Time to Get Serious!

Time's up. I don't do serious.

It's a new year so I figured I'd blog about running, mostly because I didn't want to change my blog name. I've been in a running funk lately and wasn't really enjoying my runs. Thankfully I seem to be over it now and I'm looking forward to some running (and racing) in the next few months. Contrary to popular belief, I HAVE been running and even managed a couple of races recently.
 RACING
The most recent was the Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5k in Temple, NH on New Years Day. This was my 9th year running this race (no doubt the most I've run the same race). A nice, low-key, small town race and a moderately difficult course. In eight attempts, I've yet to break 19 minutes. This year was no different. Not a great race (time wise) but I did manage to run negative splits for each mile so that's something positive to take away from this one.
TRACK
Yesterday was the first day of indoor track practice at the Hampshire Dome. The coached workouts put on by the Gate City Striders goes for 10 weeks and is something I look forward to each year. As I probably mention every year, I LOVE this track. Of course, I don't have much experience with indoor tracks but I do know this is a big one (nearly 1/5th mile per lap). The opening workout was 6 x 800 repeats @ 5k pace. Once I figured out a pace, I managed to run fairly consistent laps (2:52, 2:56, 2:54, 2:54, 2:54, 2:54). Overall, a good, solid workout.
2011 REVIEW
I think last year I skipped the ole "Year in Review" post so I'll think I'll start a trend and skip it this year too. Honestly, there wasn't much to review anyways.
2012 PREVIEW
So, what's in store for 2012? Well, I have a few surprises this year. I plan to venture a bit outside my comfort zone and try a few new races and of course stick with a few of my favorites. The first one is coming up in 2 weeks. It's an indoor half marathon (at the Hampshire Dome) put on by LOCO Running. This one seems more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. We'll see if I still like this track after 68 laps.
As far as snowshoe racing: well, I guess the weather speaks for itself. The longer we go without snow, the less interested I become. I'm almost to the point of writing this season off all together, even if it does snow....eventually.

33rd Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5k

Temple Town Hall

This race is the definition of a small town race (results) . It is in Temple, NH after all. Everything about it is low-key (which I like). It also happens to be the race I've run the most (8 times). I'd say running this race is the closet thing I have to a tradition, and by now it's an automatic. If I'm not injured, I'll run this race.

I was thankful to have my family in tow this year. They don't see too many of my races but I appreciate it when they do. At least the weather was nice this year (mid 50's, mostly sunny). Seems like it's icy cold or snowing most years. The nice weather also brought out a good size crowd (~200) which was nice to see. If you've come for a 5k PR you've come to the wrong race. The first 1 1/2 miles generally climbs, the next mile is mostly downhill and the final stretch punishes you with a deceiving difficult uphill finish. I don't know if it qualifies as a tough 5k or not but it definitely is a slow 5k. Very few folks run under 18 minutes at this one. Heck, in 8 tries I've never run under 19 minutes.

Start

I lined up in the front row and checked out this years competition. Fellow GCS teammate Joe Rogers was running for the first time. I gave him an overview of the course and thought he had a chance for the win. My plan was to go out fairly easy (since it's mostly uphill the first 1 1/2 miles) and just fall into position and then hammer the downhill. As expected, Joe was with 2 other guys up front and I was a ways back in 5th for most of the 1st mile. I eventually gave up a spot in the first mile, and another spot in the 2nd mile before gaining one back in the final mile. The mile markers ALWAYS seem to be off each year so I don't put a lot of value into my splits. I ran the uphill a little slow but really picked up the pace on the downhill and the short section of dirt road. The last 1/2 mile is always hard as it gradually climbs back up before finishing just below the town hall. It has to be the longest last 1/10th of a mile anywhere. This year it took me 1:15 to run that last '1/10th' of a mile. That comes out to something like a 12 min/mile pace (not bloody likely). Like I said, the mile markers ALWAYS seem to be off. Oh well, at least it's the same every year so I don't mind so much.

Finishing up

I really wanted to break 19 minutes and once again I just missed it, finishing 6th overall in 19:05 (my 2nd fastest time ever at this race). At least it was faster than last year (by 2 whole seconds!). Joe was in the mix right to the end, even leading around the 3 mile mark, before getting passed right before the finish. The top 3 all finished within 8 seconds of each other, good racing indeed. Thankfully Joe finished in the top 3, allowing me to take home the cookie medal for 1st master (40-49). Thanks Joe!

Deb was kind enough to take a bunch of pictures throughout the race. All pics can be found here.
Happy New Year!

Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5K

I like to start of the new year on a positive note and for me, a positive note means I'm healthy enough to run a race. So for the 7th time in 9 years I headed over to Temple NH to run in the 32nd PBCC 5k (results) on New Years Day.

