GW Parkway 10 Mile race Report

Crazy...I hear that alot. Feel it too!

So my best friend from high school in Germany - (really, who else would do this?) picked me up out of his way at 5:10am so we could get down to the finish line area so he could take the bus to the start and I could run to the start. After we found the trail (maybe 1.5 miles from the finish), I started off at 6am. Sun rose off to my left at 6:23am and it had to already be 65°. It was a bike trail, 2 lanes that weaved beside the GW Parkway, and back and forth across it/under it. A few boardwalks overlooking the river, saw a nice heron and many birds were out. Just me and them for the most part. Took a couple of photos. Won't get them developed until after Spokane. The city/tour busses taking racers to the start, cops getting to position to close the roads, and me. Wasn't too bad with the heat/hills, and although I missed a few mile markers, I seemed to be doing 9 minute miles and finished, arriving into Mount Vernon after a 1:20 run - with all the weaving, I know it ended up being 9 miles. That and the 1.5 miles I walked after the race - I am calling that 20! So I hung out with Dave and his co-workers (all of whom I had met at the US Army 10 miler back in 2007 - very nice people!). Was not really sure how the 40 minute wait hurt or helped. Still don't know as I have never done that before. Any thoughts??
So the race started with 2 Kenyans taking off, and us about 2 minutes behind in the crowd - over 4,000 strong. It never really opened up - even with 4 lanes open much of the way. The heat didn't get too bad until the last 2-3 miles. Plenty of water stops, and I had Dave bring me another water bottle to the start (like I started my warmup with - and I had 2 Gatorade's the previous evening). Got a little slower as the miles went on...oh - Dave ran with me the whole way - I hadn't expected that - but that was great...so good to talk to him throughout. Lots of jokes about being off my 9 minute pace and busting out a 6 minute mile at the end. Ha. I did get to an 8:50 once, but mile 9 was 9:48 and I was able to pick it up some at the end, even with the worst of the hills, ending with a 9:14. That last "sprint" at the end almost did me in with a calf cramp. Behind my right knee had bothered me a little bit on and off the last 2-3 miles. Iced it later on and it felt fine yesterday and then today on my 4.5 miles. So I finished in 1:32:38. Dave's time was 1:32:37, which is good - he deserves to beat me! Almost 4 minutes faster than my 2nd 10 miles at NYC. Certainly gives me doubts how my body will handle the last 6.2 in Spokane. I know I've done it before and I can do it!
Weather will be immensely different (highs in the 40-50's and lows in the 30's right now) which is great for me, but also no pacer or someone to run with. We'll see - maybe someone will have a similar pace out there.
Tomorrow is 7.7...see how the body is then!

Before GW Parkway 10 miler

So 5 days out. Last weekend I had a short 10 mile run that actually wasn't great. Not bad, but not great. I chalk that up to hitting golf balls on Wednesday for the 1st time in a year (really stretches the inner thigh/groin) as well as 19 miles the previous weekend. Had a nice yoga class Monday and a good 5 miler this morning. Will get one more run in Thursday morning before heading up to DC (via an overnight in Richmond). My current plan for the 10 miler and my scheduled 20 miler the same day...hmm, had a plan but just heard from my HS buddy who is runnign it and he had a thought that sounds good, and is what others have suggested. I think I will run my 10 miles Before the race. My pal (Dave) said I should skip the shuttle and run from the finish to the start (or the 5k to the start) to get my mileage in, but I think I will go to the start and do an out and back and try to get my full 10 in before the race. Shuttle leaves at 6am, will get to the start by 6:20 or so, if I do 1:30 for the 10 (which is exactly what I did in NYC and would love to do here), then I could turn around and run the race to try and finish in 1:30. That would be 6 minutes faster than NYC at 20 miles and would be Thrilled with that.
I doubt I will be posting from DC - so you'll just have to wait until I get back on the following Tuesday (will try ot post Wednesday!).
Side note: Congrats to the Boston finisher's! Don't see me qualifying...I like the term one friend used for himself - a "recreational marathoner". I like that alot...