A few months ago I ran the Germantown Half Marathon. I was a bit overweight and hadn't committed to training as the previous year. I thought I could "Phone it in" and receive the same result. However, the result was a very rude awakening. I was 5minutes slower than the previous year and took only 3rd in my age group where I was the 3rd in the Masters (+40yrs older) in 2017.
I rededicated myself to improving fitness and overall wellbeing. Functionally use my yoga and improve the quality of my mileage with more taxing efforts.
I found a new group called the Germantown Thoroughbreds. An eclectic group of older runners. My good buddy Anik showed up the week prior to the race. We ran side by side for 13miles at a very brisk pace. Anik has outstanding 5-10K speed. So keeping up with him gave me confidence.
Anik is 38yrs old and has the capability of being a good longer distance runner. However, 10 miles and over he's not attuned to pacing as I've been trained to do. But he offered to pace me for the 10Nautical Miler (NM). I knew he could hold sub-7 pacing for 6miles but 8miles in the heat might be a bit taxing. He was more than willing to learn and if need be go hard to Mile 8 just for the experience. The only problem was the first part of my strategy.
My goal was to be
below 1h20minutes for the race (10Nautical miles = 11.51miles). That means I
have to be below 6:57 pace. Although I haven't been running that fast since
November, I felt I had the fitness to accomplish it. My strategy was
to start at a 6:30 pace for the first mile. Then cruise around 6:50 until 8mile when
I could utilize a good kick.
Anik didn't feel comfortable with going 6:30 on the first mile. For most people going 30sec fast on their first mile is suicide. But for me I like to get my heart going and mentally know I'm in a race. There is urgency in going fast.
So we devised a tactic that would help him while helping me. I told Anik to start on the line and go off the gun. Thirty seconds later I'd start my run. Since time was calculated on Chip time, it was irrelevant what time I'd take off. Race day, I did my usual warm up and saw Anik at the line. He was up front. I settled my mind by saying to myself "Clear the Mechanism". Meaning focus. (Kevin Costner “For the Love of the Game” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXrpmN6hHqc , see the link which give you a good idea how I try to focus).
The field becomes clear. You are aware of everything but the distractions become minimal. You are in tune with what you have to do. You enjoy your task because that's all you have to do. You enjoy that moment and you are at peace because you are ready to roll.
Anik didn't feel comfortable with going 6:30 on the first mile. For most people going 30sec fast on their first mile is suicide. But for me I like to get my heart going and mentally know I'm in a race. There is urgency in going fast.
So we devised a tactic that would help him while helping me. I told Anik to start on the line and go off the gun. Thirty seconds later I'd start my run. Since time was calculated on Chip time, it was irrelevant what time I'd take off. Race day, I did my usual warm up and saw Anik at the line. He was up front. I settled my mind by saying to myself "Clear the Mechanism". Meaning focus. (Kevin Costner “For the Love of the Game” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXrpmN6hHqc , see the link which give you a good idea how I try to focus).
The field becomes clear. You are aware of everything but the distractions become minimal. You are in tune with what you have to do. You enjoy your task because that's all you have to do. You enjoy that moment and you are at peace because you are ready to roll.
The gun went off,
I waited at the side looking at the clock and said a 30second prayer Thanking
God for the moment and to give my best to somehow reach my arbritary goal.
I reached Anik at
the first three-quarter mile (3-Quarter Mile), then settled to his sub7pace.
The course was
different from the previous year and Anik had not seen the new course. As my
pacer he'd be in front so I had to call out the turns and best line for shorter
tangents. His mission was to not only
keep the pace but block the wind. Which in itself is a lot of work.
As much as I knew
he could hold the pace. I also knew if I didn't lead a few times, he might not
make it himself. He would tell me when he needed a break from leading and I'd pick up the pace. I'd have him stay on my hip.
By the half way
mark we caught almost everyone and could tell there wasn't much left to hunt.
Everytime we'd catch someone we surged and hammered to get passed them hoping
they wouldn’t respond with a surge of their own. Of course we'd say good job to
those we passed in sportsmanship. But in my mind I was thinking, "We're
coming and passing you. Catch us if you can!"
By the time we reached
the 8NM mark there were only 4 guys left in my view. FOUR! This is where mental
fortitude takes over. This is the point where you start watching for cracks in
the runners ahead. I know I have
30seconds over them though they don't know that. So I'm relaxed.
Anik was coaxing
me to run and leave him. To be fair, I would have like to but it's not that simple.
If you light a match too early it will burn out before it gets the end. So you
still pace but much quicker cadence and forthright resolve.
With a mile left, the four were well within striking distance. With every step, I was gaining on them. Runners #4 and #3 were side by side. I surged and picked them off easily. I didn't look back but could tell Anik was no longer able to hold the pace because I couldn’t sense him.
The last 200yards is a slight upward grade. I've practiced finishing it often. Runner #1 was just too far. But I was still within striking distance of #2. At 134lbs, my frame was much lighter than everyone else. I was dancing on that last upward grade. I was closing #2 but I was losing real-estate.
With a mile left, the four were well within striking distance. With every step, I was gaining on them. Runners #4 and #3 were side by side. I surged and picked them off easily. I didn't look back but could tell Anik was no longer able to hold the pace because I couldn’t sense him.
The last 200yards is a slight upward grade. I've practiced finishing it often. Runner #1 was just too far. But I was still within striking distance of #2. At 134lbs, my frame was much lighter than everyone else. I was dancing on that last upward grade. I was closing #2 but I was losing real-estate.
The last song on my play list was "I want it All" by Queen. On the last charge on the final up slope I was singing to myself. "I'm a man with a one track mind So much to do in one lifetime So I'm living it all, yes I'm living it all And I'm giving it all, and I'm giving it ALL! I WANT IT ALL!"
Rounding left to
the finish. He had 15-20yards that I just couldn't overcome. But I was still
smiles because I knew that my cushion was more than his ground lead. A few yards from
the line raised my arms knowing that I just ran a well-planned strategic and
tactical race.
I took a deep breath to recover. Congratulated those right after me. I stayed at the line just a bit longer to wait for Anik to finish. He finished just over 1h20min. By gunning for the last 4runners, I somehow put a minute between me and him in the last 2 miles.
His effort was
rewarded with a 10th place over all while I came in 5th overall. We would both earn awards. He earned the 35-39 Age Group Winner award, while
I won the Masters award.
When I received
my award, the base Captain presented me the Master’s winners coin. He noticed my Cobra Kai shirt (from Karate
Kid) and said "No Mercy!" I responded "Cobra Kai Never
Die!" I thought that was pretty
cool.
It wasn’t a Personal Record (PR) but I was very happy. I didn't really surprised myself but I had the feeling that I set out what I wanted to do and I did it. What's even better is that the friend who went with me recieved high accolades as well. I don't know if Anik really believed he could do that time. In fact his best time from 2yrs ago was 1:30. Today he ran just over 1:20. He sacrificed for me and he accomplished more than he set out to do. That's the best feeling when you can not only lift yourself, but lift others to do amazing things.
I will always appreciate that moment with him.
It wasn’t a Personal Record (PR) but I was very happy. I didn't really surprised myself but I had the feeling that I set out what I wanted to do and I did it. What's even better is that the friend who went with me recieved high accolades as well. I don't know if Anik really believed he could do that time. In fact his best time from 2yrs ago was 1:30. Today he ran just over 1:20. He sacrificed for me and he accomplished more than he set out to do. That's the best feeling when you can not only lift yourself, but lift others to do amazing things.
I will always appreciate that moment with him.
