Saturday, October 19, 2013

Race report: 2013 Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's Run

Seconds after crossing the line
photo courtesy of The Petite Pacer
Today's run (Town of Oyster Bay 5K): 3.1 miles - 28:39

This morning I ran the Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's Run for the third time and had a great time. My performance was puzzling because I thought I'd do better than I did. I had an RPR (reverse PR - just made that up), having run my slowest ever 5K. Aside from that, it was great. I met The Petite Pacer for the first time in person and she was every bit as personable and charming as she is on her blog.

The morning started out well. I arrived a few minutes before 8:00 AM and parked at the high school. It's a fairly short walk the hill up to the Community Center where they do registration and hand out race numbers and sweatshirts (hoodies this year!). I gave them my name, but it wasn't on the list. After being referred to some GLIRC volunteers, I realized I'd never actually signed up. Not too smart of me. The GLIRC people were incredibly nice and gave me a race number after I'd filled in a registration slip. They didn't even ask for money, but I had the cash on me and insisted they take it.

After pinning my race bib, I ran into The Petite Pacer. We headed toward the starting line that's located about a quarter mile away on South Street. TPP suggested doing some strides so we ran a few hundred meters and returned to the starting area a couple of minutes before 9:00 AM. Our position was at the front and I mentioned that we should probably move back to keep from getting run over by the 6 minute milers.

The race started, but I found it hard to move in the crowd. I regretted suggesting that we move back before. TPP broke away and I saw her farther ahead before losing sight of her as we turned on Berry Hill Rd. I could not get past the clumps of runners ahead of me and I think it lengthened my first mile time quite a bit. According to my Garmin, I ran the first mile at 9:35 and came through mile 2 around 19:18. I did the last 1.1 miles in 8:21.

I thought I was in better shape for this race and didn't struggle on the long hill, so I was puzzled by my time. The hill gets steeper after the first mile and I remember feeling the increased burden. Still, I felt like I was maintaining a decent stride. I obviously made up a lot of time on the mostly downhill second half and passed a lot of people along that pretty tree-lined road. The peacefulness was broken only by a runner behind me who was singing loudly and off key to the music on his iPod.

All hope of finishing under 27:50 (which would put me below a 9 minute pace) was dashed when I saw the 3 mile clock. I pushed as hard as I could and crossed the line at 28:39. TPP was already there, having finished a few minutes before me. She videoed my crossing the line which was an unexpected surprise. I'll return the favor the next time I finish before her, which will probably be never.

Post race recovery with TPP
TPP and I got our time slips and I saw my official pace - 9:13. It was far slower than I expected to run this race. Last year I averaged 8:22 per mile. I have not had a good year in terms of race times but I still have a few more races on the schedule to improve my standings.

More important than my time was the great experience I had with the kind volunteers who helped me get registered and the opportunity to spend some time with The Petite Pacer. Tomorrow I'll get out and go as far and fast as I feel like running. That's the best part of a Saturday race. You have a bonus day to do another weekend run.

8 comments:

  1. What a great time I had today,thanks! I had a hard time dodging people in front of me too. But I'm small. I can slide in anywhere..
    That was awfully nice of them to offer the bib up like that.(BTW, their magazine is GREAT!!! *hint*)

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    Replies
    1. It really was a great morning, thanks. I guess it's time to join GLIRC : ) They certainly proved themselves to be great people.

      Next year I'm starting at the front. It seems to work in Long Beach pretty well!

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  2. Showing up at a race that you never registered for... Sounds familiar... Watch out, C! Race amnesia might be contagious.

    Great job, ER! Crowds will affect your time, for sure. I read a comment once that if a runner PRd in every race, he must be mediocre. You are not mediocre.

    I agree with C about joining GLIRC. Great magazine and really nice folks. I'm happy that you guys met up! I'm sure it was fun. When you guys meet me, it won't be fun and you'll probably regret it. So maybe I'll wait until Boston because you'll both be too preoccupied with being in Boston, you'll forget to be disappointed :)

    What's next?

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    1. Thank you A (learned that yesterday : ). I would have liked to hit my performance target but what the heck. I feel like blaming the "crowded start" is a bad excuse. I really thought I'd do better.

      You were our virtual race friend yesterday and it would have been a blast to have you there. We really wished you were.

      Consider the Long Beach Turkey Trot on 11/24. We'll both be there. It's a really fast course (my 10K PR). You two can spend some quality time talking while you wait for me to finally cross the line.

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    2. I'm already committed to doing the Garden City Turkey Trot. Another fast, flat course. I've done a ton of races in Long Beach, I feel like I need a change of scenery.

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    3. We're both doing this race on 11/10: http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1075976

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    4. On November 9 I'm doing the RVC 10k. How does December look ;) ?

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    5. Are you up for the HO HO HO Holiday 5K on 12/21?

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