Sunday, September 28, 2008

They Went Thataway

The little experiment I had up my sleeve was an event called the Sign 'n Run which was advertised as having a 10K, a 5K, and a kid's K. I had signed up for the 5K, but hadn't mentioned it on my blog because I wasn't sure how my knee would be doing this week.

Everything seemed okay when I arrived at the race site, but confusion ended up being the word for the day. Five minutes after the 10K start, they started the "5K" runners on what they had described as an out and back with a short loop through a neighborhood.

However, that's not how it played out. As you can see, I ended up running a loop (no out-and back) that measured ~4.5miles according to my Garmin.


In talking to others at the finish line, it seems we were misdirected on a turn for the 5K and were sent onto the 10K course, but without doing the full 10K.

It wouldn't be so bad if all the "5K" runners did the same loop, but at some point they realized that runners were being sent the wrong way and got that corrected. They also sent some volunteers out in a car to turn some of the runners back around. So there were at least three permutations of 5K runners: 5K runners who ran a 5K, 5K runners who ran a 4.5 mile loop, and 5K runners who ran something longer than a 5K but less than 4.5 miles. What a mess!

I didn't bother to stick around for official results. The results are totally bogus since not everyone ran the same distance! As you might expect, some people were very unhappy. Edited to add - They posted the results and I actually won my age group women 40-49 and was 19 of 100 "5K" runners overall, not that it means that much with all the confusion on the course

As for me, I finished without knee pain and got a little longer run in than I had planned, what's not to love about that?!? Project "Return to Half-Marathon Training" is a GO. Woot!!


Some number courtesy of Garmin:
* My 5K split was 30:12, a 9:44 pace. Coming straight off a knee injury, that's good enough for me!
* My 7K split was 43:14, a 9:57 pace. I slowed down to something closer to my 10K pace when I realized the course was going long.
* The loop was 7.2K in length, I finished in 44:17, a 9:56 pace.

31 comments:

  1. Good job on the random length race LOL. Yay for half marathon training picking up again!

    (MCM Mama)

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  2. I am so glad to hear your knee was pain-free! Sorry about the screwed up race, but as someone that will NEVER podium I don't much care about the official results unless one of my fast buddies is running and wants to win. (I know, selfish)

    Great news on the knee and I ma glad you had fun out there!

    I have discovered that trail running is so much easier on my knees (and body in general). I can't believe how fast I recovered from the 50k.

    I have had trouble with my knees in the past (made me walk/run my first marathon w/ TNT) and I am certain that trail running is not only easier on them, it has strengthened my knees for when I do road running.

    Great job on the splits too Ms. Speedy Gonzales!

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  3. Oh, sneaking in a 5k eh? Great job! Glad the knees held on.

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  4. If you're all good with it, then that's all that matters, right? Great job Lisa!

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  5. LOL! That reminds me of a race my Dad and I did two years ago. It was the first year for this trail race along the Mahi trail in Medora. We knew that when we were finished we had definitely gone further than 5K, but not sure as to how far we really went. My Mom and Dad did the 5K race this year and said that it was much more organized, and more true to its distance.

    Way to go on the run though! Nice pace and pain free is even better! Half Marathon training? Sounds like fun!

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  6. Oh that is a random event isn't it!!

    Great job on the pace!

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  7. That's so great to hear, Lisa, that the bendy thing held up. I suppose all the officials are volunteers? I sometimes get cross with them if they stuff up but then I remind myself that without them there wouldn't be a race at all.

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  8. Oh, forgot: Is it cool to call the "bendy thing" "knee" again now? :-)

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  9. Hey, what fantastic news about your knee!!! If it was me I'd go back for the prize (but I'm sad like that LOL)

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  10. I'm always astounded how a race director can take something as simple as 3.1 miles and turn it into something as complicated as a mission to Mars. The important part is that you ran really well and didn't have any pain. Great job!

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  11. Good job on your finish and getting a great training run in. I don't think I would have been happy if my 5k had stretched to 4.5 miles today!

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  12. Nice job on the weird run! YAY for know pain!

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  13. Oops, I meant "no" pain...

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  14. That is just so crazy. most people plan an all effor for a 5k and extra 1.2 miles could be a major killer. Anywhoo way to take you AG an glad you were pulling out such a fast clip coming off that knee injury. Thanks for stopping by..I always like catching up with other runners especially if they tri..hehehe!

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  15. What a mess! At least you were able to run 4.5 miles pain-free!

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  16. the best part IMO is the PAIN FREE RUNNING!!

    all about the long term for me :)

    (perhaps because I wasnt doing the longrunning)

    Miz.

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  17. Sorry you had to run a bit more but GLAD your knee is hunky dorey again....

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  18. Awesome job on your run pace!!! I'm glad that the knee pain is gone and you can resume your 1/2 training.

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  19. I would totally love that run! Game day confusion is my thing. :-) It is usually created by others and dealt with by me.

    Glad you got through the day pain free...AGAIN!

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  20. Holy crapola. What a mess!! But you did a great job anyway and should be proud. Most importantly, NO PAIN. WOOO HOOO! Way to go you type B superstar.

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  21. That's awesome, especially after the recent injury and the course confusion. Congratulations.

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  22. Too bad you had a hiccup in the race! But well done any ways!!

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  23. So glad you're enjoying running again :-) Great job on the race!! Hope your training continues to go well for the half mary!!

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  24. haha well congrats on winning your age group anyway!! lol!

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  25. awesome job on the race...no matter how it was run .....
    glad the knee held up.....

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  26. I am so happy the knee is being good to you. Great job on the extended 5k! There is nothing worse than a disorganzied race. Congrats!

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  27. Congrats on the race. Sounded kinda of confusing..

    But you ran great and game plan back on.. That is always good to hear.

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  28. Most of all congrats on No Pain but also those splits are great!

    Take the "win" too. Why the heck not!

    A unique (albeit unorganized) race + AG win = FUN!

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  29. Great job Lisa! Hopefully the race organizers communicate better next year. This happened in a 10k/5k race I did once and when they misdirected the front runner 5k people, supposedly I was "in the lead." Right. While I would have loved getting the HUGE trophy they gave out, I had to pass it to the woman who would have won if not for the goof up.

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  30. Man what a mess! It would be hard to do 4.7 miles thinking you were doing a 5K. I did a race in my home town once, for the schools, that was advertised as a 5K but they merely laid out the course so it ran by all the schools and it went on forever. I think we did 4 1/2 miles. The fun thing was we ran by my house twice, and each time I flung things into my yard as I heated up, my hat, my windshirt. They were trying, I guess. Then there was my 5K "PR". About 13 minutes. It too was for a school, in the District, and we lined up, ran down a hill, around a parking lot & returned. I don't think it was even 3K. You just have to smile. Congrats on maintaining a good attitude and winning your AG. (And coming back well from injury.)

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  31. Congrats on your finish!! It sounds frustrating though!

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