While some people quickly get tired of running multiple races during the NYRR 9+1 NYC Marathon qualification program, I’ve found that each race can truly teach you something different if you allow it.
- The Gridiron 4 miler back in February proved to me that speed training works. It was the first time my legs had felt a pace faster than a 9:30 in a 4 mile race.
- The Wall Street 3 miler was the first race where I felt what so many people feel at the end of a race, complete and total exhaustion. It felt amazing to give the race everything I had and feel a sub 9 pace!
- The NYRR Mini 10k helped me realize that while a 10k is shorter than a half marathon, it’s still too far to treat as a sprint.
I woke up for yesterday’s race mentally prepared for another PR.
I enjoyed a simple pre-race dinner of whole wheat penne pasta and spicy red sauce at Serafina with fellow bloggers. The food and service weren’t wonderful but the company was classic.
There was laughter, a few awkward boob pictures like the one below, and lots of race discussions.
(Left to right: Me, Theodora, Ali, Emily, Lizzie, and Becca)
Eight hours of sleep later and one serving of pre-race breakfast, I was ready to run my first NYRR Mini 10k!
Luckily I organized all my race gear the night before, complete with a white plastic trash bag since the forecast called for lots of rain and humidity.
I took a quick cab ride up to Central Park and was immediately surprised and amazed at the crowds that had already gathered 30 minutes before the race.
Glad I didn’t need to use the bathroom because the above picture shows the line that had already organized at 7:30.
I took Lauren, my personal trainer’s advice and spent 15 minutes warming up with a few strides, dynamic warm-up, and some stretching. There was so much humidity that I was already dripping before the race started. Even though it was only 70 degrees the humidity made things almost unbearable. But, luckily the rain held off for the race and the cloud cover kept the temperature down. I can’t imagine if it had been hot AND humid!
The starting corrals were smaller and closer together than normal, never before have I been able to see the infamous blue corral from my starting location.
There was lots of excitement around the start as the emcee announced all the special guests running the 40th Mini 10k in honor of Grete Waitz! The Mini 10k was the first-ever all female road race including Playboy bunnies. There were women from all over excited to race, including a few readers who I was able to meet before the race! Hi Marlene and Shannon!!
This race, unlike most of the NYRR races, started outside of the park versus inside. This meant that I was able to enjoy running through the lights of Central Park West. The ladies took over the road!
I started the race excited, and therefore way too quickly. Lizzie and I have talked about it multiple times but for the past few races I’ve started out fast and been able to hold my pace.
The first mile was flat and fast, straight up Central Park West. I didn’t want to worry about weaving so I just stayed in the center and just focused on my music and enjoying the run. I felt great and was amazed to see that my pace was an 8:41. I did my best to slow down because I knew that I couldn’t maintain this pace for five more miles. We entered the park at 90th and then spent the next 1.5 miles battling the Harlem Hills. My goals for Harlem Hills were to keep my speed constant, stay positive, and power over the hills.
Well, I achieved that since I finished the first 5k in 29:41 which is a 9:33, a pace faster than I thought I could keep. In addition, I had kept this pace over the Harlem Hill which meant that by mile 3.5 my legs felt like lead. Even on the down hills there was nothing left in my tank to pick up pace.
I spent the next 2.5 miles chugging water, focusing on putting one leg in front of the other, and promising myself I wouldn’t walk. Around mile 4 my wrist accidentally reset my Garmin which was a blessing in disguise. Instead of panicking over my pace I did my best to find a pace I could maintain for the next couple of miles and continue breathing.
I have never been happier than when I saw the 800 meter mark.
I finished the race, exhausted and frustrated, in 1:01:36, a 1 minute PR but still not as fast a pace as I had hoped to keep. My goal for this race was a 9:45 and I kept a 9:56 instead. In fact, this isn’t a PR I really feel I deserve. Instead of starting out slow, around a 9:50, which had been my initial plan, I enjoyed the feeling of speed when I started and let this get the best of me. Instead of helping me, it kept me from achieving my goal of a 9:45 pace.