Temple Town Hall

If you've come here for a 5k PR, you'll most likely leave disappointed. It's a pretty tough 5k, due to the course and the conditions. It seems most years the roads in Temple tend to be snow covered making the footing a bit tough. Except for the dirt road section in mile 3, most of the course was in good shape, maybe a bit slushy at most.
Two things worth noting this year: the weather was great and DoubleJ was in town.This small town race doesn't usually attract the big guns so it was good to see Jim at registration. We headed out for a warm up run on the course to check out the conditions. Of course Jim's warm up pace is close to my race pace but I managed. I was pretty confident Jim was the guy to beat today (not by me of course). I just couldn't recall a runner of his caliber in previous years. We lined up just prior to noon, scouted out the competition and got ready for the whistle to send us off.

Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5k Course Profile

The first 1 1/2 miles is mostly uphill and climbs pretty steady. They put out mile markers but I've never been convinced they're accurate. The first mile seems a little fast for all uphill and the second mile seems a little slow for mostly all downhill. As predicted, Jim was out in front early and built a sizable lead by mile 1. After that I never saw him again until the finish line.
I hit the first mile in 5:55 but it felt much slower. There were two runners about 30yds in front of me but I was pretty sure I wasn't going to close the gap unless they tripped and fell. I was in 5th and would hold this position until the finish. As we reached the high point of the course I could not hear anyone behind me but I never checked...better not to know for sure. The down hill section should be fast but it just never turns out that way. I hit the second mile in 6:04 but felt ok. Shortly after the the mile marker the course turns onto a snow covered dirt road for about 1/2 mile +/-. The footing was ok, and I only slipped a bit during this up and down section. Finally, the course jumps back onto pavement for the final painful uphill push to the finish. This last uphill section is really tough. It doesn't look that steep but it always feels like you're shuffling along just a bit faster than a walk as you finish up. I hit the 3rd mile in 6:05. Now the 3rd mile is DEFINITELY not correct. For starters you can see the finish line waaaaay off in the distance, a distance much greater than 0.1 miles I might add. Even running uphill it shouldn't take me a minute to run one tenth of a mile. I'm fairly confident the course is 3.1 miles so its just the mile markers that are off. After 7yrs of running this race it really doesn't bother me since they seem to be consistently off every year :-)
In the end I finished in 19:07, 5th overall. In 7yrs I've never been able to break 19 minutes in this race. Maybe next year!
As an added bonus Jim managed to convince me to run the course in reverse for a cool down. It should be noted that he asked while I was still in the finishing shoot. Yikes. 3 times in one day is enough.

Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5k

I headed out to Temple, NH for the 31st annual "freeze your butt off" 5k on New Years Day, or what locals call the Peanut Butter Chip Chase 5k. It's a nice small town race (put on by the local Lions Club) on a somewhat challenging course (on a normal day) but a tad more difficult with snow covered roads and a wind chill waaaaay below zero. At least it wasn't snowing this year...
The race starts on West Rd near the center of town, climbing right from the start and continuing on for about 1.5 miles before turning back onto Hill Rd. Unfortunately for us today, West Rd surprisingly heads due west, right into the nice 20+mph winds coming in from the west. Uphill into the wind is not how I like to start a race! Thankfully we run DOWN Hill Rd for about a mile (with a tail wind), turn left on a dirt road at about 2.75 miles and then left again on RT 45 for a final 400m uphill push to the finish right in the center of town (near where we started).
I scanned the field at the start for familiar faces, spotted a bunch of Gate City Striders including my current arch nemesis Mike Wright. Mike has a habit of passing me in the last few seconds of a race. With a Ready, Set, Go we were off. 5 or 6 young guns immediately got out in front and I settled in close behind, running with local Temple resident Sean Radcliffe (also a masters). We ran side by side for 1.5 miles before I was able to put a little distance between us on the downhill section. I wore my screw shoes which worked great. Unfortuanetly I was not alone so no real advantage was gained.
I generally don't like to look behind me during a race, choosing to run 'scared' instead. I always assume someone is really close. I knew Mike Wright was back there but I didn't know how close. I have to admit I was a little nervous on the last uphill stretch to the finish. I was tired, cold and running out of gas (might have been those black and tans from New Years Eve!). With about 100m to go I finally took a peak and realized today I would win the battle with Mr Wright :-)

I managed a 6th place overall, 1st in the 40-49 division with a time of 19:43.I t was the toughest 19:43 5k I've run in a while, that's for sure...Results can be found here.

In addition to the table full of cookies plus bagels and gallons of soup for post race grub, they also give out unique chocolate chip cookie shaped medals. There seems to be a theme. Heck, the 1st Temple resident (Sean Radcliffe) also takes home a pizza sized chocolate chip cookie. Sweet.