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 

Chiang Mai Half-Marathon 2023

My run comeback continues - I actually complete a half marathon event, my longest run race in some 9 years.

Nine years ago I was disappointed to run a time a bit over 1:20.  This year I am content with a time a bit over 1:30.

I am happy in large part because I win my age group, and win it by retaking the lead around 19k and gutting out the final stretch.  

As you can see I am delighted with another elephant trophy.  

There are 64 runners in the over-60 age division, so more elderly runners than in past events, (though 3rd place is a distant 1:45, so still less depth vs other age groups). 

Overall I finish 23rd of 1,200 runners. 

The annual race event is always an excuse for traveling, which this year meant finding splendid running and cycling and biathlon training opportunities in ChiangRai:

including vast Singha Park, a converted barley-producing plantation --

target practice --

and running at 
old ChiangRai airport runway where throngs of local families gather to exercise at sunset -- 

The ChiangMai Half Marathon caps a positive comeback year for me in 2023.  Back in January/February injuries prevented me from running at all and had me wondering again (like in 1983, etc) about having any future in the sport.  In the spring I was grateful to be running again, and then by summer to be feeling stronger and enjoying interval sessions with teammates.  At this point my thoughts turned to taking advantage of moving up in age group and frustration with lack of opportunity and race success.  My 3 events at end of year (X-C, Toda, and ChiangMai) are particularly satisfying in this year-long context.