The math is fuzzy but the past two races I have run have been a 6k (5:50 pace) and a 5k (5:39 pace) so logically it made tremendous sense to race a 10k on the track on Sunday. Dave Dunham was the conspirator behind this race as he convinced the USATF-NE honchos to host a 10k at Regis College in Weston, MA as part of the New England track championships.
The last time I raced a 10k on the oval was in 1983 as a college sophomore and placed 12th in the NCAA Div II track Championships. My time that day was 30:37. That spring I raced 3 10k's and finished all (30:23/ 32:30/ 30:37) so I knew that finishing would not be a problem for me but how fast was the real question. My training has been consistent since May 1 and I actually have done 1 track workout (10 x 400 in 80 w/ 200 rest). Leading up to Sunday, my mileage has increased and I have been feeling strong just not fast.
After a 3 mile warmup and 1/2 mile on the track, the 9 racers (8 CMS teammates) were called to the line. Somehow I was given lane 1 (comic relief) and as the gun went off I immediately assumed last place which is where I would end up. Basically it was a 25 lap adventure of waiting to be lapped and not embarress myself. I had a goal of 85 second 400 pace but after a 2:46 first 1/2 mile, it was more like 87.5 pace. The leaders passed me at about 4.25 miles and then again around 9200 meters. Dave got me as he began his final lap. For some reason, I was under the impression that I had 2 to go but really had 3 so my final push to hold him off and thus not be lapped by everyone was not enough. However, I did manage to hit 5:50 pace for 10k and never was in oxygen debt but my legs just couldn't hit another gear.
Splits by 400: 83.03/84.58/85.96/85.67/84.98/86.45/86.44/85.83/85.52/87.09
86.87/88.77/88.28/87.32/87.00/87.63/89.08/88.94/91.89/89.15
86.25/85.28/88.56/88.33
Splits by 1k : 328/334/334/335/338/341/349/336/337/339
Splits by 1600: 5:36/5:44/5:45/5:52/5:57/5:49/89
1st 5k: 17:49 2nd 5k: 18:23
Final time 36:11 8th place
