From: lustig@rocketmail.com (lustig) Subject: Another small and rainy race Date: 19 May 2003 05:31:20 -0700 This time not so small (2200 participants despite the poor weather forecast) as but definitely rainier than the 10K a fortnight ago - and this race report is probably written with the same flair for the obvious as the previous one... Racing is a way of introducing some drama into one—s running life (and a structure and a purpose for one—s training) - and, why not, into one—s largely uneventful life in a safe and containable manner (unlike, say, mountain climbing, reckless driving or engaging in one-night stands), and in this HM the suspense around my humble person centered on the following hot questions: Q: Would the weather be rainy with a temperature of 7C (45F), or sunny with a temperature of 20C (68F) as it would be on the other side of the climate front? A: The forecast was right: the cold rain faded into a drizzle ten minutes before the start only to return to a pour twenty minutes into the race. Q: Would I beat Mr Blue, the drafting bastard of the 10K race, and Mr Black, my old nemesis with a Yifter-like kick at the end? A: Mr Blue DNSed (though not probably out of fear), and Mr Black ran this race merely as a marathon-pace preparatory one for the Stockholm Marathon four weeks ahead - which I learned before the start, so the much-expected meet fizzled away before it had started, but, yes, I did beat him with a marginal that would—ve made my day... (A certain Dr E would—ve been a suitable scalp for me to capture, had I known he was running - and a possible one, too, for whatever reason, on this day.) Q: Would I improve my PB by two minutes? A: Yes, with a few seconds to clear, if I accept my own net time of 1:24:38 (there was no chip timing), and on what I held to be a "marathon-pace" effort. Q: Would "life itself" interfere with my plans for the race? A: No slippage on the bathroom floor, just a mild case of the trots, which didn—t weaken me at all, but led to a ate-minute visit to the WC and subsequently to an abysmally poor start, which in turn turned the first Ks into irritatingly slow "microfartlek" ones. (The start was a bit of shambles as a whole: runners had lined up not only with little regard for proper positioning but also wide off the stretch of the rather narrow road on which the starting gate stood, and the road didn—t get any wider...) All of the above made me drop my full steam PB attempt by the 3K marker - although I admit stronger wills than mine wouldn—t have wavered:-) - and save the all-out effort for a better day. I ran the race on a less ambitious and demanding level, doing about 4:00 Ks at a steady pace, except when reeling in a particular runner. It was remarkably easy, which helps me forgive myself and imagine that a 1:21 HM and a 2:50 M aren—t such distant possibilities for me. OTOH I—m aware that for me each and every second under 4:00 pace demands an increasing effort, and than it—s generally one thing to maintain a certain pace for 30K and quite another to do it for 42K:-) I was reminded of the former during the race: when a spectator shouted: "Three female runners are ahead of you guys!", a young buck pushed the Turbo button, and emulating him brought the pace too close to my 10K pace:-) (I did manage to finish before all but one female runner...) In a nut shell: another nice race on an enjoyable coarse (60/40 asphalt/sand, just the right amount of hills and turns, changing scenery and surprising- ly many spectators. If you enjoyed the words, you might enjoy the pictures: The start outside the Olympic Stadium: http://www.sul.fi/hcr/hcr2003/kuvia/1276.jpg http://www.sul.fi/hcr/hcr2003/kuvia/1277.jpg A bunch of runners (in which I "should—ve been") after about four furlongs (in what has to pass for the "lush greenery of May" in these parts): http://www.sul.fi/hcr/hcr2003/kuvia/1282.jpg And since you offered me an opportunity to make fun of your running gear, here—s mine: http://www.kuvatilaus.net/Data/Event/HelsinkiCityRun2003/Preview/1-7389.JPG And here—s the obligatory Englishman (in colours you may recognize):-): http://www.kuvatilaus.net/Data/Event/HelsinkiCityRun2003/Preview/2-9457.JPG Anders PS it was my first run in New Balance 831s (I wore them literally out of the box); I couldn—t have been happier, they—re certainly among the "best-rolling" shoes I—ve tried. Any neutral runner with a light- weight frame is warmly recommended to give them a go. They look good, too:-) PPS I wouldn—t have thought it was possible to get chafed nipples in a HM...