Resolution Run 15K

Last weekend I ran the Resolution Run 15K as my first race of the year. I love the 15K distance (9.3 miles) because its further than a normal training run but its not so far that I need to train for it or stress out about it. Its also short enough that I feel like I can push myself and my speed, while also being long enough to somewhat challenge my endurance. There aren’t many 15K races, and this race in January and the Coronado 15K in July are two of my favorites. 

Freezing Before the Race

This race was also put on by Sandy Feet Events, whose owner is the race director for the GOTR Sparkle & Shine 5K. Gotta support those who support us! I was planning on registering for this race several months ago, and when an Active Shwaggle came up for 50% off registration fees I was super excited! I love cheap races!

Foggy Morning in Mission Bay

 

This race draws about 1000 runners each year and has a decent sized ‘expo’ the morning of the race. Both GOTR and Glam Runner were lucky enough to get a table at this event which Tara and I would be working with fellow board member Lana, her husband, and another GOTR volunteer. 

GOTR Coaches & Board Members

It was chilly and foggy on race morning, and we arrived at the event when it was still dark out, meaning it was freezing! Luckily the sun came up before the race started around 7am, and suddenly it was time to run. They started the runners in waves but I was talking to someone over by our tables when the 7-9 minute pace wave was called. Whoops! Oh well, I just started with the 9-12 minute group and spent almost the entire race passing people. 

Resolution Run Start

While its fun to pass people when there is enough room, I wish I had started when I should have so I could have locked into a faster pace. I ran this race last year and finished in 1:17:29 (8:18 pace), so my goal for this year was to at least match my finish time from last year, or hopefully shave off a little time. I figured shooting for a 8:00 pace was my best bet and had a 1:15:00 finish time in my head.

I looked at my Garmin several times during the race and noticed that I was running around a 8:00 minute mile, and varying a bit between 7:30 – 8:30. Its funny how such a range in pace is hard for me to really feel. I knew I couldn’t sustain a 7:30 pace for 9 miles, so whenever I dipped below 8:00 I’d slow down a bit, and if I tipped too close to 8:30 I’d pick up the pace. 

My Chins and I Racing to Win

This race course goes around Fiesta Island, which is one of my least favorite places to run in San Diego. The island is only 4 miles around, but I swear it feels like 20. I’ve done several running races and triathlons around Fiesta Island, and every single time I wonder if there is some black hole you go into where time bends.  I didn’t look at my watch much in the last few miles of the race and decided to just go off how I felt. I was getting tired from pushing for so many miles and didn’t want to psych myself out by seeing that I wasn’t going to PR. About a quarter mile from the finish I finally looked at my watch and was amazed to see that I was going to PR by several minutes! Wow! I crossed the finish line at 1:14:22 which came out to a 7:58 pace overall. A 3+ minute improvement? Awesome!

Running Makes Me Smile

After the race I went back over to the GOTR/Glam Runner tables and hung out with my GOTR comrades for another hour or so until the event ended. It crossed my mind that maybe I had placed in the race, but it turns out I had just missed 3rd in my AG by 40 seconds. Oh well, I’m still really happy with my performance!

Overall time: 1:14:22

Overall Pace: 7:58

Overall ranking: 113/509

Age Group ranking: 5/70

I am not registered for another race until the Oakland Half Marathon in March, but I’ve been planning on either running the Mermaid Half Marathon on Feb 11th or the San Dieguito Half Marathon on Feb 12. Last year I ended up doing both (more on my blog Double Whopper Weekend), and while I’m tempted to do that again this year, sticking with my New Year resolution to race less and train more, I might actually skip both! (More about my resolutions on my blog 2012 Goals.) 

Lana's Husband is in Tutu Too!

My big race coming up in May is a 66 mile bike race as part of the San Diego Century Event, and I need to spend as much time as I can on the weekends training for that. On Sunday following the Resolution Run I rode 30 miles, my longest ride ever! It was tiring but fun, and at this point its hard to imagine biking more than twice that distance.  Good thing I have four months to prepare!