Peachtree 10K

Yesterday, I ran in the Peachtree 10K, the fourth time I ran it.

I was in the fourth time group and although we didn't start until after 8 a.m., the weather was slightly overcast with a small breeze, so it wasn't hot like I remembered it during my first running of the race in 2003.

Backing up a little bit, because the race ended at Juniper and Ponce, I drove through the neighborhood and parked just north of 5th street on Piedmont Ave. and then walked to the Midtown MARTA station.

I noticed that the end of the race had a huge hill that ran from 10th Street to 5th Street.

When I got on the MARTA train, I was with a small group of older guys who noticed we were on the Rock Springs train. We got off at N6 Lindbergh Station, and I'm glad we did -- that train does not stop at N7 Lenox. So there were dozens of people with race numbers that likely had to backtrack and switch trains.

This year I liked how organized the race sections were. They set up lots of portapotties at Phipps Plaza parking lot, so there weren't big lines until right before the race started. There also was a water station, which was great. I had 3 cups of water and didn't drink any during the entire race.

When I got to the staging area, I was going to while away the remaining 40 minutes or so before the race by listening to my iPod. But it turned out it was completely dead. So that's nice, that I had to carry it and my headphones on the race for nothing.

This year I focused on trying to trim the times from the first three miles of the race, basically up to Cardiac Hill.

I did that and was about 3 seconds ahead of my planned finish time at Mile 3. But then I semi-bonked Cardiac Hill, putting me 34 seconds behind at Mile 4, and then the recovery mile 5 I was all of a sudden 2 minutes 11 seconds behind and in serious danger of finishing past an hour, which is my casual goal for this race, which is basically a fun run.

There were two times during the hilly sections that I thought about walking but was glad I did not. Near the end of the race it got hot so I got soaked by the water spray stations twice. It's a tricky thing because it's uncomfortable to run in clinging clothes but it turned out ok.

At Mile 6 I recovered a little bit but the changed race end on Juniper is really difficult, given the Cardiac Hill/Olympic Mile sections. I am not sure how I puffed through it.

I finished under my goal of an hour, but it was my slowest time for the four races by about 9 seconds. I think my training wasn't so good for the hills, although I felt OK at the end of the race, which is sort of a testament to running every single day for the last 551 days.

The one thing I should add was it felt like I walked a really far way to get Powerade and the race's trademark Coke/Diet Coke. I don't recall seeing any food, maybe I didn't walk far enough. I understand that Piedmont Avenue is pretty narrow, but I felt like I walked forever past corporate tents/private parties without hitting things that I needed.

Next year I'd like to put my time in on longer runs (my legs were sore after the race but I didn't experience the cramping I did in 2004 when I basically ran it without doing much running at all in the month of June 2004) and definitely hill training along the Cardiac Hill/Olympic Mile sections.

But I did the race, so I can't complain.

Spare parts

Yesterday as I was about to go to Susanne's by bike, I noticed one of my straps on my Shimano road shoes would not go in the buckle.

I thought I would have to go to the bike shop today to get it fixed. But then I remembered a year or so ago one of my buckles flat out broke and that maybe I had a spare part- the other buckle.

I went and found it and then replaced it myself. I found that the strap also was worn out. I couldn't immediately figure out how to get the strap off, although I knew that it must come out somehow since there was an extra strap in the buckle kit.

And voila! I found out how and went on my way.

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This week I've been consciously trying to get runs in but not anything that would wear me out for the Peachtree 10K coming up this Friday. I feel ok for it, although my mileage is not what it was last year. I didn't have a chance to run up Cardiac Hill and the Olympic Mile for training. We will see...

General musings

I've been pretty pleased lately that the hill I dread on Highland-Baker on my bike route home hasn't been that hard for me lately. Mebbe I'm getting my road legs.

Recently I've gone on a salad kick for lunch -- not so interested in the heavier, greasier kinds of foods that slow me down in the afternoon (food coma?).

Running has been good -- I've "tapered" for the Peachtree that is next Friday but I might go this weekend to run up Cardiac Hill and the Olympic Mile so I can have that under my belt.

Speaking of belts, I weighed myself this morning and I've dropped between 5-7 pounds. Holla.

Ten clicks at Bemis

WESTERN SPRINGS, Ill. -- Not sure what got into me, but I decided to prepare for the Peachtree 10K by running at least that distance.

It was nice and cool starting out in the very green Bemis Woods path. I must have some kind of tendinitis near my left ankle because I can feel it for the first mile or so, but it goes away.

I decided I'd run for about 31 minutes on the 6.6-mile path and then turn around and come back.

Halfway in, I settled into a sort of cruise mode, which upped my confidence for running in the 10K race. On the way back, less than a mile to go, I was in full attack mode and running as fast as I could.

Saw a deer on the way back, crossing the asphalt path, which was very cool. There also was a snapping turtle on the road with about .6 left.

Even though I was completely soaked in sweat, I felt good, which is the key. The 74 degree temperature is likely what I'll face in the Peachtree. The main difference between this route and the course are the giant hills in the Peachtree. But hopefully I will be able to use experience and get through them.

A number! (Peachtree 10K)

On my way out to work this afternoon I didn't even notice the large white envelope in my mailbox. I just tossed it and the other mail on the floor on my rush to get out.

This evening I discovered it was my Peachtree 10K race number! Yay!

I'll be in Time Group 4, so not too bad considering I've been as far back as Time Group 6.

2003: Time Group 5
2004: Time Group IA
2005: Time Group IA (did not run)
2006: did not apply
2007: Time Group 6
2008: Time Group 4

My running is not entirely there -- I have a few nagging issues like slight pain in my left shin/ankle when I run and it's been keeping my miles down.

But my heart is there, to participate in a storied race and do well on the great hills in the latter part of the race.

The dry-pavement rule

There's a 30 percent chance of rain today, especially during the time that I would be returning home but I still pulled out the bike and rode to work.

I have a "dry pavement rule" for biking to work -- if the pavement is dry before I leave, I'll go, even if rain is forecast for the day. I don't care so much if I get wet riding home, since I can just shower and change at home. I just don't want to come to work looking like a wet rat.

I have misgivings if it's nice during the day and I drive to work. Plus I've seen several occasions where a "70 percent" forecast of rain means nothing at all.

During the ride in, the air was pretty cool and nice. It was still dark. One runner was already plowing down North Highland.

There's no, or little, traffic at 5 a.m. and I never have to worry about getting a good place to tether the bike at work. Now that gas is nearly $4/gallon, the small bike rack at work is always full.

Last night I made my way through Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden for my daily run. I am glad that Maui (and the higher elevation?) has been an aid in training and I hope to continue longer distances.

Back in Atlanta

Because of the time difference (6 hours) I've been going to bed in Maui about the time I would be waking up in Atlanta.

But for some reason that didn't faze me this morning -- about 6 a.m. the cats were up and about and I noticed that it was nice and cool out, something that it really wasn't yesterday afternoon when I went for a very short run after being up for about 33 hours.

The humidity is back in the ATL and it'll take some getting used to. Being up that early on a Sunday morning was nice though -- no one was really out and I pretended that the neighborhoods leading to Piedmont Park were just an extension of the country roads I had been running on in Maui.