(Not So) Clear Lake and a Distance PR - Space City Alliance 10 Miler

Well not really a distance PR in training, but definately a distance PR in official races. 10 miles at the Space City 10 Miler this morning in, as I said, (not so) Clear Lake.

Why the not so? Because well it was a very wet race this morning. I got to the race site just about an hour before the gun, and a couple of times the skies opened up and dumped alot of rain on us. Thank goodness for the Strider tent as we huddled up under as the rest of the crowd would run when the rain would start falling heavily. It was just a sprinkle as we headed for the start line about 5 minutes before.

At least we knew it was going to be completely overcast for the entire route and the rain was going to come again, sooner than later. I had watched Weather Channel before I headed out and it doesnt take a genius to see what was in store for us.

I dont really remember too many things about the race itself because while yes I had done 10 miles several times, this was different. I couldnt let anything get in the way of me doing well. This just wasnt a training run. Well, yeah I could have run faster, I know this, but I was too scared to do anything out of the ordinary for fear of bonking, and ending up with something that I couldnt live with.

Cassie found me before the start and she ended up running the first mile with me before heading on ahead to catch up to Sarah who was doing the relay. Later I found out that Cassie would only be several minutes in front of me the whole way, as was Jon. We all finished within a few minutes of each other. I had my watch set on 6/1's, but I ignored several of them, including the first one on mile 1. I had not ever done 6/1's for a 10 miler, but I knew it would be ok.

After that I dont remember much till I crossed the mat at the halfway mark. It was 58 and some change so I knew to take off a minute off of that since because of my starting point at the beginning. Ok I can take that, however I knew I was doing that during training runs and well this wasnt to be a training run. Well sorta, but not really.

I was always in a clump of people, the same ones off and on. Some would pass me, then I would pass them and so it went. Just after we started mile 8 I caught up with another girl in pink (I was in pink as well; thank you PG cap to match my pink shirt), and who I had seen off and on, all by herself. She was walking and I said to her "come on, lets go". And she did. Right about that time I heard a guy yelling from the back (who was pacing some girls in front of me) "here IT comes!"...and I heard this rumbling like the trees to our left were being pushed by something like wind...and then it hit.

A deluge of rain just freaking poured down! And poured. And poured. For about a mile or so. The girl in pink had no cap and she was having a hard time. Her longest run to date had been 6 miles and never had run in the rain, especially not the type we were getting at that time.

"Put your head down and just go". That was the only advice I could give her. And I did the same thing. As we made a right turn we were then running in water that was ankle deep as the rain was coming down so hard and so fast that the street on the right was flooding. Keep. Going.

Just. keep. going.

It was also during mile 8 where I started passing quite a few people. And they never would pass me again. I was even passing some men, and well sorry fellas, but that makes a girl smile when she passes you men! People were starting to bonk and to just be over the distance and the elements I suppose.

We were in last mile and the rain had let up and when I saw the 15K marker, I knew it was going to be close.

I wanted under 2 hours, but secretly I wanted 1:55. I didnt know my time so far as my intervals were just that, and didnt want to take the time to go through the buttons on the Garmin to see total time at that point. I did the math in my head going by the number of intervals I had completed and I knew I would be cutting it close. As it was I was off on my multiplication and I did come in at "unofficially" 1:55 and some change. (Update: official chip time 1:55:36)

Yes, I could have probaby shaved off a couple of minutes, but I just didnt want to chance it, which I should have a time or two to just put a little extra steam in my step, especially not knowing what my time was. I could have just as easily came in over 2 hours, but I got lucky this go round. :O) An average pace of 11:30ish is not something I want to do again for a 1o miler. Next time I will be going for a PR for sure. I will shave off those minutes (God willing and the creek dont rise :O)

So to all the bloggers and all the Striders (and to one guy at BCRR), thanks for a great morning.

Rain or no rain it was one helluva good time this morning!