From: Mike R. (mrioux@e-architect.siht-evomer.com)
Subject: Race Report: Tyler's Run 5k - PR
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 14:08:35 -0400

Tyler's Run
Miami Whitewater Forest, Harrison, Ohio
Oct. 11, 2003

Last week, I read about a local race that benefits SIDS research
http://www.TylersRun.com/.  There were actually 2 races;  a duathlon and a
5k.  The duathletes had to run a 5k, bike 17.6 miles and then run another
5k.  The 5k's were all on the same course;  an out-and-back on a 9' wide
paved hike/bike trail.  Having just completed a triathlon the previous
weekend, I opted for the 5k only.  There were 321 participants in the 5k of
which about half walked.

It was a beautiful fall morning.  Sunny and about 55 deg.  I arrived early
to register and discovered that the duathlon started first and then we were
scheduled to begin 5 minutes later.  The race instructors said that there
would be no passing for the first few hundred feet.  Not wanting to be stuck
behind a much slower runner, I positioned myself close to the starting line.
I was confident in being able to maintain at least a 6:45/mile pace.  We all
wore timing chips but I don't think they registered at the start (no
mat/beep?).  As we approached 1 minute to start, there was still an opening
on the starting line so I opted to move up and begin on the line.

The bullhorn (gun) sounded and we took off down the path.  Being in the
front, I moved out at a pretty good clip and stuck with the leaders.  The
course meanders past a golf course, through a short tunnel and over a bridge
onto the long portion (7.8 mile loop) of the trail.  I kept within 30' of
the three runners in front of me and passed the first mile marker at 6:12.
It was mostly downhill but I was moving out much faster than I had ever run
before.

Soon after the first mile, I began to pass some of the duathletes who had
begun to walk this portion of the 5k (Family friendly event = finishers more
so than competitors).  The duathletes were easy to spot, they had numbers
written on their calves.  About a minute later, I confronted the duathlon
leaders on their way back to the transition area which was adjacent to our
finish line.

Less than a half mile later, I hit the turn around and saw that I was about
20 seconds back from the 5k leaders.  At this point I was encountering 5k
runners and duathlon walkers moving against my direction and duathlon
runner/walkers moving in my direction.  The path suddenly became very
congested.  It was very difficult to keep track of the leaders.  I know I
passed at least one but wasn't sure if there were two or just one still out
front.  Given his distinct running clothing, I was able to keep the eventual
winner in sight until there was about 1/2 mile to go.  By then I was going
back uphill and I lost sight of him in the curves.

At mile three, the course splits and the 5k heads down toward the water's
edge, through the start line and on to the finish while the duathlon heads
to the transition area for their bikes.  A sharp right turn onto a grass
covered slope led me up to the finish.  Again, there was no mat or beeping
to register my crossing the finish line.   I was immediately asked which age
division I was in.  It took me a moment for the question to register and to
respond coherently.  I received an engraved pint glass having placed in my
AG.

I managed to record all of my mile splits but did not actually check the
times while running.  It turns out the faster runners were competing in the
duathlon.  I would have placed at least 14th in their group and most likely
much worse if they were only competing in the 5k.

Results:
3rd place overall - 20:08.6 finishing time = 6:30/mile pace = (Previous PR -
23:11)
Splits 6:12/6:31/6:57/0:28
2nd in AG (winner was in same AG)

Mike