Saturday 9am 10K race in Tulsa OK. Left OKC about 6:15. Got there and realized this race continues to grow in popularity especially on nice weather day. Early morning 40's turned to low-mid 50's during race with full sun. Not wind and low DP. Did get hot and wish race was a 7:30 gun time. But still...this is a weather day in Oklahoma where you hope to be in shape and on the right course...we were! JB blew it out an took the overall in a new PR. JH who isn't having a typical rookie year hit a PR of sub-40 while running a controlled race (looking ahead to TR pacing). Blake likely set a PR for least training effort and still having a TR qualifying time.
I didn't want anything to do with last years race where 4 Masters passed me in the last 1.5K. I raced last year trying to see how close I could stay to a super fast 55 year old; went through 5K with a reasonable time and then fell apart as it was a warm/humid day and the first 5K took it out of me. This year I am in better shape and better weather. I went out 1st mile with a pack of 6-8 runners and the pace was right so never looked at my watch other than 5K which was 18:34. Thus still fell off on back half but the last K of this course isn't ideal with a slight hill in the full sun and winding (jig-jogging) around in the zoo. Felt strong the entire time and passed several runners. Today was my all-time PR for at the 10K and at age 47! I also went through 8K at 29:47 which is unofficially another all-time PR. Never know what you can do unless you try.
P.S. We barely made it back to the start for the gun after taking the small-loop for a warmup and it was longer than thought! JB and I were there with about 2 min to go; but JH and Blake less than 20 seconds! Cutting it close. I looked back and averaged 6:30 pace over 3K hurrying to make it back. I thus ran a 13K! This is how memories are made!!
Ended day by eating at Panera and driving the new Tulsa Run 15K course. Luckily "Butler Black"
kept JH awake as he gratefully drove us on this trip.
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