I wasn't planning on racing again before the Marshall University Marathon on November 11th in Huntington, West VA but I was asked to be on the Capital Run Walk four person relay team for the The City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh on November 4th. I debated doing it because I did not want to push it too hard a week before a marathon. I decided to run and to run my leg at tempo or half marathon pace instead of regular 10K pace. I knew it would be hard to hold back in a race but I had to look at the bigger picture of the marathon a week later. I was honored to be asked to be on a fast team. The team's goal was a top three finish.
My girlfriend Jamie was already planning on running the Old Reliable 10K that would start at the same time as the marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay. It turns out, the Old Reliable 10K is not the same as the original Old Reliable 10K. The original Old Reliable 10K is now known as the Raleigh Fall Festival 5K and 10K and it is organized by the same people that started the Old Reliable 10K. Apparently the Old Reliable 10K name was given to a new course and incorporated by the marathon. Anyways, this was going to be Jamie's first 10K race. She has ran 1 mile races, 5Ks, 8Ks, 10 milers, half marathons, a marathon, and even a 50K ultra marathon but hadn't done a 10K. Jamie was coming off the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon on October 21st. Mass Start
I felt great going into the relay. I was on my second taper week so I was more rested than usual for a race. I was looking forward to doing something new and fun. I was going to be running the final leg. I was concerned about running anchor because I knew if we were close to winning the race or my performance depended on us getting top three I was going be more likely to run too fast because I'm competitive and I didn't want to let the team down.
Jamie and I arrived at Cameron Village a little after 6am for the 7am start. The weather was great for a race. It was cloudy, just a little breeze, and the temperature was in the low to mid 40s. I had awhile to wait to run the anchor leg. My friend and teammate Pat Price was going to pick me up at 7:30 to drive out to the relay exchange zone we shared.
The crowds gathered at the North Carolina State University Bell Tower for the start of the race. Jamie was feeling good and knew the course was going to be hilly but she's a good hill runner. I watched Jamie and the others start and then made my way back to Cameron Village because the 10K finishes there and the other races keep going. I was hoping see some of the leaders go by before I had to leave for my relay leg.
My girlfriend Jamie was already planning on running the Old Reliable 10K that would start at the same time as the marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay. It turns out, the Old Reliable 10K is not the same as the original Old Reliable 10K. The original Old Reliable 10K is now known as the Raleigh Fall Festival 5K and 10K and it is organized by the same people that started the Old Reliable 10K. Apparently the Old Reliable 10K name was given to a new course and incorporated by the marathon. Anyways, this was going to be Jamie's first 10K race. She has ran 1 mile races, 5Ks, 8Ks, 10 milers, half marathons, a marathon, and even a 50K ultra marathon but hadn't done a 10K. Jamie was coming off the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon on October 21st. Mass Start
I felt great going into the relay. I was on my second taper week so I was more rested than usual for a race. I was looking forward to doing something new and fun. I was going to be running the final leg. I was concerned about running anchor because I knew if we were close to winning the race or my performance depended on us getting top three I was going be more likely to run too fast because I'm competitive and I didn't want to let the team down.
Jamie and I arrived at Cameron Village a little after 6am for the 7am start. The weather was great for a race. It was cloudy, just a little breeze, and the temperature was in the low to mid 40s. I had awhile to wait to run the anchor leg. My friend and teammate Pat Price was going to pick me up at 7:30 to drive out to the relay exchange zone we shared.
The crowds gathered at the North Carolina State University Bell Tower for the start of the race. Jamie was feeling good and knew the course was going to be hilly but she's a good hill runner. I watched Jamie and the others start and then made my way back to Cameron Village because the 10K finishes there and the other races keep going. I was hoping see some of the leaders go by before I had to leave for my relay leg.
Bobby Mack at 10K Just before I left, Bobby Mack hit the top of the hill on Peace St, just before the 10K mark. He was leading everyone and looking comfortable. Bobby is a two time USATF National Champion and Assistant Manager at Capital Run Walk. He's a great guy and very humble. Bobby Mack won the half marathon in 1:04:19, 4:55 min/mile pace on a hilly course!
Pat and I left and drove out to the exchange zone for legs three and four of the relay. Pat was running leg three which was an out and back from behind Crabtree Valley Mall to Shelly Lake. Pat's leg was 6.4 miles. Pat and I parked and did a warm-up run together before he got ready for his leg.
Tim Brock started things off for us by running leg one. He ran his 6.2 miles leg in 35:36 and we were in second place. Greg Dame ran the second leg for us. Greg's leg was the longest at 7.4 miles. Greg was awesome and ran his leg in 38:36. Pat was tying his shoes as Greg neared for the exchange of the timing chip. We didn't expect to be leading and now we had to hold it. Pat took off on his leg as Greg and I talked and waited. We kept waiting for the second place team to come. We finally saw Raleigh Running Outfitters in second place and over six minutes behind us. That was a big lead, much larger than any of us expected.
