Mercy Heart Mini-Marathon - 15K - Run15k

Decided to put my training, Heart Rate tests, and LT tests to work for me. Getting all GOOBER scientific on this, I decided I SHOULD be able to hold a 6:30 pace for this distance, for a finish under 1:01. Here was my evil plan. Instead of "banking" time by hauling ass the first few miles and then "holding on" for the last part of the race, I decided to try to run MOSTLY even splits for the entire race. I WANTED to run 6:25s for the first 5 1/2 miles, then 6:35s for the rest. (at mile 5.5, there is a HUGE hill they run you up, so I KNEW I'd have to deal with a weird time at that point, RECOVER, then pick up the pieces and make it home). Also, it should be noted that there is ZERO flat places on this race. You are either going UP, or you are going DOWN, but NEVER flat, which makes trying to run a smooth split nearly impossible. BUT thanks to my nifty GARMIN 305, I was able to design on of the panels to show my OVERALL average pace, which was very helpful with letting me hit my desired overall goal. THANKS GARMIN! So, Going out the first 5ish miles, I was a bit slow and averaged about 6:28. The hill was a killer, but THANK GOODNESS they shortened it up a bit, which was a HUGE psychological relief. By the time I came back down the hill, I was recovered and ready to haul some mail. I was able to hold my splits to my average, and cruise it in. Around mile 5, it had started to become a bit taxing, but not overly so. No real pain...lungs OK, mile 7, and 8 were the same. At mile 8.5, there is a rather large hill and I motored up it with little problem. However, in my mind, I had planned to sprint the last 1/4 mile to the finish, but the previous hill had taken it's toll, and just holding to a fast pace was all I could muster. My goal was to be at 1 Hour, and 1:00:59 is still in that time frame IN MY BOOK, PLUS, PLUS, PLUS....it was a PR, at least as far as my last 5 races on this course. (I've run it in the 80's and 90s, but I can't find my records, and the race organization doesn't have them either....SO IT"S A PR*!
Splits.
1. 6:23 2. 6:39 3. 6:19 4. 6:32 5. 6:27 6. 6:43(hill) 7. 6:36 8. 6:21 9. 6:29 (.3). 2:25

Nothing. I had a plan, executed the plan, stuck to it, and somehow it worked. I'm as amazed as anyone.

I NEVER do a "real" warm down. I meet my family, find some food, change cloths before I get sick, find the car and go home. Now, I must add that they had some good eats after the race. Goetta (a local favorite that most people have never heard of), Hot dogs, drinks, and of course the regular fare of bananas, bagels and such.


Nothing really. I'm actually training for the Flying Pig, which I'm using to train for the FL IM, so since I didn't actually TRAIN to run THIS DISTANCE, I suppose that in the perfect world, I could have done speed workouts FOR THIS DISTANCE and gone slightly faster, but I'm UBER happy with the way it turned out....so that's all I have to say about that.


This is a long standing local race that is organized by a great race director who knows what needs to be done and how to make it happen. Good sponsors. The only thing that ever effects this race is the weather, and they have no power over that....yet. The weather was perfect for this race THIS YEAR.