2010 Teri's Run 5k

Teri's Run 5k
Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Friday, September 10, 2010

I first ran this race back in 2003, setting my still standing 5k PR of 17:11. Ah, to be that fast again. Ah, to be that young again. I ran my second fastest 5k the following year. Obviously I caught “lightning in a bottle” in ’03 since my second best time is only 17:40. (Before the naysayers start naysaying about, maybe, ’03 being a short one, the course was the same both years and the race director is known to be very accurate with the measurements.)

After a three year break from both coaching at Bishop Shanahan High School and running Teri’s Run, I returned to do both in 2008. The Cross Country Boys and Girls teams decided to run the race as a “Service Project” so we had toxic yellow tee shirts made up and had a grand old time. I managed a 17:45, but, better yet, I beat all the kids.

Because of my MAMFAY obligations – I was off on my last marathon up in Rochester, New York – I didn’t participate in 2009. But the teams still did, this time in bright orange tee shirts.

Now, we’re up to 2010 and another visit to downtown Downingtown. This time wearing blue.

I still have it as my mission to beat all the kids. Because of my advancing age, it might be a bit more of a challenge, though I helped my cause by suggesting to the kids that they take it easy and run the race as more of a social event. To add to the excitement of the day, I was also running a “virtual race” against one of my Internet buddies as he was running a Sunday 5k in California. Lots of pressure. Then there was the bit of tendonitis in my left Achilles tendon.

I really don’t know how I screwed it up so badly, probably doing yard work, but, on Tuesday of race week, I had to walk home from a training run. For the first time that I can ever recall. I got two miles into an easy eight mile run and had to turn around and walk. Fortunately, because of a loop, it was only about three quarters of a mile. I was majorly concerned. Not just about the race coming up on Friday, but about my longer term training for the Philadelphia Marathon in November.

Friday, race day, there was still a bit of discomfort even walking. For the race, I park my car at the start/finish area and do an easy run over to the school, just a tick over a mile, where we all meet. Then it’s a group run to the race site.

I taped my Achilles up tight (as I was telling others, tight enough to cut off circulation and, therefore, pain) and figured I’d do the two easy one mile runs and then make a game time decision about whether or not I was racing. Things felt decent enough, so I decided I’d give it a go.

Oh, in the spirit of “Fun Dress Friday” as designated by the girls, I went with special socks. I did get some interesting comments from both friends and strangers. I decided to roll them down to my ankles for the race so as not to provide any extra incentive to anybody who happened to be catching up to me.

I lined up about ten rows back and started going when Kevin, the RD, yelled “Go!” My starting position might have been a bit pessimistic as it took just a bit to weave through the runners not running quite as quickly as I wanted to run. Things felt pretty good and, after a couple of brief thoughts in the beginning, I wasn’t aware of my Achilles issue. I think part of the benefit of a faster pace is that I’m landing more on the balls of my feet and, as a result, not stretching out the Achilles tendons as much as on a slower paced run where I’m probably more of a heel striker.

Before the Achilles issue, I had a loose goal of 18:36 for the race. That would be a 6:00 per mile pace and, based on the total and complete lack of any kind of speed work during training, was probably about the best I could expect. Now, though, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was capable of. I decided to just run as hard as I could for as long as I could and see what happened.

I wasn’t sure if there were any mile markers out on the course. Which, by the way, had changed from the last time I ran the race two years ago. Now it was going to be an identical two lap affair with a complete 180 degree spin around a cone at the start/halfway/finish line. At least I’d get a semi-official time split for halfway.

Things got pretty open pretty quickly and I was able to run without worrying about my fellow runners. A left, another left, a harder left, a gradual left, and an easy semi-circle spin to the right. (There were short straights between the turns.) I saw a painted 2.5 on the street followed pretty quickly by a painted 1. Figuring this was the one mile mark for the race, I hit the split button on my watch. 5:54. It didn’t feel horrible, but it also didn’t feel like I could run any faster. Well, about a half mile and I would be halfway done. Since I can’t recall any recollections about the Achilles, I’m going to say it wasn’t bothering me.

There was a water station right about here, but I didn’t partake.

