9 Nov
Today I clocked 16:42 for the 33rd Annual Phoenix 5K, finishing in 13th place. The course was flat and fast, with no hills and minimal turns. I set out intending to run around 16:45, so I met my goal. I am usually pretty good at predicting my fitness level. Like all races, I did this one at max effort; I was hurting pretty bad at the end. Here's the play by play action:
I felt fresh during the warm-up. My last hard workout had been the 3200 meter time trial on Monday, and I had tapered for the race. I knew I was ready to run fast (by my standards, at least). It was a festive atmosphere, with fitness booths and live music. I didn't feel the least bit nervous. I have grown accustomed to the pain of physical exertion; that doesn't scare me anymore. I also had nothing to prove to anyone, save myself. This wasn't a qualification race. It was just a fitness test. I already knew I was going to run way faster than the 17:21 I had posted at my last 5K, six weeks earlier. There was no reason to be nervous. I took my place at the front of the pack, scanning the crowd, sizing up the caliber of the competition. I searched in vain for Roger Cahill, a Flagstaff-based runner who had won the race multiple times. There were a bunch of young, lean guys with long hair; the classic look of the collegiate runner. And then there was a young woman in blue doing strides that I instantly recognized: Sally Meyerhoff. She had earned All-American honors in the 10000 at Duke University and had finished 24th at the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2:39. I had first heard of her while researching summer race results in the Phoenix area. I was surprised to see her at the New Times, as she had just completed the NYC Marathon the weekend before. Before the start, I asked her about her performance in New York. "2:40?" I asked, remembering the official results I had seen posted online. "Fourth American," she said. Place is evidently more important than time when it comes to a race like New York. I shook her hand, congratulating her, and then prepared for the coming test.
As expected, the guys with long hair and racing flats went out hard. I controlled myself, focusing on maintaining a steady rhythm and good form, the latter of which has sorely been lacking. I left Meyerhoff behind within the first 400, and I assumed that I wouldn't see her again. The possibility that she might beat me didn't even enter into my awareness. I was oblivious to all of the other runners, her included. I came through the 1 mile marker in 5:15, and I could immediately feel the stress on my system. I was only a third of the way done, and I certainly wasn't feeling comfortable. Ahead of me was a long, long stretch of road, and I was running alone. It was going to be a dreary race in no man's land, with no one to push me.
The isolation didn't last long. About 400 meters into the second mile, I started to detect footsteps and heavy breathing coming from behind. Somebody on the side of the road yelled, "Yay! Go Sally!" I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw a blur of blue. I realized at that point that I had not, in fact, dusted Meyerhoff within the first 400. Within moments she was at my shoulder. "Good God," I whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. She muttered something in response, I think to encourage me. I was feeling heavily taxed at this point and evidently so was Meyerhoff, as she didn't pass me. My body was forcing me to recover from a fast opening mile. We came through the 2 mile marker in 10:52, which I thought was an ugly split. At this point I was sufficiently rested to pick up the pace. I knew I had enough left in the tank for a hard finish. Meyerhoff had the same idea, as she matched my speed. We had run together for about a mile and still she didn't pull ahead. We were both going all out. "Come on," I whispered, as we accelerated into the third mile. This time she didn't respond. I said this to encourage her. It wasn't a challenge, but judging by what happened in the final mile she may well have interpreted it as such.
I could see the finish far in the distance. It was just one more stretch of road, and it would all be over. Then, unexpectedly, the runners ahead took a sharp right turn, and instantly I remembered what I had seen on the map. We were going to have to run on a side street for a couple of blocks. It wasn't one straight shot to the finish. That realization broke me psychologically, and at that moment Meyerhoff made a move to pass me. Instantly I matched her. We were running neck and neck at faster than 5:20 pace as we completed our little detour and came back on to the main road. In the final minute I kicked as hard as I could, but she remained several meters ahead. She was too strong to overtake. I didn't care, though. All I wanted to do was finish, and I did so one second after her. I gasped for air, barely cognizant of the woman who handed me a "Top 50" medal. Meyerhoff, meanwhile, calmly exited the finishing area. She didn't seem to be hurting nearly as bad as I was.
I didn't get a chance to speak with her afterwards, which is a shame, considering the fact that we ran most of the race together. She was busy talking to her parents, and I wasn't going to intrude. I think we both ran faster due to each others' presence. I certainly benefited from hers. There's no shame in getting beat by a girl, especially when she's an elite. I ran in the 1640s, so I was happy. My battle with Meyerhoff actually made this race a memorable one. It was an honor to challenge someone of her credentials.
So after ten weeks of training, I managed to clock 16:42. I judge that a success. About half an hour later, I finished the 10K in 37:09 with medium exertion. I focused in on 6:00 pace. It was just a way to pick up some extra miles. I ended up in 24th place, again just behind a female runner.
The 5K winner was Brandon Bethke, a transfer to ASU from Wisconsin who is not yet eligible to compete for the Sun Devils. He finished in 14:22. Fasil Bizuneh, a professional athlete sponsored by New Balance, finished second in 14:33. Andrew Lemoncello, a 2008 Olympian for Great Britain in the 3000 meter steeplechase, won the 10K in 30:33. If I had known who these guys were, I would have asked for their autographs.
Full results: http://www.cepmtnbike.com/results_misc.cfm?year=2008&raceNum=140
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