Prequel #6: The Golden Autumn Races

The "Malibu Breakthrough"  foreshadowed the Autumn races of 2009.

After returning from California, I continued my pattern at the gym, but now increasing the speed to 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 mph for 3.1 mile distances. Not stunning speeds for runners, but pretty good clips for walkers like me. These were indoor times and presumably aided by my hands balancing on the arms treadmill. My weight continued to fall.

The next two September races confirmed that my (imprecise) Malibu times were not a fluke. My 39+ minutes for a 5K were now in the low 37 minutes.

Mad Dash 5K:  The Dash was a well advertised and attended annual race in the center of the picturesque town of Rhinebeck; 299 runners and 28 walkers completed the gentle rolling hills of the 5K and 180 the 10K.  I trucked along in the midst of slower runners and other walkers. The race attracted some of the best area walkers. I finished 6th. Many of the 5 ahead of me had that race walking gait mentioned in the previous post. HOWEVER, I finished in exactly 37 minutes (37:00), my best time to date!

It was now obvious about my next goal: break into the 36 minute range in a 5K race outside the gym.

Wurstboro 5K: That wasn't to happen at the end of September race in Wurtsboro. The 5K was held in pretty terrain though a wooded path near a an old canal. There were many turns and tree roots to manage, but, more significantly, it had rained the night before and parts of the ground were slippery. (One of my walker colleagues told me later he had fallen.) I was still very pleased with my time: 37:38, or about 12.07 minutes/mile.


The AUTUMN PEAKS:.

IBM 5K - Poughkeesie: It is October 6th, my last day as a 62 year old, the weather is perfect, the course is flat, the local IBM Club is sponsoring a run/walk for health purposes, many of my colleagues are participating or volunteering or watching, and one of co-workers (an excellent race walker who was in the Mad Dash) is going to pace me before he finishes first. I'm pumped in my nerdy way.

   35:24

If you look closely at my finishing stride for 3rd place in the walker division, you should observe: 1) my form is a better than previous pictures, 2) I still need a clothing advisor, and 3) my shoelace is untied. I have been watching it for the last tenth of a mile to make sure I didn't trip. (I could, of course, have done the safer action of stopping to tie! I now double-tie shoelaces when I start.)

Bloomingburg Run for the Animals 7K: The race was intriguing. There seemed to be an emphasis on encouraging walkers, with the walkers starting significantly before the runners. The race was a longer distance (7K - 4.3 miles) than tried previously, so a different challenge. I didn't expect to know anybody participating.  I wondered if street directions were going to be clear.

Some things you just don't have to worry about. A police car was going to lead the way for the 73 walkers!

And, to my surprise, after about 50 yards, I was the one following it. For the entire 4.3 miles. Considering my non-athletic background and skill, this was a truly heady experience being lead by a car with flashing lights.

Winning time:  50:47 minutes. Pace: 11:42 minutes/mile for 4.3 miles

And the food and friendliness was most excellent!

I suppose that if the police car had been behind me, I might have had to go even faster. (:-)

Cornwall on Hudson Fall Harvest 5K: Cornwall on Hudson, another picturesque town, is on, well, the Hudson River. Their fall festival looked like a fun event if the weather was good. And it was, so I walked in the midst of the other 5K runners and walkers. The route was hillier than IBM. I acheived my first 36 minute (36:15) for a 5K, picking up the 1st place engraved drinking glass. And a really nice long-sleeved sweatshirt.

I didn't know it at the time, but those were my last races of 2009. I had accumulated a goodly number of sweatshirts, t-shirts, and, completely unexpected at the beginning of the year, various ribbons, etc. I had had fun, enjoyed the post-race camaraderie and food, and was now weighing under 180 pounds. 

NEXT: Back to the Present


Links to Times:


Mad Dash Results:
  5K Walker Results  

Wurtsboro Roosa Gap 5K
  http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/ny/Sep27_THEROO_set12.shtml

Bloomingburg Run for the Animals 7K
  http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/ny/Oct25_THERUN_set2.shtml

Cornwall on Hudson Fall Harvest 5K
  http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/ny/Nov1_FALLHA_set12.shtml