RRCA Club Challenge 10 Miler (2/28/10)

The RRCA (Road Runner Clubs of America) Club Challenge 10 Miler is a hilly and usually frigid race at Howard County Community College geared primarily toward clubs in Maryland and DC. Its format is similar to a cross country meet, where the place of the top runners from each team count toward their team’s score, and the lowest team total wins. On the men’s side, the top 12 runners from each team would count; for the women, 6. There was also a Co-ed category that combined both. Typically, 10 or 11 clubs in the area are represented at this race including, of course, the Frederick Steeplechasers. We are one of the smaller clubs and as a result are pretty much outclassed by the larger clubs from Baltimore, Howard County and Montgomery County. Last year we finished 7th across the boards.

This would be my 3rd crack at this race, and my main goal was to match or beat the PR that I set there last year: 76:48. However, thanks to a bad cold over the last two weeks I wasn’t entirely sure that I was quite healthy enough for that yet. My less stringent goal was then to try and stay under 8 minute miles throughout.

Weather conditions were pretty typical for this race: cloudy, breezy with temps around freezing. I even saw a snowflake or 2 at the beginning. I got in a quick ½ mile warm-up before the masses started herding their way to the start, and then we were on our way!

The first two miles are significantly downhill. Last year I ran that first mile in 7:10, and was chastised by my friend, Crista (who ran with me then as well as for this race), for running her into the ground way too early that race. So we tempered the start a bit, and this time our first mile split was a more rational 7:29. Slower than last year, but I hoped that would help later.

The next few miles were similar to last year, all in the 7:40s and 7:50s. My feeling was gradually returning to my hands and arms, but unfortunately the remnants of my cold were causing me to leave a trail of phlegm behind me that, had I gotten lost, I could followed to find my way back to the starting line.

Mile 6 is a difficult mile – last year it was my slowest – with significant uphills. These hills slowed me down once again: 8:14. Unlike last year, however, I wasn’t able to pick up much speed after that, and for the rest of the race I ran 8:00 to 8:10 minute miles and eventually fell behind Crista, who seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.

I kicked fairly well with about a ½ mile to go, and managed to pass a few people, but finished in 79:22, well behind last year’s race. I was the 15th male Steep, so my place didn’t count other than maybe I displaced a runner from another team (our men moved up to 6th place this year). I’m glad I came in under 80, but I walk away from this one with some lingering doubts about where I am and where I can get to as a runner. Am I reaching a plateau? Will I continue improving in the marathon as I have in the past? Or is my age going to start slowing me down? Can I get down to 3:40 on May 2?

Then again, maybe having a cold recently slowed me down or reduced my endurance a little. If so, it’s hard to say by how much. At any rate, I’ve got to get healthy again and continue to train well. I’ll really know where I’m at when I run that marathon!