2012 Capital 10K race report

This was my 3rd time to run Austin's most famous race...and I have to say I enjoyed it the most! In 2007 I was WAY too focused on time to really enjoy the race, and although I ran a 51:49 (8:20 min/mile pace), I can't tell you anything remarkable about that race. Not a single memory. Must have had a good run, but who knows what was going on? The next year I ran it was the following year, in 2008 and my time dropped to 57:03 (Still a 9:10 pace!) and I DO remember why - I had to make an unscheduled pit stop at a Porta-Jane. Nothing will make you regret running in the "timed" category more than having to stop! I right then and there started taking my pre-race routine much more seriously! Hasn't happened to me since, knock on wood!

Fast forward to 2012 and I ran a 1:02:13 for a 10:01 pace. I woke op early on race day and I knew I was going to have a good run! The legs felt fresh - another way of saying I did NOT run enough the week prior to Sunday! I listened to some music, figured out how to connect my iPhone to my Kia Sorrento's stereo so I can control my tunes like an iPod connected and through the steering wheel controls. Sweet! I did the morning visit to the Porta-Janes, which I must say were the cleanest ones I have ever used. Something to be said for arriving early! I walked around a bit to loosen up and to take in the pre race atmosphere. It was warm, about 65 deg at the start I'd guess, and really humid. That had a lot of runners nervous, and the more I listened to everyone the more worried I got too! I looked around for some friends I thought were running and did not see them, so I headed to the "C" Corral, which I think was for 10:00 to 10:30 pace runners. After some local girl's duo murdered the National Anthem (It's "perilous fight" not "perilous flight" people!) we were off, and.....walking! With over 23,000 runners total, it can take a while. But we were actually running 5 ft before the start line, and I crossed it about 2:21 after the gun went off. Not bad! The first mile was a very easy steady climb up Congress Avenue, which is a cool way to get the legs warm before the first hill, a sharp climb after a right on 11th st. I knew what was coming, so I was trying to take things easy. I still was right at a 10 minute first mile. That was when I realized I had a shot at running under 10 min pace. Mile 2 took us over a couple rollers and down the monster that was the toughest climb in the Livestrong Half Marathon, when we were coming the opposite direction! Much easier going down, although I did see a few people with quads that appeared to be in trouble. By now I was sweating like the proverbial pig (I always do!) and I knew the one hill I dreaded was here...the longest hill and the toughest on the course. It was not as hard as it was when I ran the Turkey Trot (See The Calf history in earlier posts if you are truly bored!), and I think it was on the perfect spot on the course. After getting over it and then headed down the long downhill to Mopac, I knew I was doing well. At 3 miles I was right on 10 minute pace still. By mile 4 I was just girl watching, which I do without leering...much. Damn, runners have fine legs! The heat was starting to bother me at mile 5 and I faded just a little going up some small rollers on Cesar Chavez....but I was still doing well all things considered. I had only been bumped a couple hundred times by newbies that apparently had no idea that running a straight line is just being courteous, and I was not thirsty at all. Half of the two cups of water I grabbed on the course were just to pour down my back and on my head to cool off. My calf did not give me even a twinge, and I was really glad for that!

I really did not have much of a sprint at the end, which was cool since we were packed in the finishing chute like sardines. Sweaty, smelly sardines! They would do well to widen that a little. I might have made up that maddening 1 second that my final pace was (10:01!) But I was happy! All in all, it was a very fun race and I'll be back next year to do it again!

My final "grades":

246th of 429 in my Age Group (50-59 Male)

4,604th overall (of 9,929 timed runners - 23,000+ overall runners/walkers)

3,097th male (of  5,158 males)

7 miles....times two!

It was the tale of two runs:

Yesterday - met my running group at Town Lake and we initially thought we were running 5 miles. That turned out to be 6.6! But hey I felt great, the girls (and Mark!) are always fun to run with and I felt nice and rested after Wednesday's 7 mile loop. We ran the Scenic loop, and man those hills!!! That might have been the first thing that foreshadowed what today might be like....I was really sore after Megs and I shopped all day!! But I did get some couch time last night, watching my beloved Dukies and then the Longhorns each get hammered. Blech.

I'm always happy when I'm shopping with the Fashionista....

Today - I woke up out of sorts, and did my 3rd trip to the "library" in 8 hours. That was a omen I won't ignore again. Got to Town Lake and was stalling, it was cold, I was tired and I was irritable. Only another runner will understand me when I say I NEEDED to run. I did not WANT to run! It was a good thing I stalled, as nature called with a vengeance and I got a good sprint to the men's room in. TMI, I know! I felt OK afterwards, and I knew I was well hydrated. The fact I had to stop at 3 Porta Janes in 7 miles confirmed that!

This was one of the toughest, most mentally grueling runs I've done this year. It was no fun at all, but some runs are like that. I liken it to the last 10K of a Marathon - I am grumpy, I hate running and I want to quit. But I can't, and so I didn't. I was tired, yes. My legs were sore as hell, yes. But I was not in pain, and I knew I needed the mental toughness test to see if I could finish. In about 7 weeks I will find out if I am running New York this year, in November. If I am, I see a LOT of runs like this in my future. It takes what it takes.

I look exactly like I felt. Like Shit.

Was it worth it? Yes. Do I feel the endorphins and the thrill of another run completed? Fuck no.