Kind Of Blue

Yea! More running talk!

When I did my (not so) little Philadelphia Distance Run wrap-up post, I hadn't noticed that they had posted race splits along with the results (ahh, so that's what that "show splits" link was for).

Anyway, like I had said back then, I was shooting for 8-minute miles but fell apart at the ten-mile mark, resulting in a final pace of 8:18 per mile. With which I'm perfectly happy. Really. Honest. No prob-blam-oh. Just a training run, perfectly happy, blah, blah, blah.

So why bring up the splits? To show just how hard I hit that wall at mile 10. They took split times at 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles) and at the ten-mile mark. My time after ten miles? 1:19:59. One second ahead of my 8-minute mile goal. My pace for the remaining 3.1 miles? 9:21. Ug-hug-lee.

How ugly? Just as I was once again coming to terms with my weak-ish finish, the proof for my race photo (which must have been taken around mile 12 maybe?) arrived in my inbox:

Yeah, it was that ugly. I probably should have given you more warning.

The nine-year-old's reaction to the photo? You're all blue looking.

I'm guessing he's not going to want that 8-by-10 glossy I got for his room.

[I did get my race bib for the LBI 18-miler in the mail today and I have to admit, I'm pretty psyched for this race. Just got to remember to start slow, drink a lot of water, and, most importantly, avoid all cameras.]

[Oh, and I realized this week that I started this whole wacky running thing back in September, 1996 - ten years ago this month! Woo-hoo for me!]

Comments

[ShoreTurtle]

I think a lot of people were blue. It was a warm day. Our splits were very similar (within 20 seconds for 5K, 10K and 10 mile). I'm looking forward to LBI too, though it worries me a little.

[Janie]

Maybe you should take up biking? Oh, never mind... that's the equivalent of even MORE miles, huh? (Michael paid me to say that.)

[dmac]

Congrats! I've always wanted to do the PDR ever since I was little. Now the goal is "drop 40 pounds, run a 5K."

I was, however, not last in my high school's alumni run again this year. I was next to last.