Rock the Parkway 2010 Race Report - 10k

It's a day late, but here's the weekly post. =)

www.rocktheparkway.com

Wet & Cold.

Do you need to know anything else?

It was mid to low 40’s, started raining at 7:15, 15 minutes before the ½ marathon started (staggered start for the ½, 10k and 5k which was nice). It didn’t end until well after the race was over.

I signed up for the 10k as I was eyeing a mountain bike race (cancelled by the way) Sunday. I didn’t feel I was far enough in my training to support a “fun” ½ marathon and I’m trying to PR my 10k time.

This was a VERY cool (neglecting mother nature inflicting cold and rain) race idea and location. I work off Ward Parkway so it was fun to run on the streets I’m usually dodging and weaving on to get to work in my car.

The event was well organized, good location, well supported, adequately supplied with port-a-potties and had good post race activities if people weren’t busy heading for cover from the cold and rain straight from the finish line.

As for the course, I went half way of the ½ marathon – makes sense since the 10k is about ½ of the ½ marathon… =) It included some mild hills, but the nice part was after the first mile, the wide streets allowed for separation from other runners for reduction of dodging, weaving and sometimes colliding.

Results you ask? Well, it wasn’t a PR at 48:50 but I was in the upper ¼ of my age group of 60+ guys. I can’t complain considering the temperature and sock-to-weight saturation level. Shoes, socks, shirts, shorts tend to hold water. Add in some rain and you have a recipe for heavy feet and chafing if you didn’t dress right.

The wife even ran the 5k. She was a trooper trudging through the cold and rain (I was for sure she would bail when it started raining). Did I mention she was smart enough to take my rain cycling jacket and stayed pretty dry? Me, I could have brought one but didn’t… cause I’m a guy, right? And, we all know guys don’t think about stuff like comfort and warmth… We were going to bring the squirt in a jogging stroller but though better of having her in the cold and rain… but that didn’t stop some parents from running with their kids. Sort of surprising since it was COLD.

We didn’t get to incorporate it as a family event due to the weather but luckily we have great support from our mom’s that live around us to watch the squirt for us. Moral of the story is we survived the rain and I’d definitely run the 10k or ½ marathon next year and recommend it to others for a nice early race!