Sunday, March 11, 2007

Shamrock Classic 10K


The Bigun's no speed runner...not anymore at least. I ran the 100-highs in High School, and was part of a 4x200m relay team that still holds my HS record, but deep down, I'm a shot-putter and discus thrower - a plodder. Yea, that's me, a plodder. Just for giggles, I decided to participate in this 10k just to see what I could do.

The time changing almost put a wrinkle in the works, but just before I fell off to sleep, I remembered and set the clock ahead. I got to the race around 7am - it was only 10 miles from my house, got registered and looked for my chip - alas, no chip timing for the day. So, I got my number on my nifty race number belt (why more runners don't use it, I don't know - those pins are a pain in the butt...) and did a short warm-up run; just enough to get the juices flowing. It was then I realized that there were no Port-o-Potties. Luckily we were in an industrial park - empty on a Sunday - so I ducked behind a building, and went about my business.

The route, I learned while running it, was a 3-mile loop - so that was a neat surprise, running by Bacon who was there cheering his wife on, and I guess me too. Mrs. Bigun has a pinched nerve in her neck and was in no shape to be around people this morning - bless her.

There was plenty of support, and there was a volunteer at every road intersection, so that made everything alright. Of course I went out too fast, and tuckered out trying to chase down that girl that passed me at mile 3, but overall I enjoyed the race and had fun. They gave me a card to fill out after I crossed the finish line - it did not have my time on it! Luckily I had hit the stop on my watch just as I crossed the line, and wrote my time - 51:42 - on the card with no illusions of placing.

I was 8:58 per mile for 13.2 last month, so even though it was only 30 seconds per mile faster, I was happy with my 8:20 average pace - I was 244lbs after the race, so with another 10 - 15 lbs to go before May 6th (the Bradenton 101), finishing that run with a 10-minute pace seems more and more likely. After all, I'm a plodder.

9 comments:

Duane said...

Sounds like you had fun. Plodding is good! That 101 is coming up sonn, very cool!

Lesser is More said...

That's pretty good pace! I always find it funny the kind of motivations that drive us during a race. To some...its a PR...but I almost always tend to push harder just to beat that person that passed me a few miles back and just smile as I cruise past them. Keep up the great training!

Fe-lady said...

If you are a plodder...man what am I with my 9-10 min miles. You are an inspiration!
Like the way you copied people's headers for their links to their site...
alas...I am header challenged...maybe someday, when I really care about stuff like that...which will be never probably...

Spandex King said...

Thats an awesome time!! I'm now slower than a plodder. Just what does that make me? Keep up the hard work!!

Di said...

I think if you're slower than a plodder you're a loiterer ;)

Iron Pol said...

That's a fair time for a 10K. And that's more running than a great many Americans ever accomplish.

Ten pounds will be huge in terms of time and effort. I have been getting much faster in the past several years, and I'm fairly certain I'm not getting all that much better. I just getting lighter.

The Stretch Doc said...

Dang, Bigun.!! Thats great!
Im 210lbs and cant seem to get my times anywhere near that. Holding around 11's.

rockon`

Bolder said...

great time! great pace!

well.done.

chuck said...

Hey, plodding in OK in my book. Like Mrs. Bigun suggested, I'm loitering working my way to plodding. take care.