The goal was to use the 10K as a training session because in my Sprint Triathlon I will only need to run a 5K, so this was slightly over kill, but it was for a good cause. The 10K was hosted by Equestrian Connection in Lake Forest, IL. They offer therapy for children with special needs (and other people) using primarily, although not exclusively, horses. I have volunteered here before being a "walker" to support the riders through their therapy. This is one of the most giving and heart-felt organizations that I have volunteered at. They are truly making a difference!
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| Shin Splint Taping with MVT |
My trainer, Abby Kramer and I decided to use some the MVT application of tape to our tibialis posterior muscles to help support our arches during the race (this muscle is involved with a lot of shin splint pain and plantar fasciitis).
I (WE) started out the race TOO FAST. Well, in our opinion. We started running about a 9:30 min/mile pace (as you will see in my previous blogs I am training closer to an 11:30 min/mile pace). After running for about 1/2 a mile and at a HR of 170 (my training is max 153), I decided to slow down to about an 11 min/mile pace and a HR of 160. But after the first mile, my HR monitor's battery died! So I was left to pace myself for this race...
Needless to say, the competitive athlete in me got the best of me. Without my HR monitor I knew I wouldn't be able to stay in the appropriate range to run, so now it was RACE TIME! Knowing I wouldn't place in the run because I started too slow, I decided to take miles 2 and 3 at about that 11 min/mile pace. I was feeling so good though that during the 4th mile I was passing people up, and that got my adrenaline pumping! So for the last 2.5 miles I increased my pace dramatically... So much that I was basically in a full stride the last mile of the run.
Then something awesome happened: I caught up with Abby. Not only that, but I passed her in full stride with about 1/2 mile left in the race. My brain was racing wondering if I could keep up this pace, until I saw the finish line... I mustered up whatever energy I had left and SPRINTED across the finish line...
My theory of what happened to me physiologically: By running at a slower pace, I was burning fat, and conserving most of my sugar energy, until I needed it, towards the last part of the race. By not burning through all of my sugar storages early on in the race, I was able to have a strong finish and not completely "burn out" before the end of the race!
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| Abby and I ended up placing 1st in our age group! On a somber note, we were THE ONLY ones in our age group.... |
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| 1:02:36 Time, 10:06 Min/Mile Pace 1st in Male 25 to 29 Age Group Overall 17th |
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| 1:03:51 Time, 10:18 Min/Mile Pace 1st in Female 25 to 29 Age Group Over all 20th |
Well either way I learned three things from this race:
- I am still really slow (a month into training at my HRR 143-153)
- I was able to conserve energy and recover better than I have ever before training in this HRR
- The 25-29 age group is great group to run in due to a lack of competitors ;)
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| With Diana: Founder of Equestrian Connection |
In conclusion, I was slower in this 10K (10:18 Min/Mile Pace) then my first 10K I ran at age 23 (8:36 Min/Mile Pace), but because I had so much energy at the end of the race and because I recovered so quickly, I am confident that this training is improving my heart's capacity to do work and sustain working at a moderate to high intensity when need be. Therefore, I hope to see my min/mile pace times improve in the coming 2 months of training!
"Motion is Life!" - Konrad Grzeszkowiak, DC
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| 24 year old male won 10K race with a 5:32 Min/Mile Pace! SICK! |
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