2014 Debut: Will Speck Memorial 5k

The last race I finished before this past weekend was the Chicago Marathon.  That was back in October.  Since, I have gone through a series of injuries and had an episode in which I passed out due to running.  Dizziness and lightheadedness have plagued me since this happened in February.  I have been visiting doctor after doctor without receiving any answer as to why I still feel the way I do.  Out of spite, I decided to run the Boston Marathon.  My training had actually been going somewhat well but long runs were still giving me problems.  I would often feel as though I might pass out and could not push the pace during training runs.  At Boston, I went out in 6:20 pace or so through the first 10k.  This should have been very easy as the opening miles are downhill and I went out much quicker in Chicago clipping off 6:09 miles through the first half before slowing during the second.  I did not feel good from the start in Boston.  By 10 miles I started to feel dizzy and glossy eyed.  I tried to push for a couple miles and started to significantly slow.  Right around 20k I made the decision that my day was over.  It was not the right decision to start Boston, let alone try to finish it.  I was very angry.  Angry that I had not figured out what was wrong with me for months.  Angry that I spent much of the winter injured and had not improved.  Angry that 2:47 remains my marathon PR.  I felt like a failure for not being able to finish the race, for dropping out.  Running is something I take pride in, not something I need to feel embarrassed about.  It is difficult to explain to people that you did not complete a race if they are not a runner.  I do not want to just finish races but I want to compete and get better.  I cannot do this if my body will not allow it and the fact that this was out of my control was devastating.  After Boston, I took a little time off, running every other day for the next couple of weeks.  I started to feel better and decided that it would be best to focus on the shorter distances until I can find out what is actually wrong with me.

I have been training for the 5k/10k distances and workouts have been going very well.  My mileage has been between 60-75 miles with workouts twice a week and a long run.  I have not felt dizzy during this time but I know I am still not back to where I need to be.  I still feel lightheaded at times.  I feel good enough to race at shorter distances so I debuted in 2014 at the Will Speck Memorial 5k in Cranston.  My workouts have indicated I am in the best shape of my life for the 5k distance.  Most of my repeats have been at 5:15 pace or better from 600m to 1600m and sub-5:00 pace for anything shorter.  I found a small 5k just to help me get back into a competition mindset.  I did a workout a couple weeks ago where I ran a tempo 5k in 17:19 and then 2 x mile at half marathon pace (5:40) immediately after.  I felt confident that my strength was there and that I could break 17:00 fairly easily and actually be closer to 16:30 or better.  The weather did not cooperate yesterday, as it was 80 degrees at the start of the 5k with the sun beaming down on us.  When the gun went off three people went straight to the front running very hard.  I would guess they were running 5:00 pace or so.  15:30 was not going to be realistic for me to go with, especially considering the weather.  I settled into a chase pack with another runner and tucked in behind him.  I also thought that most of the three leaders looked young and might come back to me if I maintained a consistent pace.  Just before hitting the first mile we were passed by another runner wearing red.  It was a quick move and the runner looked very strong.  The front pack hit the first mile in about 5:15.  4th place was in 5:20 and we were in 5:25.  My original plan was to target an opening mile between 5:15 and 5:25 but with the weather I knew 5:15 would have meant my day would be over if I had tried to hit that for an opening split.  On a less warm day it would be great to try and hit two miles in 10:30 and see what I can end up running.  Yesterday was all about practicing my racing tactics.

After passing through the first mile, I knew I was on the slower side and made a small move to gap the runner I had been running with.  I quickly moved in front of someone who had fallen off of the initial lead pack.  I was now in 4th.  The runner that had passed me in the opening mile was maintaining 5:20 pace and moved right past the lead group who was still slowing.  I knew I would have a chance to move past them too.  In retrospect, 5:20 pace is not out of my wheelhouse and I wish I would have tried to go with 5:20 pace at the first mile and contend for the win.  My legs did not feel entirely fresh and the heat was making things very tough for me.  At around 2 miles, another runner pulled up on me and moved just in front of me.  I stayed right with this runner and was not going to let him go.  We hit mile 2 in 5:38.  Very slow.  I was not too happy with this pace but it was all I had on the day.  Even though we slowed so much, 2nd and 3rd place were getting closer.  Just after the 2 mile mark the runner that I had run the first mile with passed us and I went with him.  The other runner that had passed me fell off this pace a bit.  I was now in 5th place but we were closing on 2nd and 3rd.  By 2.5 miles I had been gapped but the runner had moved into second.  I made my move just after this point.  It was not so much of a move as it was maintaining pace on my end.  I moved in front of both runners into third and did not look back.  I was not moving great myself and was running a little scared at this point trying to hold onto third.  I kept working hard to try and keep contact with second place.  At this point we were running on a straightaway leading back to the high school where we had started.  I did not look back but could see first and second places on this stretch.  First had around 30-40 seconds on me and second had maybe 10.  I knew I would not catch first and I kept pushing but could not gain much ground on second.  It looked like I was going to hold on for third as long as I was not passed.  After a right hand turn the race concluded with an Olympic-styled finish of 300m around the track.  My turnover was not there for a big finish to make a charge on second.  I looked back quickly to check to see if anyone was coming up on me and nobody was there.  At this point a spectator yelled at me to not look back but to look forward.  I took the advice and pushed around the track.  The finish line could not come soon enough.  I finished in 17:15, good for third place and a little prize money.  I ran the race in my Skechers GoMeb Speed 2's which felt very smooth on the roads.  Most of my training right now has been in the GoBionic 2's.  Keep on the lookout for a shoe and clothing review coming out this week!

The time was not what I was hoping for but I think that I raced well given the day.  First place was 16:34 and second 17:09.  I could have probably given a little better effort to challenge second place as I was only six seconds back.  I feel pretty good about this opening race.  I received a little trophy and some prize money for my efforts.  While I did not run a fast pace, I did race well and moved past people in the late stages of this race and then held my position.  4th place was back in 17:28 so I did put 13 seconds between us in the last half mile which is pretty solid.  I can now say that I am back to racing and feel very fit right now.  On a cooler day I think that 16:30s would have been within reach.  My goal for the summer is to race often and within the next couple months take a shot at breaking 16:00 for 5k.  I also would like to run a fast mile (my best from last summer is 4:57) and aim for something under 4:50, hopefully closer to 4:40 on a good day.  I have one race under my belt and know things can only get better from here.  To be honest, I am not completely satisfied with my third place showing.  I want to win races.  The time was slow given how well my workouts have been going.  If anything, this has motivated me to find a new race and run a better time.  I am ready for this summer and ready to push myself to new limits and finally breakthrough at the shorter distances.

David

Editor's note: In 2011 (3 years ago!) I ran this race hoping to break 20:00 for the first time.  I achieved this goal and ran 19:56, good for 29th place.  It is helpful to see progress like this, as I ran almost three minutes faster to place in the top three and be in the prize money this time around.