2010 NYRR Fred Lebow Classic

NYRR Fred Lebow Classic (5M) - Saturday, January 9 / 5M • 8:00 a.m. / Central Park / S, Q, C

Course
Start on the East Drive just North of 99th Street and head North. Turn Left/West onto 102nd Street transverse and continue to the West Drive. Turn Left/South onto West Drive and continue around the southern end of the Park onto the East Drive to the finish on the East Drive near 99th Street.

Distance: 5.0 Miles, 8.0 Kilometers
Date/Time: Jan. 9, 2010, 8:00 am
Location: Central Park, NYC
Weather: 25 deg., 27% humidity, wind 9 mph

Overall Place: 1415
Gender Place: 1059
Age Place: 214
Finish Time: 43m26s
Pace/Mile: 8m41s
AG Time: 42m44s
AG Gender Place: 1292
AG %: 49.9%

I wasn't feeling it last night, and I wasn't sure if I was going to go to this race when I went to bed. I had a so-so week, and was really out of sorts on Friday. However, by the time I woke up, I was motivated by my training plan for the half-marathon that I'm running in two weeks. I also wanted to test what it would be like to run in cold weather and see how the other runners prepare for a cold weather run. It was cold!!! It was so cold that the water in the cups at the water stations would start to turn to ice by the third or fourth mile. I'm not even joking, but that's pretty funny. I also noticed that there weren't as many NYRR volunteers on the race.

I wore two wicking shirts, one sleeveless and one long sleeve, and my orange pullover. That was enough for the top. I also wore long underwear and my long running pants. I think I need to get running tights, as everyone has them, and the long underwear was too much for the run. I felt my legs feel were too warm during the race. I wore my running gloves and my ear band to keep my ears warm. Both were needed. I wore the new ASICs socks I got free at the NY ASICS store, and it was all good. So, the only thing I would change is the long underwear. For the half, I might just wear running shorts and running pants, or buy running tights. Everything else was pretty good.

I didn't eat anything the morning of the race, but I had a bottle of water and had a berry gel about 15 minutes before the race. I like the gel, but I'm going to look for some without caffeine.

I felt okay the morning of the race. I left my apartment by 6:35, 6:40a, picked up my number at 89th Street, and got to the race at 102nd street by 7:30a, which was enough time to get ready. I got to my corral with plenty of time, so I warmed up by jogging in place. It's nice to get there early and not feel rushed.

I was pretty excited to be there and feel what it was like to race in really cold weather. I missed my running buddy SLG. I looked out for a few people that I knew was going to run the race, but I couldn't find them. I hadn't run in a while, as I missed a few training opportunities, so I wasn't sure how I would feel. I did spin and hula, so I was keeping up aerobic activities, but I missed a long training run and a treadmill run. I just thought I would pace myself, but all that went out the window when the 'gun' went off. My competitiveness took over, and instead of using this race as a practice run for the half-marathon and pacing myself, I just ran like it was another race.

I forgot my new GPS watch at home, but I think I did a negative split again. By the second mile, I was around 18 and a half minutes, according to the race clock. I knew I was far back by the time I started, so I figured I was doing a 9 minute pace. I skipped the water from the first table. I think I got to the third mile at 27min30sec, so I was still around 9min per mile. By then, I was calculating in my head that I wanted to do a sub 9min pace per mile. I stopped for water at the next two water stations (I think there were only three during the race), and walked it as I finished the icy water! Around the fourth mile marker, the long hill on the east side was intimidating. At the crest of the hill, I had to take a break and walk for a bit. I think I got to the fourth mile at just under 36min, so I was around 9min per mile. I wanted to finish strong, and felt pretty good. I had a little left in the tank to pick up my pace with about a half-mile to go, and crossed the finish line with the race clock showing 44min and a half. Or something like that, I was so excited to finish that I stuck my arms out like wings, shook my head like a Tasmanian devil, and whooped it out as I crossed the finish line. Yay! I reached my goal of a sub 9 minute mile pace!

So, either I'm miscalculating, or I'm doing negative splits in my times. Meaning, I'm doing a faster pace per mile toward mile 3 through mile 5 than I am at mile 1 and mile 2. This pace makes sense because I usually have to warm up at the start, and just go out at a comfortable jog. By the middle of the race, I feel stronger, and my pace reflects it.

It turns out, I got a PR for my pace per mile at 8:41/mile! This was at a five mile no less! I think my previous best was 8:48/mile at a four mile race. That's pretty awesome!

Two more weeks until the half-marathon. Wish me luck!