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St. Pat's Run 10km

March 4, 2018 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: around 40 and light wind

Comments:
Didn't leave home until after 8, and didn't feel any sort of rush or panic until a small round of butterflies that came and went 10 minutes before race time. Met Jon Ettinger at the race around 8:35 and did a little jogging, a few drills, some leg swings, and a few disorganized striders. Still, the weather was pretty perfect, much less wind than the past few days, thankfully. Went out with Jon, but half mile in a told him I'd be easing off a little. He went with a pack of 5 or so including experienced Chris Farley of Pacers fame. I was alone for the next mile, but the pacing seemed right. 6:05 first mile. Approaching the two mile mark one goes past the Kennedy Center under the overhang and pivots 180 back down river. Perfect timing, a big fellow passed me in that upriver stretch and I convinced myself to latch on to him to block the wind. His slipstream was helpful, but even better, it caused me to stop my pace slide and forced me to stay even with him for the next few miles. 2 mile mark was 6:13 (12:19). The fellow got about 10 steps on me as we returned under Memorial Bridge, but I got a second wind and worked back up to him along Ohio Drive. Even said out loud we should work together to get the guy 50meters up ahead. The #3 and #4 mile markers were missing, but those three middle miles were an 18:44 so I was averaging just under 6:15s. I wavered a smidge at times, but essentially used the guy as a wind break again as we looped the Jefferson and the tidal basin again. Started reeling in a decelerating Jon E through that stretch and when we hit the 5mile mark (31:03), I had gotten within 20 meters of him. Another 180 turn and we were headed back past MLK and toward the Kutz Bridge. I was hurting, but took a chance and surged. Passed my guy, and then Ettinger and then felt pretty strong going up the slanted earth toward 15th street. 6 mile mark was 37:10 (6:06 mile) and enjoyed the fact that it was a downhill final .2 (76 seconds) despite the fact that is was painful to sprint. First in the 45-49 age group. Total time was officially 38:28. 41st overall and 6:12 avg pace. My GDS sweatshirt with my GDSXC knit hat, favorite windpants, and car and house key inside was missing from the tree trunk where I'd left them, so I spent an hour searching trash cans for them and then found a metro cord at lost and found and went home via metro. Still, I'm pleased with the day and my fitness and that I was 25 seconds faster than two years ago. Wore old Yellow DS Trainers.