Well I’ve put off writing this race recap for about as long as I can. It’s not nearly as much fun going into a race when you’re not prepared and for some reason it’s even more intimidating when it’s a one mile race. Go! Mile was the 10th race in the Arkansas Grand Prix schedule this year and the only one mile race in the series. This summer marked my 5th consecutive year for running it.
So what were my race goals? If I’m going to keep up with Iron Runner this year (and the verdict is still out on that) I just needed to finish the race. In the weeks leading up to the race I seriously considered running with one of my kids and just pacing them. After the Arkansas Runner 2 Mile (one week before Go! Mile) I had a little more confidence and decided to go ahead and run in the elite heat. I had a very general idea of what I could run and even though I hadn’t been training I saw a few possibilities:
A Goal- Sub 5:20. Total long shot but you never know, right?! I’ve only done this once when I ran my PR in 2013 of 5:17.
B Goal- 5:20-5:29. This was a more realistic goal and definitely an acceptable range.
C Goal- 5:30-5:39. Based off my recent 2 mile race splits this was my C goal but I hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
Typically the night before Go! Mile John, the kids, and I stay in Little Rock with my elite entry. The race director offered this to me again but I knew I was going into this one injured and not up to my usual standard (and I wasn’t even sure if I would race) so I declined. It was probably just me but I didn’t want any more pressure to race fast than I already put on myself. When your hotel is comped it adds to the elite pressure and I was not feeling very elite. I did appreciate the comped entry for myself.
We left our house around 6:30 which is late for a typical race Saturday but my first kid running was at 8:10 so we had plenty of time. There was a little confusion at check-in (my bib and shirt were missing) but it got sorted out and then John and I got the kids ready for their races. My girls were running in the Women 39& under heat at 8:10 and my oldest son was running in the Men 39 & under heat at 8:30. I was running in the Elite race at 8:50 and my youngest was planning to run in the Mini Mile race at 9:05. Yes, that’s a lot to keep track of!
I got in about 3 miles warm-up and my foot was off but it wasn’t too painful. I knew I could make it a mile but given my lack of training and warm weather it was not ideal. I was just ready to get it over with.
Photo credit @ Koker Fit Photography
During my warm-up I was able to see all of my kids race. The kids did well and as always I enjoyed seeing them run.
Abi- 6:33
Anna- 7:39
Anthony- 7:09
My Race- 8:50 am
From the start I knew I was going to have to work for it and there was never a point I felt good. My foot was off and I felt like I had no speed in me. The guys I usually run with and pace around in the Grand Prix were well ahead of me (as well as several fast ladies). I knew overall placement was out so I was basically running for Grand Prix points and there was a small pack of female Grand Prix runners behind me so I had to keep pushing. My pace was in the 5:30’s from the half mile on and I worked HARD in the final stretch to bring it down.
Official Finish Time: 5:29. I finished 9th female overall. Four ladies went sub 5!! Very competitive field this year. (Last year I came in 2nd with a 5:20.) Official Results can be found here.
As soon as I finished I remembered Ashton was running in the Kids Mini Mile so I cooled down by running with him. (His race was less than a half mile which was plenty long enough for me. My foot was sore and at this point I knew I was ready for a break to heal.
Mini Mile Photo Credit @ Shelley Mollette and Go! Mile
Waiting on awards. That mini mile wore him out!
Able to snag an AG award
Anna won her AG by over a minute!
When we got home that morning after the race I had mixed emotions. It was a combination of being sad about my injury but also relief that it was over. I had a 5 minute pity party for myself and John helped me pull it together. It was time to let my foot heal. It wasn’t my fastest Go! Mile but it wasn’t my slowest either. Over the past 5 years my mile time has fluctuated between between 12 seconds so I guess you could say at least I’m consisted.
2017- 5:29
2018 will be the last year I run in the sub Masters category and I know I have a sub 5:20 in me. Come 2019 I’m going for the state Masters record… There are some advantages to turning 40, right?!