LG Championship 10k

We schedule two races on consecutive weekends in Thailand as excuse for budget holiday.  The 2nd race turns out to be much bigger than the small neighborhood park run we anticipated.  4,000 runners materialize at 4am for a 10k and 5k race around the historic center of Bangkok. 

Fortunately we are staying right across the street at this amusingly antiquated hotel

Unfortunately the huge race means that my late entry and seeding in the B block puts me behind 1,300 runners in a narrow starting chute -- a disadvantage I only realize 10 minutes before the race starts.  I exercise my “white privilege” (really “old, foreigner who recently clocked a 38 10k privilege”), and I cut under a barrier to move at least up into the middle of the A block runners. 

 

Still it takes me a full 23 seconds to shuffle forward to the starting line chip mat, and 4:48 to first 1k mark.  

This slow start actually seems to work out well though. I feel so much better than the previous week at Laguna as I move past other runners along the dark streets, even enjoying the spectacular Grand Palace as we pass by.  Maybe I am enjoying the sights too much?  I have a fair bit of kick at the end, enough to pass one ancient guy, but not enough to pass a grey-haired geezer 9 seconds ahead of me. 

 

15 minutes later the results are posted showing me as the winner ->

Technically the gun time should determine the winner right?  Races should strive to be direct, real-time battle between competitors – it is just more fun that way, any child knows this.  And, scrutinizing the chip vs. gun results, I have to acknowledge that the 3^rd place finisher (lacking foreigner privilege) had to fight his way past many more runners during the early part of the race. .   

 

But I have no qualms accepting the first place trophy and the small cash prize money.  Hey, I am not as acclimated to the 33-degree conditions as these guys who have been training in record 40-plus degree conditions in Southeast Asia this past spring, right? 

 

The other old age group winners are so friendly and keen to chat and to celebrate.  Especially the guy you see dressed up as Puma

 

I finish 128th out of 3,735 participants. 

 

Laguna Phuket 10k

 

I return to Laguna Phuket, site of triathlon triumph and misadventure numerous years ago.  

It is distressing to see that the roads around the sprawling resort, which were quiet and bike-able 10 years ago are now clogged with cars.  Phuket is, of course, ground zero for the explosion of global tourism - what is surprising on this trip is the number of Russian speaking visitors.  I seem to be the only non-Russian at the SkyPark condominium.   The rooftop pool and terrace is packed with young Russian speaking families with the father constantly hunched over a laptop computer.   I am very curious to learn the background story of these families, but it seems terribly inappropriate and intrusive to approach them.

The field for the 10k event is more internationally diverse, with a majority local Thai runners. 

A gauge at the starting line read 29 degrees.  It seems hotter. And the sun has not even risen.  

I run first kilometer in 4:08, which is slower than my tempo / threshold training pace. Even this feels too fast for me.  According to my heart rate I am already starting to struggle. 

 

I remind myself that finishing time is not important – my goal is to win my age group.  At this point there appears to be no aged runners ahead of me and I deliberately slow down.  But then at around 1.5k a terrible thing happens -- a tall, Swedish, 60-year old guy lopes by me.  

I speed up and struggle to tuck in behind him, and maintain contact.  From 3k my pace is slowing down – but fortunately my rival, the Swedish guy, is fading even more.  I move past him and other runners, even as my pace fades disastrously as the sun rises above horizon on the resort landscape.

At around 9k my stomach cramps up sharply and I slow to a jog.    Fortunately the race is almost over, and I manage to struggle to finish line.  Unlike the Laguna Triathlon in 2013 I don't throw up on the medical tent.  

In fact I feel OK, at least after confirming that I managed to hold on and capture first place in age group (out of 56 participants), and finish 25th of 854 overall.

My time of 44 minutes seems quite slow for the effort, even taking into account the heat.  But you can see I am all smiles on the podium - in contrast to the Swedish guy who faded to a time of 48 minutes ->