This year’s run resulted in a new PR — my first 10K PR since the 2008 Almaden Classic where I ran 50:23)! For the record, I wasn’t really trying for a PR. The Turkey Trot is such a crowded race, I figured I’d be in a clump of runners and, therefore, slowed a bit by the crowd. But, I jack-rabbited out and tried to get ahead of the crowd…and then something funny seems to happen when I’m running with the "faster runners"…First, I lose track of who’s mis-seeded themselves (the slower runners) and so I lose track of my own pace (I don’t check my watch for my pace until I hit a mile-marker), so I just kind of get carried by the flow.
I was noticing that I was working hard (relatively high heart rate), but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. I wasn’t really thinking of a PR until I saw the clock at the finish line and I started to sprint!
I’m pretty happy with the results:
Overall: 897 out of 7880 (11%)
Women: 208 out of 3940 (5%)
F 45-49: 19 out of 379 (5%)
Age/Grade: 65.80% Place: 456
Finish: 49:29
Pace: 7:58
An interesting thing, too. The 2008 Almaden Classic recorded Age/Grades as well. Back then, I received an Age/Grade of 61.63% so I have apparently improved there as well.
Also, quite significantly, this was Thing 1’s first official "Adult" level race! Now that he is 8, there is no longer a kids run for his age group, so if he wants to run, he’s gotta do a grown-up run…and he did! He got his own tech-tee and 10th anniversary medal! And, now we can also track his official race results!
From his account, he loved the race and felt like it was "easy." They even passed Yu-chen and Ellie (who were walking) on the course! He has plans to start in a faster corral next year (he started in the very back this year, but had to make his way through thick crowds with Tom and the double-stroller!).
His results:
Men: 3016 out of 5352 (56%)
M 01-09: 167 out of 363 (46%)
Age/Grade: 39.59% Place: 4947
Finish: 43:00
Pace: 13:51