Free to Breathe 5k Race Report

Funk Bustin'



This had to be the worst prepared pre-race mindset I have ever had for a race.  No youtube videos to pump me up, no Pre montages, didn't even know if I wanted to sport the Nike Lunaracers because, well, if you sport those, you need to be at your best.  Hadn't run in a week due to sore hamstrings and quads that were screaming from volleyball that started Tuesday night.  This all happened to fall on a hectic personal and work week that is all wedged in to marathon training.

The usual dream of missing the race came up and as I was awoken by the heavy rain at 2 A.M., (THAT heavy, that Aaron Tang woke up)I was so sure I missed the race and felt relieved.


And this next part is why I love running.


Wake up to a dreary Saturday and head on over to Roger Williams Park (which I should run through more, it's actually pretty nice) early to pick up a bib and pins, shirt, and wrist band.  Meet up the Cabrals, Jimmy, Souksanh and Souksanh's sister beforehand.  As we killed time before the race, we walked around and I am now aware that there is definitely a working carousel in the park.  We climbed up a muddy hill to what we thought was the starting line (sorry Lunaracers, you're not my most pristine pair any more) and warmed up to what we thought was a 10:15 start time.

10:30 rolls around, sun finally peaking through with my friend, Mr. Humidity, and the legit looking runners appear out of nowhere up at the front of the line, with me tucked in right behind.  The timer guy (had "TIMER" on his shirt) drove in his car and honked once for the "gun" time and then wailed on it to let us know for sure it was the start.

As usual, the beginning started way too fast as I tried to keep up with the lead pack (rookie mistake).  The first 3 finishers disappeared immediately as I tried to stay within the second lead pack.  I gently floated back to 7 minute pace as I knew that that was where I needed to be.

The mile marker was a bit early again as it had 6:4x.  Slowly, people started dropping like flies due to the slick (dangerous) rolling hills and humidity.  No offense but I had to pass the guy who was running a 5k with a water bottle belt.

Even though I kept climbing the ranks, there was this one upstart blaring his iPod zooming by in Minimus's which proved to be costly since he had to re-tie them twice.

All that stood in front of me was an older runner, a female runner, and cars driving by us.  Yeah, they didn't close off the roads so running the tangents was interesting.  Good thing I am a veteran of doing this running Providence streets.

The older runner pulled something and had to stop around mile 2.  Even though I knew there were some runners out of my sight, I thought the race was down to me and a pumped up female runner.  The first part of the race chopped my finishing kick in half and I was left to hold on as the battle of the sexes was won by the fairer sex on this day.

Towards the end of the race, we were coming towards the starting line and familiar territory.  As I chased down the female runner in futility, she looked back knowing she had this all day with less than a quarter mile to go.  On the left turn going downhill towards the finish line, I had lost sight of her and was a bit worried I made a wrong turn but was relieved as people cheered me on and one of the top 3 congratulated me as I had mustered enough to kick it up a gear for the final 200.

21:13.

Unofficially ( since I have 3.02 miles on my Garmin) age and gender graded at 70.7, considered an 'above average' runner.  SOOOO pumped about reaching that goal.  All that's left is sub 1:45 13.1 and sub 4 26.2.  And then I can retire?

Per Pat protocol, I looped back to cheer on everyone as they came in.  Sarah beat Kevin by a millisecond for those wondering at home; their times were a bit slower since they pumped the brakes for an autistic kid that was finishing the race and even clapped him in.  The running gods will be handing out karma points to them on their next race.

The finishing times came out quick this time and I saw my name as #5 and was so happy about that that I didn't even confirm my time.

The awards ceremony commenced and I came behind the #1 female at 20:4x, :bows down:.

I received 2nd in my age group of 20-29 and had my name pronounced correctly this time.

Two 2nd place finishes.  In Without Limits, Pre says "Is there anything worse than finishing 2nd?".  Not really when I can produce back-to-back PRs.  Most importantly, this broke me out of my week long funk.  Yes, this was a personal funk buster.

New post-5k staple songs:

Cotton Eyed Joe

Call Me, Maybe

Gangnam Style

2012 races: If it is A race day, then it is the hottest, most humid day of the week.

Aaron and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Week

Goose egg after goose egg.  It was bound to happen since the training was going too smoothly.  For whatever reason, my hamstrings are making me feel like I'm running through mud and my tank is on E despite getting enough rest and food.  On top of it, of course this is the 20 mile long run week.  Hopefully a wiser runner now, I am not going to try to make it up but just plain get rest.