A 10K is a distance that is far too long to sprint. It is a difficult distance for someone who is accustomed to half marathon training but is just enjoying the first taste of speed. The only way I’ll be able to mix half marathon, marathon, and speed training together over the next few months is if I focus on negative splits.
So while I surprise medal was earned and a new PR is in the record books, my next goal, for all my races is going to be negative splits. Hopefully I can achieve this in two weeks during the NYRR 5 miler on June 25th!
Question: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a race?
I think you did an amazing job–you’ve had a great race season this year and should be very proud! xo
Looks like a great race (and a fun pre-race dinner!) I think you earned that PR AND the lessons about pacing yourself and the 10K race. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Also, Playboy bunnies? I have a very funny image of cottontails bobbing through the park…
I had the exact same kind of race as you – amazing first 5K (I finished in 30:10, which is really fast for me), and then totally started to feel like lead for the second half of the race — that 800 meter mark was the best thing ever! Also, I think I saw you at bag check 🙂 But congratulations on the PR and good luck with negative split training!!
hahah that picture of you girls is awesome.
i give u mad props for racing in that humidity. great recap!
Thanks! I think it was the perfect way to start pre-marathon preparation training! Hilly, humid, and packed sounds like the perfect race to prep!
Official PR or not, you ran a baller race and that is a win!
Thanks Sana! It was definitely a tough race but now I’m ready for the next one!
Congrats on a great race! Negative splits is a great goal, but don’t beat yourself up too much! You ran a great race and it was extremely hot out! You should definitely be proud of this effort 🙂
I learned my best race lesson during the National Marathon this year. I started out 8:15 per mile and felt like quitting by 13. Somehow, I pulled it together and finished strong. Even though it wasn’t quite fast as I wanted, I was so proud that I didn’t let a bad start discourage me from reaching my goal!
Thanks Jamie! Good call about not beating myself up too much because I know how easy that is. Great job on the National Marathon. I ran the National Half and also started out too quickly.
Great job Ashley! It was so nice to meet you! I’m glad you made it to brunch! Congrats on the PR!
Thanks Christy! Let’s be sure to do brunch again after another race soon!
You’re right — 10k always feels longer than you think it’s going to! By mile 4, I was thinking, this isn’t over yet?! But you had a great race, and way to go with the PR. It was nice to see you during the course!
Shayne- even though I was dying when I saw you it was so nice to see a friendly face!
Great job! Way to stick to your plan. You’re totally right – 10k is a tough “middle” distance… not short enough to sprint, but it doesn’t seem long enough to approach as you would a half-marathon.
Nice race — what’s next on your race calendar?
Thanks Ellen! My next race is the 5 miler in 2 weeks. It looks like I’ll be able to conquer Harlem Hills AGAIN except this way the “hard way.”
How about you?
That race looked like fun! Came across your blog via Carrots n Cake — I live in NYC and just started take up running — I hope to use your blog for some inspiration! Thanks!
Great job Allison on starting a new hobby which you’ll hopefully love the way I do now. Check out my race recaps for information on how I became a runner and the races I’ve run over the past few years!
Congrats my friend!!! A PR is a PR no matter what so be proud of your efforts. I went out too fast too but since I only PR’s by 3 seconds I think I needed to in order to get it!!! Had fun with you this weekend, must do it again soon : )
Thanks Lizzy for your kind words! I had a blast with you as well. Let me know when you choose your Fall marathon. Maybe I’ll do a second..
Congrats on the PR Ashley! I know it was a tough race, but you still worked your hardest and that’s important to remember. Race day strategies are so difficult to actually carry out. I never go out as conservatively as I should and I made the same mistakes on Saturday. The humidity was also brutal. But it was still a great race because we were surrounded by friends! So great to see you this weekend!
I had a great time with you this weekend! I really wish you both lived here 🙁
Congrats on the awesome time!! I feel the same way about all of my races too, I always start out wayyy too fast and then I peter out toward the end, when in fact, it should be the opposite. It’s a goal of mine too to focus on negative splits.
Thanks Mary!! Do you practice negative splits during training as well?