Kevin is Bib# 216, I am behind him on the right wearing a Gray Boston Hat and Red Boston shirt.

July 4, 2008 Fireball Classic 10K Race Report

Event: Fireball Classic 10K, Wintersmith Park, Ada, Oklahoma

BD January 9, 1953

Age on Race day: 55

Goal pace: Tempo or MP

Bib# ???

Race Day

Kevin suggested this race to me a few weeks prior, however I was reluctant to try it since I had not done any speedwork since the Houston Marathon in January. I decided, however, that I would run the race in an effort to gage of my current conditioning since the coming week is the beginning of my NYC Marathon training.

Kevin, Julie and son Casey came by the house at 5:40AM and we made a caravan to Ada.

It must have rained north of Ardmore because the roads were quite wet and full of puddles.

We arrived at 6:40AM with more that enough time to register and use the facilities. Race time was at 7:30AM.

My wife signed up for the 5K walk and along with her, Steve, Deanne, Julie, Kevin and Casey, Ardmore was well represented.

The events were a 10K, 5K, 5K walk and a Kids sprint.

The sprint came first and Casey took the winners honors.

Now if the rest of us could only do that as well as Casey then it would be a great day.

Kevin and I looked over the course map: there were 2 tough hills; one comes early (about mile 2). The other is a MONSTER hill (about mile 4) and is every bit a mile long.

Kevin and I warmed up for a few blocks: the sun began to shine and there was no doubt it would be a warm and humid race.

The 10K starts first and runs in the opposite direction as the 5K. It is a 10K loop. The 5K is a double out and back.

7:30AM came and the 10K was off and running. The leaders took control very quickly and left everyone else behind. Kevin and Steve took the Ardmore lead and ran together for the first few miles. I passed Deanne around the 2 mile mark just before the first hill. She was running with the 4th overall female. As I passed I suggested that she keep her in sight. As the hill approached Deanne had no problem taking control.

As for myself, I ignored the mile marks and just ran on effort. Surprisingly each time I checked my Garmin I was near 7:45 to 7:55 pace. Under the conditions I felt good about my effort. I pulled the first hill with ease.

At this stage of the race I was securing my position, slowly picking off one runner at a time. I was wondering about the MONSTER hill that would be right around the corner.

As I turned the corner I got my first look at the MONSTER hill. Wow, it was huge and steep. I took advantage of the long decent and as I began the long climb up my pace slowed. I had been following the 3^rd place female runner since the beginning of the race. We were running an equal pace so I tried to stay with her. I hoped I would not be the one to fall back as we climbed the hill.

My slowing pace allowed a runner to pass me on the right side; the first runner to pass me since the early stages of the race. This would be an excellent strategy if he could pull it off. As he huffed and puffed up the hill the intense effort soon caught up with him. I passed him. Soon all I heard was him loosing his breakfast.

We were all maintaining position as we climbed upward. I focused on the road with only a few glances ahead. As I approached the peak I wondered if I had anything left for the remaining mile.

As I left the hill behind I felt my strength return and I was picking up my pace and still holding my position. I peeked behind me and saw that one runner was gaining on me. I needed to pick up the pace and keep the runners in front of me in sight.

The downhill slope was steep and the runners in front were not letting off. If I was going to maintain my position I would have to pick it up a notch. I found myself sprinting down the hill and on the edge of tripping. We were all moving FAST.

After one slight climb up we were back on an even steeper decent to the final quarter mile.

I had my place secured and held it to the end.

The sprint to the finish was exhilarating. Whew, what a fast finish.

Not that my finish time was anything to brag about but I did feel I had run a consistent effort which gives me confidence as I begin my next phase of Marathon training.

Afterwards, I ran back over the 5K course and walked with my wife as she finished her 5K walk. She did a great job.

Results: Pace 7:55

Official Time 49:14

Overall 15/77

Gender 13/45

Division 2/2

Overall WMA (age graded) 12

Summary

Ardmore stole the show; we all did great. Steve is the same age and as usual he beat me by a few minutes. When the awards were announced Steve received first place in our age group and I got second place. At that moment, the announcer said “That is all the results we have, that’s it”. I looked at Steve and said, “Did you heart that? There was no one else in our age group, and there are no other older age groups left. We were the oldest 10K runners.” I have been the only one in my age group before but I have never been the oldest. The next day I recalled that Steve had a birthday coming in August which makes him about 6 months older than me. The next day when I saw him I made sure he realized that HE was the oldest 10Ker at the race. Hehe…

Conclusion:

It was loads of fun and I would definitely run this race again.