James Paquette 5k Race Report

race: James Paquette 5k in Norfolk, MA
weather: humid and 70
goal: PR/ make up for the non-PR 5k last race

Sri, Kevin, Knapp, and I road tripped it all the way to Norfolk (Mass) for the 1st annual 5k at a saloon, featuring Kenny Powers' stunt double. In our hour of wait from 9-10, the cleanest portapotties were dealt with and warm ups began on the road after the walkers left at 9:30.  Delusions of grandeur were abound as the thought of finishing 1,2,3 came about when looking around for males in our age group.  Unfortunately, Kevin's knee would not allow that dream to even toe the line.


We had to be walked a street further down for the starting line.  As the horn went off, it was nice not having to dodge anyone as we toed the line at the front of the pack (pack being a loose term since there was probably tops 50 people (edit: 70)).

Running past the saloon, we received personalized cheers as KOB was our cheerleader today.  GPS watch saves me again as I and everyone else ran way too fast.  The first mile was basically me trying to rein it in and corral myself back to 7 minute pace knowing full well 6:30 pace would kill me.  Knapp caught up as we ran together for a portion of it.  Around 0.9 miles, there was a volunteer spitting out times.  6:30 pace?  Yeah, because it wasn't a mile in yet.

When the dust settled and there was separation, there were two out front and a pack of 3 girls and 1 guy with a knee brace.  The pack went out a bit quick and I was able to catch up to them around the 1.3 mile mark and eventually pass them from 1.5 on.  Once the decision was made, there was an older runner and a guy around my age in front of him and me.

I ate in to the older guy's lead slowly as I was loading up for a final attack on the final 800.  It was important to stay within striking distance since I had no clue where to turn other than having walkers or 8x11 printer paper turns that I'd see on telephone polls upon passing.

Unknowingly, the final mile was mostly downhill so my attack began earlier than anticipated as the course begs for a negative split and gets it.  The final 0.7, we ran by a lady encouraging me to catch the older runner and I was happy to oblige and shout out that I would just for her.

Following the older runner proved fruitful as he had a sixth sense for when to cut the road before traffic.  The final left turn was it as roughly the last 400 was the race.  We were side by side with 200 to go as he told me I couldn't let a 59 year old beat me and I told him he looked 40.  As obedient as I am, I did as I was told by my elders and threw down the afterburners/ gag reflex and finished 9 seconds behind 1st.

21:27.

Looped back around to cheer on Knapp and Sri but Knapp had already finished before I could:

22:16.

Shook hands with the older runner and even got an Eamer-style point as he drove away before the ribbon ceremony.

Sri was in a race with the aptly nicknamed Big Bosom runner, as she was boxed in for the race.

30:19.8



To cap it off, breakfast buffet the Ron Swanson way.  Ron Swanson breakfast: at least 6 eggs, 8 pieces of bacon.

An hour after finishing, I heard the words I wanted to when second place was announced:
Aaron...Tongi?

Ribbon and an additional free shirt, with the likelihood that the saloon had extra shirts from some Olympic watch party (because there are saloons.  There are Olympic watch party t-shirts.  Those two together make sense)

21:27, good enough for my goal of sub 7, 1 second off of being considered an "above average" runner by age-graded standards.  10/20 5k, need to shave off 1 second.


Addendums:
Check out the top 4 PR 5k times; all in Massachusetts.  What's in the water over in Mass?

Believing in karma and Running Gods, I donned the Tang Clan shirt after abandoning it for the last race.  Result? PR

Proposed race report title idea

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Tang versus 26.2

On a personal note, cracked 1,000 miles again and in the past 7 days and I have almost equaled my May output (61.2 versus 62.5)

20 miles. 5 cities. 3 Sisters.

List of excuses up front: back to back 10 milers after 3rd shifts, being sick.

Today's long run started at Haines Park so that we could make it all the way down to Colt State Park.   There is definitely a correlation between how far you are from Providence and the amount of 'hi's' and runner nods you get.

Speaking of hi's, Angela and I are, well, Chinese.  So clearly, the biker coming at us said "Ni hao".

Yeah, that's right.

Ni hao.


What's the equivalent for us? Saying "Bonjour" or "Guten tag"?

I'm not even offended (well, except for the fact it was a biker)

Colt State Park, wow.  First, it is the site of my 5k pr so that's always great.  Either I hit up some endorphins or it's always this beautiful:

Runner's tip: they have bathrooms and a water fountain (or sink water) where the race was organized, further down from the random skate park.

Today would prove to be the hardest run so far in this round of training (not only because it's the longest) but my hamstrings were worn down and I hit the wall for the second time ever at mile 14.

Good thing Angela, who isn't even training for a race, pushed me along so that we got back to the car at around mile 16.  Had to refuel on butternut squash, apples and almond butter.

After refueling, we looped Blackstone and then some to hit 20.

5 cities: Providence, East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol

3 Sisters (end of Blackstone near India) mint ice cream post 20 miler (bonus, they have free water):