TLDR, major 5k official & watch PR’s.
Biggest lesson learned from the actual race: I did very well when I periodically surged… It didn’t tire me out as much as I expected it too… This is very interesting news to me. Getting close to maybe, “wanting to always stay in front” (for more than 2 miles).
11/18/2017
Coral Spring Remembrance (9/11) Run 5k
Official results:
Strava results:
Endomondo results:
RECAP:
Coral Springs 5k: 2nd overall. Official 5k PR (18:05) :personal-record:, First sub-18 (17:51) PR watch estimated 5k, First 3 consecutive sub-6 mile splits {5:33.9,5:50.9,5:54.2}. PR CITY.
Awesome race. It was basically me leading for ~1.7, with two dudes right behind. I surged every time they tried to come even with me, to make sure I stayed in front. By 1.7 (turn around), the guy who got 1st overall took the lead, and I mostly stayed right behind or basically even, occasionally trying to test him with some surges. He outkicked me at the end. I mistimed my kick, should have done it a little later. As soon as I started to kick, he kicked and had lots of power around the turn. I should have waited until we got around the turn to just try and go full sprint, would have given me a better chance I think. Lesson learned.
This was basically my first hard 3.1 of the year, so i’m happy with it. Going to be hard to repeat this next race, because it’s the “turkey trot” which has some insanely fast guys, and the goal is to keep up with them for 2 miles so, probably going to be a bit wrecked by 2 miles. But I needed to put in an effort like this today so that I could be more prepared to grind it out in these upcoming races, which are very fast.
Looking to PR my 2 miles/cooper’s test in the next two races. I mean if I can hang on after that and keep it up, I will … but the goal is always to push it hard from the onset & push my first two mile splits way down.
EDIT: Oh also! Motorcycle cops lead the entire way … I love that. It really amps me up more for some reason. Just the sounds of the bikes & the intensity of them trying to make sure we’re safe etc, spazzing out on motorists & pedestrians who have no clue what’s going on or are trying to “violate” the rules etc… When you’re in the lead/lead pack, it’s more intense because there’s nothing in front of you, other than cops in this instance… So they have to make sure no cars are trying to cut through, or people are trying to cross the street etc… The only thing that sucks about it, is the fumes… You can definitely smell more fumes.
I tried to “buzz the tower” (I call it) and almost caught one of the cops slipping… Was right behind him almost about to get even with him before he noticed and floored it to get space. haha. I did that on one of my surges.
data:
strategy:
Based on my strategy from a few days ago, I went with the “go hard from the onset” version. Wind was coming in from the side, so no issue there. Figured i’d try to drop everyone from the onset, but two dudes held on for a while, then it played out like I mentioned above.
My head after the race (and that kyphosis lulz… FWIW, some other photos don’t have it as much, a little harder to take selfies like that etc… In my finish line photo, you can’t tell, but feels like my posture is way more upright/acceptable when actually running):
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbowGzZBJdm/?taken-by=andrewdarqui
Someone took this photo and came up to me/the winner, and texted us both a finish line photo… that was awesome. Otherwise, I may not get one, because these events usually have “poor” photography/social media.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BboxHg7BJ5A/?taken-by=andrewdarqui
^^ I really look like a runner now, IMHO.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbpJffzB-yh/?taken-by=andrewdarqui
I tell you what… i’m amazed when I don’t see people congratulate each other when they get to the “medal ceremony” … like in the age groups, overall, etc… It happens alot. First thing I do is make sure to shake the other competitor’s hands… IDGAF about anything else until I did that. The dude who won was incredible nice & positive, we are now friends on FB. We talked a bit during the 2nd half of the race… He also runs with a (crossfit) club, who had tons of people there, and they all were cheering for him as we came back down the second half. He responded to every single one of them by waving/saying thanks etc. I do that same thing… Seems like a very good dude. Third place dude was a 14 year old, got to stay on our game, he’s gong to be fast… lool.
me getting dusted:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbpJ90kh8tc/?taken-by=andrewdarqui
Anyway, happy.
Not pushing myself as hard as last year, is paying off… I mean, I want to be more easily hitting these paces, not killing myself to do so… I should be killing myself to hit consecutive sub 5’s etc. So, by focusing more on relaxation/less guts, it’s making me focus more on other things like, total mileage, lots of slow relaxed running, better speed sessions, etc… Obviously i’m going to have to push it every mile at some point, like I did today, but the overall mindset is to get faster without killing myself. I want it to be easy… So maybe that means putting in 100+ miles per week, 90% of which are light, etc… Figuring that out, is a key part of the equation.
peace!!!