Weekend Race Results

It was an exciting weekend of racing for some of the Sal’s Racing Team. The races began on Friday night with Jan and I doing the McMullenMile. My prediction was a 6:48 and I ended up at 6:54. At least I was under 7:00, which was important to me. I also picked up 5 or 6 Runner of the Year points, my first points of the season, so I’m going in the right direction. Jan beat my prediction for her of an 8:32 and ran an 8:23, good enough for 2^nd place in her age group and 9 RROY points. I think the lightning storm that moved in during her last two laps spurred her on. I was surprised they kept racing and personally did not feel very comfortable standing next to the all-metal bleachers waiting for the race to end. The meet got postponed until Saturday morning after Jan’s race. 

Saturday morning Pete “The Ageless Wonder” won his age group at the Lifetime Assistance 5k. Across town Eileen won her age group at the Fast & Furriest 10k. 

Sunday morning Joanne and Lou ran the Niagara Falls Women’sHalf Marathon (in Canada no less). Lou ran the mostly all-women’s race because he was promised his own port-a-potty. Well, maybe not. Maybe he’s a nice husband who wanted to support his wife and help her finish a 13.1 mile race? You decide. 

McMullen Mile - Day of Race Thoughts

The annual Charlie McMullen mile is tonight. The elite men's race has pacers and invited runners in an attempt to break the four minute mile. I don't have to worry about that race, all I need to do is watch and cheer.
Jan and I will be in earlier heats trying hard not to run so slowly that we get lapped. I found out on Monday the race would be this week (Friday) instead of the originally scheduled June 12th date. It's probably best to get it over with, though there was a lot of hemming and hawing on my part before registering for the race.
I have a few pre-race thoughts;

1. I hope my mile time trial Monday night on the wet canal path isn't a true predictor of my race time tonight.
2. Physically it's great to be able to think I'm able to even consider running an all-out mile. Mentally it's tough realizing a great race tonight will give me a time I used to run for every mile in a 10k.
3. Based on pre-registrations I should be in the top 3 or 4 of my age group, Jan the same. Great, right? Of course right now there are only 3-4 in our age groups. I hope seven more fast guys don't show up and register to race tonight, I want the Runner of the Year points!
4. I should run a mile time trial once a month. The mile is a great way to test your fitness and mental toughness. If I ran it more often maybe I wouldn't be so nervous about the mile.
5. Two hours after I registered online the weather forecast for tonight changed. The temperature prediction went up to 78, dew point is higher and now the possibility of a thunderstorm. These are not ideal racing conditions.
6. The mile is a painful race. The first quarter is usually too fast and I go through wondering if I'm going to die. The second quarter I get back to my goal pace, hopefully not much slower and blowing the race. At the beginning of the third quarter the pain usually really begins. Breathing becomes difficult, legs might begin to tie up a bit. When there's about 500 to go though I realize I will make it, maybe not as fast as I would have liked, but if I grit it out still a good race. With 400 to go, the gun lap you always try to pick it up. I usually think I am, but really probably just hanging on. With 200 to go I'll try to sprint to the finish, glad it's all over.
7. Will the bear come out? Of course, there is no way I'll be able to breathe normally. Jan will laugh, along with some other spectators. A few people might wonder if the old man is going to die.
8. One of my best all-time races was a 1500 meter run on snowshoes around a 300 meter "track" in the Adirondack mtn's for the Empire State Games. With 500 meters to go I finally took off and was able to earn my first medal, a bronze, but still it meant a lot to me. I want to run like that tonight. I want to be proud of my effort no matter what the final time is.
9. Nutrition is tough today. Jan and I won't be racing until around 7pm. We can't eat a dinner without bad results, either spending pre-race time in the bathroom or getting physically ill after the race. I think it's all Hammer products until our races are completed.
10. Predictions - Jan 8:32, me 6:48.

The Mile Time Trial

For a few weeks I've been considering running the Charlie McMullen one mile race in June. With spring finally here in western NY and the tracks free of feet of snow, last Sunday was a perfect time for me to do a time trial.

I like going to the local high school track on Sunday mornings. Usually I am alone, occasionally one or two other people might be running or walking. Many times I use Sunday morning as my "play" day with running. I typically bike the 1.4 miles to the track and then begin the run workout with a 1-1.5 mile run. The pace is often a bit quicker than I run on the roads. After 800-1200 yards I'll generally pick up my pace on the straights for 100 yards.

Then it's play time. Depending on my mood I might do 6-10x100 yard sprints, or I'll continue with fast straights and jog the curves for three more miles. I might go off and run up and down the bleachers then come back to the track for a couple of laps before repeating the bleacher run. I may do a series of 200s, or more likely a ladder with 100-200-300-400 and back down and up/down again. On Saturdays I may run 8-10 miles with friends so my legs aren't always fresh for a full track workout, but in my younger days these are the kind of back to back days that seemed to make me stronger in races.  

This past Sunday was all about business though. A good mile race or time trial can be a hard thing to set your mind on. It's going to hurt, especially by lap three, and you need to mentally be prepared to accept that pain. Alone on the track it is easy to give up, slow down a bit, wonder if it's worth it. I have done little speedwork this year other than some telephone pole pickups or a couple of times running hard for 90-120 seconds seven or eight times during a five mile run. I had no idea what to expect in my mile time trial. Well, I had a goal, but didn't know if I would be close to it.

After my first lap I was pleased to see my watch read two seconds below my goal. The second lap became a bit harder and I came through the 800 at two seconds over the goal. Still doable. Lap three the bear came jumping on my back clawing and screaming. I was suddenly really glad no one was there to hear me. It seemed to take a long time to run the third lap, but also at 1000 yards I told myself it was almost over. Whatever time I ran was what I needed to design my future workouts around and improve from. I would have a yardstick to measure progress and I desperately needed that. I came through 1200 at six seconds over the goal.

The fourth lap was hard. I consciously picked up the pace, especially the last 100, and matched my first lap time. I was four seconds over my predicted time, not horrible and an effort I could be happy with. I rested before running another 1.25 miles and biking home. Now I'm ready to work and see if I can get in shape to race the McMullen without embarrassing myself within my age group.

Racing the Mile

Several Sal's racers competed in the Charlie McMullen memorial mile race held at Nazareth College on Thursday, June 11. This was a Rochester Runner of the Year race and by my calculations it appears all of us picked up points!

In the women's 50-54 group, Eileen ran a fantastic 7:23.7 and finished in 3rd place, good for 8 RROY points. In the men's 65+ group Pete ran a 6:53.3 and finished 1st. Roger H. finished 2nd in 60-64 running a 6:22. In the 45-49 group, Mike May ran a 6:13.3, good enough for 6th. In the 55-59 group, Andy ran a 6:34.3 and Lou a 6:50.7, for 9th and 10th places. In the men's 50-54 group Mike W ran a scintillating 5:59.79, good enough for 3rd place and 8 RROY points, while I ran a 6:20.6, for 9th place.

Top ten in a RROY race score points.

Full results are at Yen Timing.