21
Nov
Santa Cruz Turkey Trot 2009
I was undecided on whether I wanted to run in the turkey trot. The training program was for a 5k but the Sunday runs the last couple of weeks were an hour or longer. My pedometer was telling me I was doing close to a 10k, so when I woke up this morning feeling good I decided to do the 10k.
My goal was to run just like I had on the Sunday runs, slow and steady, with the addition of running the whole way. The race workers at every mile marker let me know I was keeping up a steady 11.5 minute mile. The mile markers themselves let me know that my uncalibrated pedometer had been telling me I was running further than I actually was. My push from Sunday run distance was going to be harder than I thought.
I did stop for about 5 seconds to have a small cup of water at the halfway point, but aside from that slow and steady was working. I slowed a bit in the second half and I think miles 4 & 5 were the hardest. Mile 6 got easier just because I knew I was almost done. My legs were done at the end; definitely a lot more effort than they were used to. Now after I recover I need to decide what my running goals are going to be. Probably getting 10k to be a comfortable distance and a bit faster.