Everything is a weather pattern
and it flows down to you
and it flows right through you
what were you thinking?
Weather Pattern by Frazey Ford
What was I thinking when I signed on for races in one of the worst winter weather patterns in Massachusetts Most of my miles this winter we on a treadmill and I took a bit of a beating on this course that had me recovering longer than normal. It was a cool, 38ish degree day. Props to the City of New Bedford for cleaning the 13.1 mile course of all the snow.
I never really know how I feel about my race until I can put in some comparative context, e.g., age group or year over year.
Although I am satisfied with my 2015 NBHM finish, I put together a chart to compare the 2015 me against the younger me.
New Bedford Half Marathon
Year Age Chip Time Pace Gun Time
2012 53 1:31:18 7:00 1:31:40
2013 54 1:25:32 6:32 1:26:01
2014 55 1:26:37 6:37 1:26:52
2015 56 1:25:45 6:33 1:26:00
Moving on...
My plan for this year, at New Bedford was to run the first mile at about 6:20min/mi pace. That would get me to the hills in relatively good shape. I planned on working the hills a bit and was surprised at how quickly I was through 3 miles and on the downhill section of the course. My legs felt a bit tired from the climb, but recovered over the next half mile or so. There was a lot of people to run with and I was moving along (un)comfortably. At six miles I remember thinking, “I am not even halfway.” Around mile nine is the course turn that leads back to the city and the finish. At this point the wind was head on and I was working with a few folks to try and keep pace. At mile eleven…, well…, the wheels started to come off. I put my head down, made it through, albeit slowly, toward that inconveniently located hill at mile twelve. A right turn and a right turn at mile thirteen put me on the final 200 meters. Suddenly runners around me started a kick for the finish. Not really being that smart…I joined in!
The world according GPS:
Distance 13.23mi, Average Pace 6:29min/mi Running Time 1:25:48
Mile 1 6:20, Mile 2. 6:35, Mile 3. 6:33, Mile 4. 6:33, Mile 5. 6:13 Mile 6. 6:13
Mile 7. 6:06, Mile 8. 6:16, Mile 9 6:27, Mile 10 6:29, Mile 11 6:46 Mile 12. 6:52,
Mile 13. 7:12, Mile 0.23 1:19.
It is quite apparent that the wheels started coming off at mile 11 and mile 13 was a complete disaster. Still, overall I am OK with the race. It was fun!
And in the USATF-NE Grand Prix individual standings after 2 races
MEN'S 55-59 10M 13.1M
Craig Fram WRT 9 10
Paul Hammond WRT 8 9
Patrick Stumbras BAA 6 7
Robert Cipriano SRR 10
John Griego CMS 4 5
Ephraim Ezekiel WRT 8
Tony Bates GMAA 7
David Oliver GLRR 6
Norm Larson GMAA 5
Matthew Manney SHRK 2 2
Andy Macdonald BAA 1 3
Jon Waldron CSU 4
Jim Garcia GLRR 3
Joe Kaiser BAA 1
And in the USATF-NE Grand Prix team standings after 2 races
Men's 50+ 10M 13.1M
Whirlaway Racing Team 9 10
Green Mountain Athletic Associ 8 8
Boston Athletic Association 7 9
Central Mass Striders 6 5
Greater Lowell Road Runners 5 6
Greater Springfield Harriers 4 7
Somerville Road Runners 3 2
Gate City Striders 1 3
Cambridge Sports Union 4
North Medford Club 2
Heartbreak Hill Striders 1
My next race is not a Grand Prix event. I will toe the start line, maybe seed myself a bit back from the start line, at the USATF Masters 10k Championship. This event is part of the ever popular James Joyce Ramble Dedham, MA on April 26, 2015.
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