Sunday, March 28, 2010

Azalea Trail Run - it's a tradition.

For the past 24 years, I have been in Mobile, AL for the running of the ATR.  I ran my first 10k @ the ATR, my senior year of high school, and I haven't missed on since then.  I have run this one in shape, out of shape, walked it, run it, jogged it,  and raced it.  This year was my best time out of the 24 attempts.  You know - if at first you don't succeed.....  Sat. was not my 10k pr, but it was my best time at the ATR.  Typically, for this race, the weather is on the warm and humid side, but this year it was GREAT.

This week was a "step back" week in my training for Boston so this race was timed perfectly.
On Monday I ran 12.2 miles @ 9:06 pace - negative split run
Wed. - I ran some tough hills - uphills and downhills - tried to run both hard. 5 miles
Sat. -   8 miles total - ATR race - 48:54 ATR chip time - 49:11 official ATR time. (pr - 48:38)
25 miles for the week.  3 quality runs - Monday will be my last long run before my taper - 20-22 miles.

Heading to the race on Sat. I felt like I would run well.  In fact, I really thought it may be a PR race for me.  I did run well, and I am happy with my time, but I am just a wee bit disappointed in missing the pr.
Splits - 7:47, 7:38, 7:41, 7:49, 8:00, 7:56, 1:59 - last 2.2 got me!
This year they added a 5k to the ATR which was good, but the only bad part was they had the 10k and 5k races to merge in the later part of the 10k race.  So in the last part of the race, the 5k walkers and slow runners merge with the faster 10k runners so it forced you to do some "bobbing and weaving" in the last part of the race - urgh!  I HATE bobbing and weaving at the beginning, in the first half mile, but at the end of a 10k - it was too much - legs really don't want to bob and weave.  Also, with the bob and weave you end up running extra mileage.  I didn't do too bad, my Garmin ended at 6.25, but even that, is time wasted.  After the race I was able to find a few friends and everyone that I spoke with had issues with the 5k/10K merge.  Eric - had a pr race anyway - go Eric, Phillip mentioned he ran 6.3 because of the bob and weave, Karen ran a good race, Robbie had a good race but had to run around strollers, walkers, etc.  Kent ran the 5k and had a good race. Missed Terri at the race, but her text indicated she ran well, had fun, but "the merge" - urgh!
  Go Pine Belt Pacers! 
In considering everything, I am happy with my time on Sat.  The last 2 weekends of racing have proved to me that I am near my best running, and I am hoping to run a good race at Boston.  I had been worried about not running well at Boston because of the hip issues and getting into my training late, and not being able to train really hard (no speed work, no hill work until the last 2 weeks), but now I feel like I can run well at Boston and I am so excited about that.  Do I expect a PR at Boston - NO - I believe the course will be too tough, and I am ok with that - for me - a PR is not what Boston will be about -
Boston will be about running well and having some fun.

17 comments:

Julie said...

Hi Ginny,
Congrats on your wonderful 10k race and time! My pr for a 10k is 52 minutes...you are way faster than me girl!! I am so impressed with your training and prep for Boston!! You are doing so good:) Boston is just right around the corner...I am getting excited for you!

Ginny, I hope that you have a wonderful week!

Running and living said...

Nice splits on the 10K. My advice for Boston would be to start slow, get on pace by mile 6, and run even splits from then on, if you can. And have fun, Boston is a huge party!

Alee said...

Great race! :)

Scott McMurtrey said...

Sounds like a heck of an event if it can draw you back all those years. Congrats on the great time!

Jennifer said...

Congrats on a great running of the ATR! Someday I will get there, it sounds like so much fun. I love your attitude, I know you are going to do great in Boston because good things happen to great people and with your positive thinking and your reliable training I think you will have a fun time and you will run well!

misszippy said...

Great job on your 10k! That must feel good. Now you can get to the taper for Boston!

Unknown said...

Good PR!! I would even say GREAT when you take in the "Frogger... bob-n-weave" that the 10k runners had to do when the "great merger" took place! ;-)

HappyTrails said...

Great job on your fastest time ever at that event!
Bobbing and weaving IS a bit of a drag at events.... Keep up your hard work - you are going to do wonderfully at Boston and have fun to top it off!
Kathleen

LMC said...

Sounds like you had a great running week! I have to agree with you about bobbing and weaving. I'm not too fond of it, particularly not at the end of a race. I like your attitude about Boston. You'll do great! Have a good week!

26.2 Princess said...

Can't believe Boston is almost here!! Its weird to say that I'm tapering for the Boston Marathon right now. Wow. I too hope to have alot of fun, and hopefully my knee won't give me too much trouble. No PR here for sure, but if I can finish in a decent time for me while having great fun doing it, well, that's all I want.

Jill said...

I LOVE the ATR, I haven't run it in about 15 years but always had a great time when I did, love all the women in the dresses lined up along the streets! Congrat on a great time, that's awesome girl!!!! Everyone told me to "experience" Boston my first time there and not race it. You're going to do great, experience it AND run it strong, no reason not to have it all!!

Sherri said...

Awesome 10K! I just found your blog and I am super excited to follow along!
Good LUck at Boston!

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Yay for getting a PR for the race!

Don't let the last long run bug you. You ran it right after the 10K race. That's hard on your body!

Petraruns said...

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to comment on your blog - I've been offline for 2 weeks so I've had to run to catch up. Looks like your training for Boston went well in the end - it's just over 2 weeks now! Which wave are you in? I'm in wave 2 - we could meet in the athlete's village

Adam Culp (Crazy Floridian) said...

Sorry for not getting by sooner. Nice race. I can't imagine having to content with walkers of a 5K when I am finishing a 10K. That would be a nightmare, and I would probably piss a bunch of people off with my horrible remarks.

Wendy said...

Great race! Yay for PR's!

The un-Zen Runner said...

Nice work in qualifying for Boston. Hopefully I'll see you there next year. :)