Morningside Mile Race Report
This event didn’t happen in 2013 so I was very excited to see it’s return. Originally we had posed a challenge to Podium Multisport to field a team of their best 5 guys and gals versus the Atlanta Tri Club guys and gals.
Due to everyone’s schedules, this totally didn’t happen. We’ll have to try again next year. We did end up having a solid ATC turnout and some of our people in the front.
I had hemmed and hawed over signing up for the ‘elite’ versus the ‘amateur’ division. The cutoff was a 6 minute mile. Though I supposedly ran a 5:24 mile as part of a mile repeat session on the treadmill (NOT at a 1% either) a few years ago, I had my doubts about a sub six performance on this course. For one, it’s point to point and super hilly. I have a lot more leg speed than engine power and I knew the hills would slow me down.
Anyways, John told me that I had to sign up for the elite division so I did. I showed up tired from that week’s training and changed my mind about racing about ten different times in the warmup. I was trying to do it as a part of my long run so I did 5 miles as a warmup and didn’t crack a 10 minute mile the entire time AND took walk breaks.
Then I retuned to the tent village where Matt proceeded to show Susie and I his secret warmup. Talking to Susie and her sharing that she was also nervous really helped me and I started to understand why people say that they don’t like sprint and 5ks as I was having doubts with my ability to pace ! 🙂
Adrenaline is a funny thing though because with the first few steps all my aches and pains went away and as mostly happens, your body just knows what to do. We started on a downhill so I got out pretty fast, then the rest of the crowd caught up with me on the first uphill. 🙂
I was actually having a bit of trouble pacing and probably taking the uphills a little too conservatively. I was feeling the ‘why am I doing this ‘ at about .6 because there is a good amount of downhill prior to that point, then the rest of the race I am basically getting passed the whole time and just hoping for the finish.
I crossed the line at 5:48 and second female and was pretty happy with that result. Thinking about things beforehand, I thought 5:45 on that course was about my best case scenario. Overall the times were a bit slower than in 2013 but I know that’s in part because they moved the start back this year so the course was an actual mile.
I would like to do another mile sometime with a course that is a bit more suited for me now that I’ve tried it. I won a gift certificate to Highland Runner, and one to Podium Multisport, both of which will be very helpful. I also won $50 which is the first time I’ve ever won cash at a running race, though I did win some decent cash at the Macon Half Iron once. I promptly spent a good amount on some delicious noodles. 🙂
Afterwards Charlie competed in the lo mein noodle eating contest and won, setting a course record in the process. It was a pretty fun time!
Here I am timing Charlie’s record setting, noodle eating adventure.
