Official Time: 24:55
Placement: 20th overall, 3rd in the 45 - 49 age division
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: 100 degrees, slight wind from west, night race
Garmin Dump: Here
Previous Years: Inaugural Year
| Mile | Time | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:48 | Briefly blocked by lots of runners. But off to a solid start. |
| 2 | 8:10 | The heat is getting to me |
| 3 | 8:23 | Probably had more to give but was starting to get some heat stroke / nausea |
| 3.08 | 0:28 | Tried to push it to the end. |
| Total Miles: 3.08 - 24:50 | ||
 |
| 103 Degrees 45 minutes before race start |
Introduction
Well there wasn't a whole lot on the racing calendar for this weekend. I searched high and low for a race and the only one that was close by was the Night Fury 5K -- a Friday night race.
The race started at 8 PM and in Phoenix, that is still pretty warm. Granted, by 8, the sun has set and the temperature is less intense but it is still hot.
I haven't run before in 100+ degree weather. I've run in some pretty hot races, but this was a new "high" for me.
So it was with some trepidation, apprehension, and a little regret that I drove the 2 miles or so to the starting line and got ready to race on a hot Friday night.
The race started at 8 PM and in Phoenix, that is still pretty warm. Granted, by 8, the sun has set and the temperature is less intense but it is still hot.
I haven't run before in 100+ degree weather. I've run in some pretty hot races, but this was a new "high" for me.
So it was with some trepidation, apprehension, and a little regret that I drove the 2 miles or so to the starting line and got ready to race on a hot Friday night.
The Race
I rolled in around 7:15, got my bib and a collector pin. In lieu of a shirt they give you a pin and a pretty sweet custom designed finisher's medal. I would've liked a shirt (I don't know why, I have a ton of them) but they were offering some for sale.
The race started a few minutes early, which I was glad for. I had done a very limited warm-up as even standing around resulting in me working up a sweat.
 |
| View of the first mile |
The course is run along the Mesa / Tempe bike trail. It is pancake flat and a asphalt / concrete trail. I wore my Saucony Fastwitches and so I felt almost every foot step along this way.
Initially I was hemmed in at the start. With about 200 runners cramming their way to the starting line, it was slow going for the first couple of hundred yards. I wished the race director had encouraged slower runners to line up in the back. So I had to spend some energy weaving around much slower folks. It probably slowed me up a bit but not a big deal.
The race director encourage people to take it easy. With it being a 100 degrees, there was plenty of opportunity to suffer from dehydration or heat stroke. I backed off quite a bit for the first half mile to see how the heat would affect me.
I had worked my way up quite well in the first half mile and I began to look at my competition. I saw some folks my age as they made the turn around at roughly the .6 of a mile distance. I felt I was in pretty good shape to fall somewhere in the top 3 for my age.
The race director had said we'd run a half mile out, turn around and come back to the starting line for the first mile. I was worried the course was going to measure long when I came back to the starting line with about 1.20 miles under my belt. I definitely hate when course go long. I'll take .03 plus or minus on the distance but any more than that.... no bueno.
I was passing quite a few people on mile 2. I was hurting though and I could feel the heat weighing on me. Was I overdoing it? Was I going to pass out? It was warm and as I passed the first water stop I grabbed some water and tossed it over my head. I don't think I've ever used a water stop in a 5K before.
At this point it was dark and I was running as quickly as I could. It was too dark to look at my Garmin and I didn't want to fool around with the light on it. Occasionally I'd take a peak at it as the course was illuminated by the park lights. I was a little sad when I saw that I hit an 8:10 mile. I would've liked to have about 15 seconds less.
I was still passing a fair amount of people. I think there were some folks who had started fast and let the heat get the best of them. I was tailing a guy who looked to be in my age division and I made it a point to try and pass him. However, every time I stepped on the gas he was able to match me and when I faded he put some distance on me.
Mile 3 no one was behind me and I was still tailing my competition. I was starting to get some symptoms of pre-heat stroke and I was starting to get worried. I dialed it back a little in hopes that I could turn on the jets in the final quarter mile.
I suspected the course was going to run long but how long... I wasn't sure.
We were running by the freeway and ran under the 101. I had been there before a month ago, so this was somewhat familiar territory to me. I train on the western section of the trail, but I rarely run that stretch.
I was crestfallen when I another guy my age flew by me. I was beginning to have doubts that I'd place in my age group.
The finish line came into view and I picked up the pace. Unfortunately so did the two middle-aged guys in front of me. I wasn't going to catch them....
 |
| Finisher's medal, race pin and age group award |
Conclusion
I collected a super cool and heavy-duty medal when I crossed the finish line. The two middle-aged guys in front of me finished well ahead of me. I suspected I would not be in the age group ring this race. I was tempted to go but I wound up socializing with fellow runners.
I didn't even look at my time (it wasn't until this morning that I looked at it). I sipped on some Gatorade and waited for my stomach to settle down. I wished I had brought my camera and taken pictures of the folks finishing but it was probably a quarter mile walk back to the car.
Awards took a while and I was tickled pink to get third in my age division. It's been a while since I've gotten one. While the race was smallish, there were some quick runners there.
They had water and popsicles and I think some Gatorade. The race was about $25 so it was on a budget. I had brought my own cool drink so that helped. I felt like I had totally gotten my money's worth though -- it was professionally run, timed, and orchestrated. They also had a drawing for various prizes (including entries into the next race) but alas, I didn't win.
They hold a lot of races on this course. Would I run it again? Sure, why not. The medal was super cool and there was a good crowd there. I had way more fun than I thought I would plus it was nice to get an age group award.
I didn't even look at my time (it wasn't until this morning that I looked at it). I sipped on some Gatorade and waited for my stomach to settle down. I wished I had brought my camera and taken pictures of the folks finishing but it was probably a quarter mile walk back to the car.
Awards took a while and I was tickled pink to get third in my age division. It's been a while since I've gotten one. While the race was smallish, there were some quick runners there.
They had water and popsicles and I think some Gatorade. The race was about $25 so it was on a budget. I had brought my own cool drink so that helped. I felt like I had totally gotten my money's worth though -- it was professionally run, timed, and orchestrated. They also had a drawing for various prizes (including entries into the next race) but alas, I didn't win.
They hold a lot of races on this course. Would I run it again? Sure, why not. The medal was super cool and there was a good crowd there. I had way more fun than I thought I would plus it was nice to get an age group award.
No comments:
Post a Comment