Army Ten Miler - Midway Between Bismarck and NYC

The way the fall racing calendar shaped up, it was fortuitous that the Army Ten Miler fell three weeks after the Bismarck Marathon and three weeks prior to the New York City Marathon.  Having PR-ed in Bismarck and coming close to breaking three hours, New York City is on my mind.  The Army Ten Miler was a good opportunity to gage my recovery and preparations for NYC.

I met up with friend, Michael Rohlf; we share a mutual coach in Ryan Vail.  In fact, Michael recommended him to me.  Our plan was to race together.  I found him in the starting chute.  We stayed together for the first two miles, going out in 6:15.  We were to go out 6:20-15, and in the third mile, I had to back off as there was an incline and I felt that I wasn't 100% fresh.  I decided to back off from PR pace and just run what I was able on this day.  It turned out to be the smart choice.  I held it together over the rolling hills of the 14th Street Bridge.  With about a mile to go, another runner encouraged me by saying I would start the finishing kick to pace him and then he'd pace me to the end.  He said we'd have to run under a six minute mile.  In my head, I said okay and did kick a sub six minute final mile to get me across the finish line in 64:04.  While not a personal best (63:11 at Cherry Blossom 2014), it was a course PR (65:32 in 2011).

Michael and I celebrating our race.  He wore DCRRC singlet and I wore my company's running shirt, Fireside21.

Race Mile Splits = 6:15/15/31/10/26/34/32/28/28/5:57 (31 seconds for the final .10 in 5:20 pace).  I ran four miles of warm up and six miles of cool down to get twenty miles on the day.

My result

With NYC two weeks away (from when I write this), I'm feeling pretty good.  I wish my confidence were higher, but when you constantly feel sore, it is hard to feel confident.  Plus, I battled a cold this week and think it is on its way out.  My coach said I will be fine come race day - at some point, I just have to trust myself and my training.  Yesterday, I ran sixteen miles with three miles at marathon pace.  Today was an off day.  Next Sunday I get to go volunteer at the Marine Corps Marathon and hand out water with my club at the tenth water stop - just as the runners come back into Virginia near Pentagon City.  I always love the energy and can't wait to run another marathon.  I'm sure I'll be ready to run a great race in NYC!