75F, 82%, S 9-25 mph. I ran 6 TM miles last night, foregoing any pretense of anything but a pure train-through for this race. Turned out to be a great decision, because this was a forgettable day. This race is in a large community called Bridgeland, out on the plains west of Houston, converted rice paddies and pretty much flat. Used to be prime territory for hunting ducks and geese; good thing I didn't have a shotgun with me. It is an inaugural 5K/Half and it showed. Got a queasy feeling when I read some of these gems from the race rules that were sent out yesterday:
"All chips must be surrendered at the finish line. You will be responsible and required to pay Cadence Sports cost of $109 if you do not return your chip at the finish line." [Really? $109?]
"Bandits; otherwise known as unregistered runners, are not allowed and will be subject to a fine by an officer." [A traffic ticket for running in a public place? Good luck making that one stick.]
"It is against the rules to run with headphones on. Does that mean we will disqualify you, not at all!" [So exactly what is the rule?]
"Results will be posted after the event. DO NOT BOTHER THE TIMING COMPANY. They are very busy and it takes hard work to do what they do. If you go up and bug them, we will ask them to remove your time." [If you can remember your chief rival's bib number, this unusual rule presents a golden opportunity.]
I had paid $30 for the 5K, which was plenty but actually a discount because I am in a running club. The half marathon was $75, which I refused to pay, very good decision as things turned out. My goal was to run 6:30 per mile. The temperature was 74F at midnight and I thought there was a chance we would be under 70 for the race, but no go, turned out hot and windy. I warmed up for a mile and a half and lined up at the front. Almost everybody seemed to have half bibs on, so I thought I might have a chance to place. Somebody with a pistol was talking, but I couldn't hear a word. Thankfully she pointed it up before firing, and we were off.
First mile came in at 6:33, wind at our backs. I got to a water station at about 1.5, kept going and finally saw a little sign that had a u-turn symbol and it said "5K turnaround". So I turned around. I could tell then that they had measured the course at least a quarter-mile long, not sure why nobody ever seems to get that pesky little detail right. Second mile 6:43. I was in second place at that point, but going back against the traffic it was impossible to keep track of the first-place guy. A high-school kid came up behind me and passed me but I hung with him and he slowed down. Repassed him at about 2.5 and saw the turn-in to the finish line, or so it appeared. Orange cones guiding us off into a side street that looked just like the real thing. I turned in of course, and the kid followed, but it was a trap. I hit 3.11 miles and turned off my Garmin, but I knew long before then that I was lost and I had already slowed down, third mile 7:12, time for 3.11 was 21:18. I told the kid we were lost, but he seemed to take it much better than I. I ran an extra mile and a half before finally finding my way out of the neighborhood and getting to the finish line. I have no idea what my official time was because the clock at the finish line was dark. Should have asked the timing company just to make sure it didn't get recorded. Looked like there were about 200-300 people running the 5K. If you are running with a bunch of people you just follow the crowd, but if you are up front I guess you are on your own to figure the course out.
I just got in my car and drove home, didn't wait around, afraid I would say something I would regret. The thing that bothers me most was not missing out on the chance to get second place. Any race where I would finish second is not really much of a race. But I had saved a little something in the tank for the final push and I think I could have come in under 20:30, which would have been a 2-minute PR for me -- basically I didn't get to finish my race. I feel like there is a certain element of dishonesty in taking people's money for a race then putting forth minimal effort to organize it. But there is no incentive to do otherwise. She sold out the half-marathon two weeks ago, $75 for an inaugural, unorganized no-name race in the heat, unbelievable. Did I mention I was glad I didn't run the half?
PM: 10 hill miles on TM. | 