Race Report: Harry’s Spring Run Off 8k

April 8, 2012

So I ran Harry’s Spring Run Off 8k yesterday. And I have to admit in the week leading up to it, I wasn’t too excited — in fact, I kept forgetting I even had a race to run. I’ve just been really busy for the past while, plus my main focus is my marathon training (33 days til race day!) but I’d registered months ago when I was all super keen to get racing again and so I picked up my race kit and got all geared up.

Glad I ran, though. Besides the obvious good (it raises money to go towards prostate cancer research), it was a stunning sunny morning but still cool enough so I didn’t become a sweaty, disgusting mess. And I think it was perhaps one of the best organized races I’ve ever done (so much signage in High Park, not to mention the quickest and smoothest-run baggage check I have ever used).

It is not an easy route, though–in case you’re unfamiliar with High Park.  Quite hilly. And given that I’ve slowed my pace considerably given that I’m training for a marathon, I didn’t think I could beat my time from last year. Especially because last year, I booted it from start to finish and felt like “that’s it, that’s the fastest I can do this race, ever.”

I started in a slower corral — I was late getting into the race chute, sigh, and maybe it’s just me but I think it seems obnoxious to push by everyone to get to my corral (it’s not like I’m some elite runner who needs to be at the start line). So I spent much of the first half of the race working my way past people.

I also spent way too much time trying to figure out how much energy to use up, especially as there’s one particularly cruel hill right before the finish line). In the end, I ran most of it as a tempo, but held back a little.

And what a pleasant surprise: I finished with a new personal best for the 8k distance (43:28 compared to 44:12 the year prior).

Only thing is I now regret holding back a little…guess what I’ll probably be running in 2013?

Filed under: Fitness Swellness

Tags: 8k, Harry's Spring Run Off, High Park, marathon training, medal