Kanagawa 10k – Among best run races in my life

  

So I had finally reached acceptance with the reality of aging and that I am not as fast as 5 years ago.  See post from Toda run in November where under ideal conditions I manage 39:30.  

After blowing up on numerous 5k time trials and ParkRun trying to break 19 minutes, I had reconciled myself to running team 5k time trials with the 20-minute pace group.

 Thus I had limited expectations at the February 4^th Kanagawa 10k when the race starts.  Freezing rain and struggle to even tie my shoes at the starting line further diminish my optimism.

Moreover my initial split – 4 minutes at 1k, 8 minutes at 2k cause me to despair about embarrassing myself.   So I tell myself – “you are out here anyway, let's try to make this a decent tempo workout”.  

At his point I focus on just maintaining decent form.  And somehow run a 3:50.  And then another 3:50* 

The event is an out-and back on an elevated highway and I only feel stronger on return half speeding up to 3:45 on what would normally be toughest and slowest part of race.  I hit 9k in just over 34:30.  

Strangely I tie up on some twists at end and instead of my usual final kick, my last kilometer is back to 4 minutes.   I am momentarily disappointed with final split, but then the realization of running 38:35 at my age sinks in.   In almost all my races over the years I have felt a bit dissatisfied with time -- but not on this day.  

I even improve on my recent 5k marks -shattering 19 minutes during the middle portion of 10k.  

  

There are 320 guys in my age group.  

I win 

I win by over a minute*

 

I look up my age adjusted time as I am waiting at award ceremony.  It is fast - too generous of adjustment to even mention to others -- or here. 

*All splits are slightly rounded - GPS not working under highway overpass and gloves too wet to hit split button on watch 

* No more "humble bragging"  I will just blatantly boast