LL Bean 4th of July 10K 2022 Race Report

 4th of July 10K Race Report notes, not a full report, but a worthy share:

Top goal was sub37. Acceptable would have been anything under 38 honestly!
First formal 10K since....2010 (???!!!) when I PR'd at 36:11. I knew the PR wasn't in range, but feel like I'm approaching slowly. Last week's workout showed a lot better fitness than I expected after the 5K a few weeks ago, so I figured a mix of going out by feel but also a LITTLE relaxed was critical. Toughish course and one to test you well, especially on the 5th mile!

After about 2.5, settled in next to a sophomore at Stonehill (Jace Hollenback). Good dude, great conversation for heartrates over 170->190! We worked the 3-6mile range, really chewing up the people in front of us. We didn't let catching them be a reason for backing off the gas.

Mile 5 was where mental effort seriously peaked. After that it was just about finishing fast as I could. Mile 4 was hard and very very physical, but we still managed 6:00 pace for 4-5 (marginally). Mile 6 started with a nice slight descent where we were averaging around 5:40, it was clear we both were going to finish with our fastest mile....a rarity it seems that you must cherish deeply despite the suffering that ensues.

Despite the bit of climbing in mile 6, came through 5:43 and started to push for the last 400m flat to use it up. Managed a quarter in sub-75, something that has felt "woooof fast" on the track so far.

Didn't really focus on "time" during the race. Jace and I talked about managing a possible sub 37 if we held it together past mile 4, we in fact needed to step it up - gaining 17 seconds on Mile 6 was the key to get us under 37!! Feeling a little like an old version of my past self lately, brings a few tears to the eyes.

Next Level, unlocked. B2B goal: PR.

Shoe "choice" (it's not a choice at this point): Nike AlphaFly. Phenomenal running shoe, feels glorious and manages to let me go downhills hard without feeling like I'm breaking my foot bones. After mile 5, when that uphill section should have had me crying...I still had some good bounce and push. I wouldn't say I "recovered" mid race but definitely bounced back to hammer home the last 2K!

My processing of the race and recent build up:

Running has really reached that fulfilling state in recent months. The initial catalyst was running alongside Bailey at the Newmarket Marathon as she BQ’d last fall. It was also a really REALLY great race for me even though my focus was being a pacer. It showed me how to work and deliver on a plan, that sometimes what one feels is not achievable is truly within reach. I hadn’t been there myself for quite a while.

What I didn’t know was how hard it’d be to get traction off of a hamstring that hamstrung my training off of that race. I relinquished the effort, getting back to what has become “my winter weight” - 30 pounds over 2019 race weight - and generally was discouraged. But I was(and still am) loving work so it was manageable. My laziness and lack of motivation started to hit my overall drive and I had to make a change; there was also the upcoming Mt Whitney summit attempt and the Vermont City Marathon. Two events I told myself I’d be ready for, once again alongside Bailey.

I kicked it into high gear, with the help of family, friends, Whoop (thanks, Jason!), and IDEXX having Noom as a benefit. Today I’m at a race weight not seen since 2013 and gaining strength/speed what seems like daily. Lately, I smile at the joy of being able to go faster when I’m exhausted and feel spent. Suffering in a race is heavily rewarded by speed and near-PR times, a combination not to be taken lightly as in the long term such things are ephemeral. Here’s to keeping it going.

Chicago 2022. I see you.