I can run!

On Sunday I ran which I believe would be my last race for 2011.  I ran the Whitby Waterfront 10km race.  Another fairly last minute decision but I wanted to see what I can run a 10km in since I have been working on speed on the track this year.  The last time I ran a 10km was in 2006 at the Sporting Life 10km which is known to be a fast course.  I wanted to go under 50min and I was hoping to better my 2006 time of 49:34.

Got picked up by Marianne as her son and his friend were running the 5km.  Got to the race site nice and early and I did a warm up run.  The weather was great for running except for the wind.  It was another very windy day!  So I decided to look more like a runner and by-pass my running hat that I always wear (except for XC this year) while running.  This decision was more due to the wind and I did not want to worry about losing the hat. 

The 5km, 10km, and 10 miler all started at the same time right after the kids 1km run.  This was a much smaller race then what I am used to and it was a nice change from the big crowds and having to try to get some space and run your pace.  The race started and the first km was pretty fast for me.  I went about a 4:30 but I also wanted to get around some of the slower runners/walkers.  I then tried to settle into a fast but comfortable pace and found myself trying to hold back a bit.  My plan was to hold back and then go for broke at the turnaround at the 5km mark.  Got to the 5km mark in 23:30 and was really happy with that.  I still felt really comfortable.  Then I tried to pick up the pace, however, we were met by a nasty headwind.  So I may have been assisted my a tailwind on the way out but now I was paying the price for that.  I then had to dig deep to keep pace and the wind was not making it easy.  I got passed by one guy just after the turnaround who I ended up passing back at around the 7km mark.  I also passed one other guy at about the 6km mark.  Without the crowds it was all up to me to push hard and I liked that.  I found that I was pretty focused and just tried to run as hard as I could and the last 500m I gave what I had.  Marianne actually ran with me for about 200m to get me to run a bit faster and I did.  I was gaining on one guy just in front of me but I did not catch him at the end.  Crossed the line in 47:33 for a new 10km PB!!! Yay!!!  I was really happy with that!  Later I found out I was 4th out of 41 in my age group and 7th woman overall out of 100!  Woohoo!!! Ok, so maybe it wasn't a fast field but I am happy!  I feel that I ran a smart race and left it all out there.

As I was updating my PB's on the right column of my blog, I noticed that all of my running PBs are from 2011!!! Woohoo!!!  I actually would have PB's at all distances (minus IM)  if it wasn't for the cancelled swim at Steelhead and the shortened swim at St. Anthony's!!!  Here's hoping for more PB's in 2012!