Week 22: The Best USATF 10K in Sonoma
This morning I ran our local 'Hit the Road Jack' 10K and my goal was simple: run faster than last year.This year I also tried something new. I had someone pace me through the race. And who was my 'pacer'? My own DH.
Honestly, I was nervous with the idea of my own husband 'directing' me. That could be potentially annoying, especially when I'm already feeling physically tapped. But that wasn't the case at all. He was the perfect person to follow. He knew I wanted to average a 7:20 min mile, so once we settled into the 1st mile & confirmed he'd manage the pace, I got to sit back (mentally), blast my ipod, and have him ensure our timing. It almost felt like I was cheating. almost.
Without a pacer, I would have pushed too hard at the beginning (I always do this), and not have pushed myself at the end. I am now a believer in Pacers & Husband Pacers. It can be done!
And my final time was 45:18. That gave me a 7:18 m/min ave, and I was faster by 54 seconds this year. Woo-hoo!
I'll take it.
I'll take it and RUN baby!
Comments
DH here.
It was actually quite a learning experience.
It was the "quickest" a 10k ever went by for me; and my first pacing lesson.
Here's a quick (but long) perspective: it all happened naturally. Originally, we had nominated a pacer (not to be me, because it's tough for a husband/wife to communicate on the level of "telling" the other what to do); but, when our friend kept his uber-fast pace of 6:40 at mile#1, I settled in to keep my agreed pace of sub-7:20. And it kinda happened quickly, and very naturally - she just said "I'm gonna trust you - it'll be good for you too to learn."
So, without discussion, in the middle of the race, we both knew that I'd be the pacer...and it felt so natural (awesomeness). Frankly, it just felt right to have her at my shoulder, and I could read her without looking at her...I just knew she was there, and knew how to carry the pace. I could hear her music through her headphones, and it made me feel comfortable for her to have that (I can't run with music); and it felt like the world was just the 2 of us. I could feel when she felt good, feel when she struggled, and feel when she pushed hard; when she surged a couple times to pass people, no words were needed – I saw my bad-A wife go.
With no verbal agreement we spent 5 miles with no words, but oddly in complete communication...I've felt nothing like it - we've been married almost 10 years, yes, but man, I think words would have ruined this moment.
So, in order to keep the story short ('cause it's her blog), I'll finish with the finish: we ran and kept our pace, up rollers and down grades; and pushed and dropped people, and I knew she was there with me the whole time (without looking); and then, with the final 0.2 miles to go, she was on target for her goal: so, again, without words, I motioned to her, and she surged to finish at a 7:18 pace...and I finished behind her. (I feel more emotions to the story, but gotta keep this a short).
Crazy thing is that I didn't fully think about all this until I read her blog - for 5.2 miles we didn't speak any words, but were in full communication...something I guess I take for granted between us. It was a very cool thing.
I guess pacing is not totally about pulling someone, but also about being pushed. I couldn't have pace my awesome and beautiful wife, without her pushing me, or without her telling me that she was ok without words; so I guess communication doesn't always need words - maybe a good relationship.
Kudos to my DW. She pushed me to pull her to her 10k PR. We never thought we could race together: maybe we didn’t communicate enough? Hmmmmm….lesson learned.
on another note....did you remember to wave to your home/kids? mb
According to my calculations, at the time you were crossing the finish line, I was enjoying donuts and hot chocolate on the top of Pike's Peak (via cog railroad) with 36 other Elderhostelers on a trip to ride the historic Colorado railroads. I think we both had a good day.
Love,
Dad