Winter Predictor 13k

So this was an interesting run from the standpoint that final results are calculated based on your ability to predict your final time and then go out and actually run said time. Final ranking is not based on finishing time, but by who is closest to their final time. And to add an interesting wrinkle, you are not allowed to use a watch or timing device of any kind on the run.

So I predicted myself at 55:20. I've had some strong long runs lately and a couple of pretty successful, but shorter, tempo runs where I've been able to hold in there at around a 6:47ish pace for up to four miles. So this 13k turns out to be 8.06 miles and I tried to make a semi-educated prediction, but also just kind of had to pull it out of a magic hat. It was chilly this morning, probably mid-30's, and there was a sticky kind of fog that's been hanging around the Willamette Valley lately that just makes everything wet. But all-in-all, it was nice running weather and I was pretty happy to be there.

The run itself went really well. It wasn't a big crowd, so there were a couple of guys who took off pretty quickly right away and went out of sight before mile 2. However, there was one guy who was in line of sight the entire time. Sometimes he's pull a little farther ahead and sometimes I'd reel him in a little, but he was a pretty solid 30 seconds ahead of the me for the entire race. This really felt just like a long tempo run, which is kind of what I expected it to be. Since I'm married to my Garmin, it was really strange to be out there and really have no idea where I was timewise, but I think this was also a good thing. I'm starting to learn what it feels like to run at a particular pace and judging from my final time I was pretty consistently holding in at that tempo pace for the entire time. My final time was 54:59, just 21 seconds off of my prediction and that's over 8 miles! I'm pretty stoked for that and happy that I was able to run so well seeing as how I've finally caught the cold that's been making it's way slowly into our house. In any event, it was a nice run early on in the marathon training and as week 2 comes to a close I only have 14 more weeks to go!