Remember all that talk about my plans for this race? Well, they went out the window in more than one way. Since writing that, I ran a total of less than 10 miles, did something odd (twisted/sprained) with my knee getting into bed, which took about three weeks before I felt comfortable running on again. Pre-race, I adjusted my plan to a 7:30 pace, which should have been very doable, but I always leave myself open to anything.

Noteworthy is the fact that the 2009 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler was my last race before injury. It was my best race ever. Then I had to take… well, I’m still taking running very easily since then. I knew my time of 1:04 was not anywhere within my reach, but I still wanted to toss in a good effort.

Mile 1, as expected, was traffic-ridden. Lots of bobbing, weaving, and simply trying to stay upright. When it passed in a fairly comfortable 6:59, my goal very quickly shifted to seeing how long I could hold a sub-7 pace.

As we made our way by the Lincoln Memorial, under the Kennedy Center, and past the Tidal Basin, I was still holding that ever-so-under 7:00 minute pace. We were now halfway done, I had popped a gel, but was feeling the effects of already being well over my average run’s length. My legs were heavy, I didn’t have what it took to pick them up, a side stitch developed, and I knew this was going to turn into a mental battle.

I kept on trucking… 3/4 of the way around Hains Point, around Mile 8, I had absolutely nothing left in the tank. I was still on pace and had about 20 seconds to spare, but I knew anything could happen at this point, including not being able to finish the race. Two gels down, but really, nothing left; I had exceeded the capability of my legs.

I got through 8, began 9, and my mind went away from me. Speaking with a friend who experienced the same thing, this was not running zen by any means… This was my body not having enough left in it to function properly. Think: Michael after six beers… running in a race. It’s not a good feeling… a doctor would have probably told me to stop immediately, but I’m a runner, and runners like to finish (if you thought dirty things there, I’ll happily take the assist).

I tried to visualize Mom and what she goes through on a daily basis for that last mile. It kept me together as I struggled to pull myself up the final incline towards the finish. If any race photos pop up of the finish, I’ll need to see them. The anguish on my face must have been a hell of a sight. I completed that last mile in 7:03 for a final time of 1:09:45 (GPS says 10.09mi, which accounts for traffic).

My expectations were shattered. I was thinking a 1:12 would be a great race. A sub-1:10 was not even on the table. My legs currently feel worse (just soreness) than they do after a marathon that I’ve trained for. That’s sad, but fitting for running that fast on what’s turned out to be seven miles per week this year.

With my big race out of the way, I can focus on some more specific training for the shorter races I have planned this year. I’m very happy with my time and the fact that I was even able to run ten miles.

The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler is a world-class event. I couldn’t be happier with what that organization does. If you ever want to run a big race in the early spring, I can’t recommend any over this one. Unfortunately, I think everyone already knows that, which has resulted in an entry lottery system that isn’t going away. Still, throw your name in. If it doesn’t work out, The Parkway Classic is a great backup.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our club’s race team initiative for this race, which I coordinated (self pat on back). The club was looking to build out of racing presence this year. I am interested in making that happen, and was given the reins of the program. In this, our first real race, I was able to field 45 runners across nine teams. I had printed and awarded a run of club singlets for all our participants, and when team results are compiled (sometimes takes a month), will be awarding further incentives based on performance. The plan is to retain some of the really competitive folks, build a truly competitive core of individuals, and hop around the US for a race or two each year if things really get going. In retrospect, taking this on at this time was not the most intelligent move I’ve ever made. The time this took combined with a wedding in two weeks was a bit overwhelming. I got it done, but it wasn’t as enjoyable as it should have been; much more of a chore than anything else. Regardless, our teams ran great, I expect at least one of them to win something, and I’ve drummed up a lot of interest in our new racing program. [Borat]Great success.[/Borat]

What’s next? Marriage. 11 days. I haven’t even looked at the calendar as April is more or less a wash. I do hope to get some nice running miles done in Europe, but nothing is guaranteed. I’ll spend May getting my legs back to where they are now, and then focus on speed for the many 5Ks I hope to run over the hot summer months.