Winter Beaches Run 2007
What’s a gel worth? A couple of minutes at the end of a 10–mile run? That’s what I have to wonder as I look back at yesterday’s Winter Beaches Run.
The goal was to run 7:30 splits, nice and steady. Last year I shot out running 7:00 – 7:15 splits, only to explode and finish at a 7:36 average pace. The first mile, as always, I got caught in the surge and ran a little faster than I wanted. After passing the first marker in 7:10, I slowed it down a bit and did the next mile in 7:36. Closer to the goal. I stayed on pace until the 7th mile. Then the slowdown began. I have to believe if I had taken a gel atthe halfway point, I could’ve finished stronger. My hip started to nag me as well, but I’m not sure if that was enough to sabotage my race. I tried 15–second surges on the minute during mile 9 to try to reel some folks in, but couldn’t sustain the effort. I finished in 1:16:33, 36 seconds slower than last year’s 1:15:57.
I did run a much smarter race this year, but in the end, I think nutrition was the difference. Aside from not using a gel, the only meals I had prior to the race included Grape Nuts for breakfast and a Clif Bar an hour before the race. Although Karen and I had to keep nursery at church yesterday morning, I still thought I would have a chance to eat lunch. I also thought the race started at 3 pm. Nope, 2 pm start.
Next year I will have a gel and I will know what time the race starts!