Bridge of Flowers 10K -- Sat. August 9

So different to last year, but I'm glad I did it. Basically I was totally unprepared. No time even to recover from the Erie Canal bike ride properly, let alone get back into some sort of running form. Did it cold, and it hurt. Arrived in good time and managed a mile or two warm up -- it was a lovely day, sunny but cool, if muggy. Met up with Ivan shortly before the start, and figured I'd just aim to finish at a run, and let the pace be what it was.

Very big turnout for this the 30th running, some 1200 people for all the races combined, with 735 in the 10K. We lined up in the 7:00 area, and I thought I'd maybe manage that. Start was a bit delayed, and I got to see a few people from local runs as we waited. The beginning was fine, brisk on the first mile, and then a bit easier on the second as we came back down toward the bridge. Breathing fine and the legs felt okay, just not very fast; the hill was a painful slog; Ivan pulled away and looked very good at that point. I lost him just after the top as he piled it on and I had nothing. At the turnaraound point someone called out position and I was 200 or 201. Fair enough, I thought, but it went pretty bad after that. I found my leg going numb as we came off the grass on to the road, and as we completed mile 5 it was clearly going to get worse not better. People were overtaking in twos and threes, and I started to focus on keeping going--figure I'd still make 250th or so. Down the hill it was great to hear "Chariots of Fire" as usual, and I called out thanks to those guys. Then as we hit the last straight before the bridge I was aiming not to topple off the numb leg, and I had to let people pass -- I called out good luck to Sri Bodkhe who was one of them. As we came off the bridge a couple more overtook me and then I figured that was enough and I just shoulder muscled myself into a sprint on the dead leg to keep the guy behind me from catching. I pushed hard and made the line ahead, then keeled over like a bicycle that has come to a stop.

Nice crew there, they rushed over and were all concerned -- someone took up the place for me in the chute as another official called out my number. I explained it was just numbness and got up, and then walked along to the end. Here's my GPS data, lap by lap: 6:08, 6:20, 8:56, 6:50, 7.07, 7:17; last bit 9.2 mph, or 6:31 pace.

And here's the official result:

Time: 45:09
Distance: 6.2 miles, 10 K
Speed: 8.24 mph

Comment: I came in 230, which was 25/56 for my age group. Fair enough. Ivan really was in good form, and broke his personal best by 30 seconds, so it was a good day to be there. We chatted a bit then I grabbed a big brunch at the post race and headed home. Try again next year.