PVTC Go Fourth 8k: A Race Review

I promise I will eventually follow-up on my previous blog, but I keep getting side-tracked! This time it is for a good reason: a race! Each race I attempt and hopefully complete, I plan to write a race review. I will try to include some objective facts, but the reviews will mostly be specific to my experience. So without further adieu, a review of my first race finished since starting this blog!

Me before the race.

The Potomac Valley Track Club “Go Fourth” 8k

The Race

The race gets brownie points for being an 8k. This has become my favorite running race distance mainly because that extra mile to do a 10k just feels like death!  It also gets significant props for being low-stress and low-key. Registration was simple and easy to find. With only about 100 people at the race, even the narrow Washington & Old Dominion Trail was not crowded.

The course itself was mostly flat. I say mostly because the slightly noticeable incline on the return trip was somewhat challenging, more mentally than physically. The W&OD Trail was converted from a discontinued railway line in 1982 so the trail is almost completely straight and scenic. Because it is a publicly used multi-purpose trail, the race course was not closed to non-participants. For the most part, though, there were not that many cyclists or runners that passed by – and those that did were careful to call out “passing” warnings. The trail, even in non-race situations, is a great place to train!

Race volunteers, while not numerous, were friendly and helpful. The course had one water-stop – technically two since it was an out and back course – that was well stocked with water. On a 5-mile race having a water stop at about 1.5 miles from the start/finish makes more sense than just one at the turn around.

Expectations and Outcomes

My goal for this race was simple: NO WALKING! I had done legs of a Ragnar Relay without walking, but not an entire race. The only time I have done this distance without walking was my third leg at Ragnar Relay Tennessee. The time was less than stellar averaging about 13:30 minutes per mile, which is essentially a walking pace for most people. Consequently, a corollary to my goal of no walking was to complete the race at my normal race pace.

Me after the race. I look a little weary!

This proved to be a big struggle. The halfway point of a race is my usual “allow myself to walk” mark. But by only mile 2 of this race, I was already feeling the urge to stop. I kept going when a woman passed me and said “almost to the halfway point”. It gave me a second wind. Unfortunately, after the turn, I was plagued by crippling side stitches and some patches of headwind. But I was making good time. I thought to myself if I can just get to the 5k mark, then I can walk. I kept listening for my GPS to beep at mile 3. It beeped and I kept jogging. If I can just get to the four-mile mark, then I can walk. Another debilitating side stitch and one more mile later, ok, you’ve made it this far, just one more mile to go.

At this point, I noticed that the lady who kept leap-frogging with me would start jogging right after or just when I caught up to her. I normally do not take notice of passing others, but this gave me motivation to finish strong. I mustered some strength at about 0.75 miles to go and sped up. I promptly passed her and just kept going. The last quarter-mile was pure hell. I was ready to stop…

…but I did not! I did the whole race without walking, thus completing my goal! 

My unofficial race results are from my Garmin 405cx (note: I will write a post in the near future about all the gear I use for practice and training). These are likely more accurate than the official race results (in the events) tab because we did not have timing chips. I finished with a time of 57:03.

I am very happy with my results even though it was not an 8k PR (personal record for those newbies out there). I also had my best 5k time during this race at 33:33. The first race of the season turned out to be a great one.