2012 Derby Day Stakes

I ran today in the 1st annual, "run for Madi," Derby Day Stakes. The foot race at Coldstream Park offered 5k, 10k, and 15k races. I, being the ever optimist and doing what I haven't done yet, signed up for the 15k race. For those without a conversion table nearby, this is 9.3 miles. I ran the Moonlight Madness Marathon in 2008 with the Party Line, but that race was considered unofficial by some estimates.

This race was bona fide and and had a lot to offer for challenge. The weather gave us thunderstorms at daybreak but the threatening weather moved out by the 8:35 AM start. Humidity did give way for plenty of sweat for the shirt.

Aside from the distance it would torture the body, I suffered a back strain on Thursday thanks to base running out at 5th and Jefferson. I wasn't going to let this deter my race so I slapped a Icy Hot Patch before the start and jogged a mile to loosen the legs and back.

The race started at a good pace with the first mile going by at a 7:06 clip. I ran with a youth in a neon green jacket and a middle-aged man in a plaid kilt. The second mile took us out to citation boulevard and up a down a few hills. I was going through the motions good enough for a 7:25 second mile.

The third mile was the bright spot of the day. We raced through a bank parking lot or maybe insurance/law firm. I passed three people in front of me but was passed by another middle-aged man in a ball cap. I latched on to him and we drafted the entire third mile down hill and with the wind at our back. The result? A 6:13 third mile!

I followed the cap through the fourth mile but started to loose the draft. The fourth mile slowed to a 7:11 time. During the fifth mile, I suffered a pass from the middle-aged plaid kilt. As I tried to keep up with him, onlookers would shout the obvious to him. He didn't seem to respond, all business from this competitor. I finished up mile five in 7:31.

I was starting to feel the muscles in my hips right at the waist start to tighten. The back was feeling great, but my mile splits were moving into the mid to up seven minute quadrants. Only natural, right?

I watched from a distance as the cap and kilt battled each other the next three miles. For me, mile six took 7:43, mile seven paced 7:25, and mile 8 lasted 7:57. Mile 8 would have been over eight minutes but I sprinted for about ten seconds to secure the under eight mile.

Mile 9 came and passed with little event, I did run with a few of the 10k runners. I ran the 9th mile in 7:45 and had three-tenths to go. I ran up a hill and at the crest of the hill were encouragers and race officials. The course went downhill and ended on a nice flat stretch. 2:11 clocked off for my last leg.

Total time was 68:30. I am glad to be able to run and run for fun!