Pat and I left and drove out to the exchange zone for legs three and four of the relay. Pat was running leg three which was an out and back from behind Crabtree Valley Mall to Shelly Lake. Pat's leg was 6.4 miles. Pat and I parked and did a warm-up run together before he got ready for his leg.
Tim Brock started things off for us by running leg one. He ran his 6.2 miles leg in 35:36 and we were in second place. Greg Dame ran the second leg for us. Greg's leg was the longest at 7.4 miles. Greg was awesome and ran his leg in 38:36. Pat was tying his shoes as Greg neared for the exchange of the timing chip. We didn't expect to be leading and now we had to hold it. Pat took off on his leg as Greg and I talked and waited. We kept waiting for the second place team to come. We finally saw Raleigh Running Outfitters in second place and over six minutes behind us. That was a big lead, much larger than any of us expected.
Finishing the final leg I talked to Tim Meigs and Tim Pierce who were on the Inside Out Sports team. Tim Meigs was running anchor for them. I was hoping Pat would hold onto the big lead we had because I was worried Tim would run me down on the final leg. Tim placed third in his age group at Boston and at the Chicago Marathon this year When I grow up I want to be fast like him!
I did another short warm-up jog and some strides before getting in the exchange zone. Pat was there before I expected. I tightened the ankle strap with the chip on it and took off down the greenway. We still had a big lead but I did not want Tim to run me down. I started my leg just before 9am.
I felt great as I started. I was trying to hold back but was loving the cold weather and light breeze. The Temperature was still in the mid 40s. The only person ahead of me was the overall leader of the marathon, Tim Surface. The spectators and volunteers thought I was in second place overall and trying to catch the marathon leader. They kept cheering hard for me and it was hard to not get caught up in it and go after Tim.
I went out at 6:15 avg pace for the first three miles. I had some parts that were faster and slower because I had some short steep hills the first three miles. The people coming towards me on the greenway as I was heading the opposite way were moving over for me. That was nice of them to move and I appreciated it. The crowd support was pretty good and I loved hearing "Go CapRun" or "Go Capital Run".
I did another short warm-up jog and some strides before getting in the exchange zone. Pat was there before I expected. I tightened the ankle strap with the chip on it and took off down the greenway. We still had a big lead but I did not want Tim to run me down. I started my leg just before 9am.
I felt great as I started. I was trying to hold back but was loving the cold weather and light breeze. The Temperature was still in the mid 40s. The only person ahead of me was the overall leader of the marathon, Tim Surface. The spectators and volunteers thought I was in second place overall and trying to catch the marathon leader. They kept cheering hard for me and it was hard to not get caught up in it and go after Tim.
I went out at 6:15 avg pace for the first three miles. I had some parts that were faster and slower because I had some short steep hills the first three miles. The people coming towards me on the greenway as I was heading the opposite way were moving over for me. That was nice of them to move and I appreciated it. The crowd support was pretty good and I loved hearing "Go CapRun" or "Go Capital Run".
Capital RunWalk Wins! In the back of my mind was Tim Meigs. I didn't want him to catch me so I picked it up for the final three miles. The course flattened out the final three miles. I ran the final three miles under 6:00 min/mile pace. The crowd support really picked up once I hit Hillsborough St and neared the finish line. I could see Tim Surface, the overall marathon leader, ahead of me. I wasn't going to catch him unless I really ran faster than I needed to. Our team won the City of Oaks Marathon Relay in 2:34:22, 5:54 min/mile pace. Second place was Raleigh Running Outfitters, 3:30 behind us. Waiting for me at the finish line was Jamie, Bobby, Pat, Tim, and Greg. We were all excited that we won. It was a great team effort.
Jamie finished her first 10K in 1:01:16 on a very tough uphill finish. The overall pace for my leg was 6:03. It was faster than I needed to run but I wasn't going to let us lose the lead. It felt easy though and I have felt fine since and haven't had any soreness. It was a good final tempo before my marathon. I had a lot of fun running on the relay with Capital Run Walk. I'm happy to be on their team and I look forward to representing the store in more races.
Jamie finished her first 10K in 1:01:16 on a very tough uphill finish. The overall pace for my leg was 6:03. It was faster than I needed to run but I wasn't going to let us lose the lead. It felt easy though and I have felt fine since and haven't had any soreness. It was a good final tempo before my marathon. I had a lot of fun running on the relay with Capital Run Walk. I'm happy to be on their team and I look forward to representing the store in more races.
Jamie and Me post race
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