Yesterday I had the chance to run in the James Joyce Ramble 10K. It is a great event put on in Dedham and run through some pretty nice neighborhoods. Last time I had the chance to run in the ramble was 2009 and it has hard to believe how far my running has coming in the three years since that race. In '09 I ran the ramble in a decent 41:35 (6:42 pace per mile). Six months laster I would find myself in Chicago running a 2:57:47 marathon (6:47 pace). That fact would be amazing enough if not for how well I was able to do this year at James Joyce.
Having never gone under 36 minutes in a 10K and looking at my recent times, I knew I should work towards that goal. I really don't run a lot of 10K's and the last one I did was the Patriot Place take on the 4th of the July 2011. It was a wicked hot day and note ideal running weather. However, yesterday I was given excellent running conditions (mid 50's and a cool breeze). It my wildest of dreams I imagined going under 35 but told myself to shoot for sub-36 and take it from there. My first two miles registered at 5:43 and I knew I had gone out smart because I started to pick off good runners quickly. A 5:38 third mile and I was half way at 17:36. I was thrilled at my 5K time because it was only 13 seconds off my personal best for a 5K and I still had plenty of legs to run a negative split. At this point, I started to have thoughts of sub 35 because I felt like I could come back faster than I had gone out. The hardest hill on the course still remained but I know how well I run hills and was ready to give it my all. Mile 4 clicked off at 5:41 and I was threw the hills at that point. Mile 5 was 5:30 and mile 6 5:29 but I still had a lot of work to do. My biggest fear was also registered at mile 6. My watch had beeped the mile split before I actually hit mile 6 for the measured course. I hadn't run the tagents perfect and I then began to worry the small extra distance I had covered would do in the sub 35. That didn't stop me from giving it all and I covered the final distance as fast as I could turn over my legs. In the end, it was a 35:07 and a major victory for me. Despite not getting under 35, I knew I had run to the best of my ability and had been able to cover the second half of the race in 17:31. The time gave me a really respectful 20th overall finish in a race that always yields a strong field.
I'm beginning to believe that something special is waiting on the streets in Duluth, Minnesota. If 41:35 = 2:57:47 in 2009 then what does 35:07 equal in 2012. The answer rests with me but all I know is I'm going to give it my all to see what happens 47 days from now.
