day that goes by when I'm not genuinely happy to lace up and get outside when I'm up in NH.  And that's pretty awesome.

Listen to this:

Spitting Off the Edge of the World - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Secretly Canadian · Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Spitting Off the Edge of the World (feat. Perfume Genius)