Adrenaline 5k Race and Post Race Recap

My performance in the Adrenaline 5k in Haddonfield yesterday was okay. Not a great race, but also not terrible. My race plan was to go out in 5:25-35 for the first mile, keep it under control and then try to pick it up through the finish.

Before the race started, I met up with a bunch of the Breakneck guys at Eric Bonnette's parents house (conveniently located about a minute from the start line). Joining me in the group were Eric, Nick DeSantis, Matt Ciociola, Jason Simon, and Abel Bermudez. I then met Katie Van Horn who was also using the house as a pre-race meeting spot. All of the guys went out to warm up on the trails around the house. I did a shorter warm up than the rest of the guys to match what I've been doing be for my workouts. I didn't want to change up anything from my routine right before race time.

During the warm up because I felt really good and I wasn't too nervous about the race. I don't think I've ever PRed or run close to running my best when I've felt great during the warm up. I laced up my flats and did a couple striders to get to the start line. To keep myself from going out way too fast, I lined up a few rows back. The gun went off and I saw tons of people take off in a pace that was way too fast for me.

I went out easy and about a half mile into the race the pack had thinned out somewhat. I looked around to see if I recognized anyone. I noticed an ETA Coach singlet and the runner turned out to be a Hawk Harrier Camp Alum John Williams. The was a noticeable wind throughout most of the race, but it wasn't anything to tough to deal with. Either way, I decided to tuck into the pack that I was running around. After we made a turn leading to the one mile mark, I noticed I was running in the same pack as Katie and Abel.

I went through the first mile in exactly 5:30, right on pace. Abel was a couple seconds ahead but the packs were breaking up and turning into a huge mass of people. I saw Abel trying to get out of the pack he was in and had to force his way out. The move was similar to something I saw Matt Ciociola do in an indoor mile race; an action that was later dubbed the "Ciociola Shove". I kept the pace going and tucked back into a pack about a half mile in. There was a water stop, but I avoided it. I did notice a Ralph Harris working the station that no one in the front of the race seemed to be using.

I kept the second mile under control, but it turned out I actually eased up on the pace. I went through the 2 mile in 11:20, which simple math tells you was a 5:50 mile. Previously I would have put on a surge to try to immediately get back on pace, but this time I decided to do it gradually because I knew the end of the race had a slight downhill. A little less than a half mile I heard a someone call out my name from the pack I was in. It was none other than Hawk Harrier counselor Bill "Ding-a-ling" Ling. He asked if we were going to break 18. I knew that unless I fell off the pace, that it wouldn't be an issue. I responded with a simple "yeah" as I was starting to breathe heavy. Bill took off to pick off some people and I think somewhat to gain some ground before I started my kick.

From running this race a few times in the past, I knew that even though you can see the finish, it is actually a lot further away. Eventually I ran past Coach Jason right as I was starting my kick. I probably picked off 10 to 15 people in the last quarter mile. Sure enough the first 2 people in front of me were Bill and Katie. As I crossed the line and worked my way through the chute, I saw Nick who finished well before me and Bill who was being told "If you're going to vomit, don't vomit on that mat". I didn't feel nearly as bad so I know that I can go faster. My chip time was 17:39 and placed 82nd overall which I consider a solid performance. Last year, I also placed 82nd, but only ran 17:54.

Post Race

All the breakneck guys regathered at the Bonnette house and started our cool down. Eric was upset about his performance and ran out early to get another 30 minute run in. After everyone was done cooling down, we opened up the cooler of beers from Philadelphia Brewing Company that Jason Simon brought with him. After having a couple, Nick and I ran down to the awards ceremony to check out the results and for him to pick up his age group medal. We returned to the house to have a couple more drinks and then headed over to the running store. There was some food and drinks at the store to find out the details to the post race party that night. After I had about 6 beers before 1 PM, I knew I'd have to take a nap to be able to make it out to the party without being a zombie.

Nick drove me back to his house and I took a nap on his couch. Around 4:30, Matt came over with another cooler of beer and we had one before heading out to dinner at Skeeters. Matt, who has been preparing a presentation on nutrition, proceeded to order close to 3,000 calories for himself. Since I was driving us to the party I only had a beer, some fires and nachos and 10 garlic parm wings. A little after 7 we headed to the party in a restaurant in Haddonfield. The party was open bar all night. We stayed stayed there and hung out with a lot of friends and runners then eventually took a fun cab ride home. It was a lot of fun, but we were all paying for it this morning.

Spring Racing Season

This Saturday I will begin my racing career with ETA Coach. I, well technically my alias Remy LaBouche, will be racing the Adrenaline 5k in Haddonfield, NJ. Many of my Breakneck Track Club teammates will be racing as well and we'll have a pretty good turnout. I've done this race the last couple years and it always attracts many fast runners.

In the last couple weeks, I've had a couple workouts. The workouts have not been difficult and the hardest part is to hold back and only hit the times listed. I've joked with friends and Coach Jason that my workout times are at little girl pace. I've done a combination of short intervals, which feel like long striders, and some threshold 1200s. I've really liked the threshold work because the rest is short and the workout is done quicker. I'm not a fan of just standing or jogging around waiting for the next interval.

I know that the purpose of these workouts are mainly to build up strength and have a solid base for the rest of my racing season. Right now the plan is to race occasionally once every month or so to gauge the progression of my fitness and then eventually be in shape for the summer racing season. Since I'm nowhere close to being in good shape, I have low to no expectations for the race this weekend. I will also be participating in the Phillies 5k on Saturday March 26th, but I will most likely be running the race as a workout.