I was happy I made the left turn onto Green Street before seeing the leaders on the way out for their second lap. This meant that I was within a quarter mile or so of the lead. This race, with prize money to the top ten overall and the top two masters, is very competitive, so I wasn’t expecting anything as far as a high overall placement went. The big clock clicked over the nine minute mark as I was rounding the cone to head out for round two – 9:07 as I clarified when looking at garmin data – so, baring a total collapse, I should be able to run a sub 18:30 run.

I started scanning incoming runners as I was heading out, looking for the blue of the cross country kids. I was surprised to see Kayla, our number one girl, before any of the guys. I could have easily missed Kevin and Joe D, the top two boys. So, there was not a whole lot of room for error if I wanted to beat the kids. Losing to Kevin and/or Joe wouldn’t have been so bad. But, if Kayla beat me, I’d probably never hear the end of it.

There was a smattering of “Go Coach!” calls from parents on the sidelines, but I was getting into a bit of the tunnel vision period of hard running. I was able to tell that most of the blue-shirted kids were, indeed, running socially and having fun and I tried to acknowledge their cheers with a wave.

I passed an adult girl with a blue shirt. That would turn out to cause me more trouble than it might have been worth. I never was able to drop her, and, every time I glanced over my shoulder and saw blue, I always thought Kayla was lurking.

I saw the painted 2 on the ground on East Pennsylvania Avenue (I hadn’t noticed it the first go round, I guess, because of the early congestion of lap one) and, again, got a split. 5:52. Hmmm, I thought, that’s just a tick faster than mile one. Dare I think of sub-18:00? Maybe it was good to have this blue-shirted lady on my shoulder.

The left, the left, the hard left, the gradual left, the bend around the semi-circle – the sense of déjà vu all over again – the painted 2.5 number and just over a half mile to go. I skipped the water stop again. For all intents and purposes, the course is flat. The only real “hill” is a thirty foot climb that takes four tenths of a mile. What’s that? Let’s see . . . Slope is rise over run. So, 30 feet divided by 2112.4 feet (5280 feet in a mile times .4) times 100 gives a slope of 1.4%. Nothing that would strike fear.

The blue shirted lady goes by me. I go by the blue shirted lady.

We’re back on East Pennsylvania Avenue where we see 5k walkers heading out for their second lap. One more turn and the final straight on Green Street. There’s a 3 on the ground and I instinctively hit the split button on my watch, but I don’t look at it. (Turns out it was a 5:56.) The blue shirted lady goes by. I try and keep up, but I’ve approached Pukeville and I decide it’s not really worth it. Unless, of course, Kayla happens to run by. I semi-cruise across the line. Final time is 18:20. Better than I expected. Better yet, I beat all the kids. And there’s no negativity with the Achilles. Now, if there were only beer at the finish area.

I’m not finished long when Kevin and Joe race across the line, with Kevin getting the best by a second, 18:51 to 18:52. Kayla comes across in 19:00 flat.

By the way, the blue shirted lady I had been going back and forth with is 48 and she beat me by two seconds, finishing eighth overall for the women and scoring some money. So, there you have it. I got chicked eight times as I finished 38th overall and fourth in the 50 to 59 age group.

Oh yeah, I did beat my imaginary friend in our “virtual race” as he ran an 18:27 out in California.

Coach Noone with Kayla (1st in female 19 and under),
Kevin and Joe (1st and 2nd in male 19 and under)
Sure doesn't look like those kids put much effort into the run.

Writing this a day or so after the race, there’s only minor tenderness with the left Achilles tendon. I’m going to wait until it settles down completely before resuming training. I’m not expecting great things at the Philadelphia Marathon, but it would be nice to break three hours. I’m hoping there’s beer at the finish line in November as my brother is running his first marathon and my sister is running her second so I’ll probably be hanging around for an extra hour or so. Although putting that thought on paper may jinx me and they’ll end up waiting for me.

Thanks, everybody, for reading. If anybody has any comments, queries, suggestions, corrections, etc., please pass them along.

Return to Noone's Saloone & Golf Club.

Originally published on September 13, 2010.