I am nervous about the race tonight, I emailed a running buddy Wednesday morning, because I don’t know of what I am capable.
The 3.5 mile course (two lower loops of Central Park run counterclockwise) is quite familiar to me as I’ve been participating in the series (and running in Central Park) for years. My PB for the race is 27:10, but last month I ran a sluggish 32:12. My training indicates I can hold a sub-9-minute mile for at most two, and usually run 3 miles in around 28:30. I had no idea how to pace–nor (more importantly) how much to push–myself. I didn’t feel like running as hard as I could, only to cross the finish line dizzy and nauseous. I wanted to run steady, with just the right amount of effort, so I could kick at the end. But what was that pace? Pfft, I threw my hands up and decided to shoot for 9:15’s.
The race starts at the top of the slope by Tavern on the Green, which creates a stampede of media workers, all hurtling down the hill at speeds that are unsustainable over 3.5 miles. Granted, it’s a great feeling to whoosh away, but I have paid the price for a fast first mile before so always try and rein myself in once we hit the trough. I suppose I did rein myself in, because Mile 1 was my slowest of the race at 8:25. Yeesh, better slow down! Mile 2? 8:13. Can I actually sustain this? Mile 3 — 8:03! Ohmygoodness just half a mile left, there’s that big curvy hill, but still… Mile 0.56 clocked in at 4:31, or an 8:02 pace. I was done in under half an hour. Damn, woman. Check the systems. Adductor brevis? No pain. Heart? Pounding with excitement. Lungs? Panting with glee. Hey, that just felt gooood. Mmm and aah. Dare I, dare I hope for something better than a 1:59:00 performance in Baltimore? Ooo, that’s risky emotional ground. Let me spend a little more time compiling evidence.
And also, I had a vicarious thrill at the performance of colleague SN, (who quit smoking less than a week ago) and broke away from me at Mile 2, to finish in 27:51 (more than a 4-minute improvement for him over last time). I say “broke away”–actually, it’s more like I yelled at him to bolt ahead (“Will you just fucking go?!”), since he wasn’t even sweating just keeping pace with me. And also, I passed my friend LW our for a workout; she trotted towards me on the course and we swapped waves. It’s always lovely to see her; she’s one of those amazing women I like to collect. And also, I had a lovely catch-up chat after the race with DT, a leggy Masters speedster from our children’s division and a regular at this series; I’ve known him for 10 years!
3.5 miles in 29:13, and 39th among all women. Can’t wait to see what happens at the fifth Media Challenge (which is actually the fourth, rescheduled due to thunderstorms). What do you think my target pace should be?
Pigtails Flying 
Nice job! Now the part I love: giving advice of dubious value!
The weather the other night was truly horrible. That cost you at least 20 seconds per mile, conservatively. The crowding probably didn’t help either in that first half mile. I’d say go into the next one with two goals, depending on conditions (and line up closer to the front this time).
If weather conditions are similar, shoot for 8:03-8:05 (you worked your way down to it eventually and I suspect you held yourself back too much in the first two miles). That would net you a time of 28:00 and change.
If weather conditions are much more favorable, and you’ve got no sign of injury whatsoever, then I think you need to turn on the jets. I’d shoot for 7:40-7:45, netting you a time of closer to 27:00 or better.
Thanks! We’ll see how my training goes over the next 18 days. I’ll have one more week of hills and my first speed session under me. I’ve been cautious lately, but I appreciate you reminding me I even have jets!
1 session of speedwork will should you a good indication of your 5k pace
Good luck! Hope it went well 🙂
Nice work, TK! When’s the 5th one? Is that the one you said on Twitter that you’re skipping?
I was supposed to run a test 5k this weekend as part of training. That was not part of the Media Challenge Series. I ran the Media Challenge race in place of my hill workout this week. The next Media Challenge Race (#4, rescheduled) is August 25th.
I have no advice for you TK except this:
Run your ass off!!! :O)
Great job on the race!!!