10K PR: 46:06!

I chose the CSUN Run, Walk & Roll, held at the Northridge campus of Cal State University, as one of my only two 10Ks all season because it is a flat and very fast course, and I figured I could set a personal record there.

I did not choose this race for its scenic course, its atmosphere, or its expo/party. Because this is one of the Students Run LA-attended events, I knew that it would have none of those. Not that I have anything against SRLA, I think its a great program. Unfortunately, there are many SRLA participants who behave badly and exhibit everything from rude behavior (such as preventing faster runners from getting past them by forming block) to downright cheating by cutting the course.

I was shooting to break 48:00, which means keeping a pace slightly under 7:45/mile. I started off slow, trying not to expend too much energy getting around the SRLA kids, and trying to loosen up my legs, which have been tight all week. On the long Zelzah straight-away, I picked up the pace, and then dropped it down when we went back to the campus. By the end of the first loop (half-way point), my time was 24:30, slightly off the pace I wanted, but I was feeling good and running effortlessly. At mile 4, I picked up the pace, pushing myself to around a 7:20/mile pace. In the middle of the fifth mile, there came the Zelzah straight-away again. I really picked up the pace, running the next mile in less than 6 minutes. I also had to scream at some slow SRLA kids, still running the 5K, to get out of my way since they were connected by a rope and I was about to trip over it. I kept up the pace through the last half-mile and had enough to sprint to the finish. Unfortunately three rather wide SRLA girls, who were finishing the 5K, meandered into blocking my way in front of the 10K finish chute. I had no choice but to plow right through them--there was no way I was going to slow down at that point. After the, more forceful than expected, collision, and with barely enough breath to muster a "sorry", I crossed the finish line and into the chute, setting a personal record for a 10K of 46:06.

In the meantime, Dimple decided at the last minute that she would participate as well, and push Josh with the jogging stroller for a 5K. She started slowly, in the back of the pack, gradually making her way past the SRLA-ers. Josh was excited to be part of the race and directed Mommy to go faster by yelling "beep-beep" and telling the SRLA blocks "Bye-bye" as he and Mommy passed them. With Josh's competitive spirit as inspiration, Dimple finished with an official time of 29:08, a remarkable 5K time for someone pushing a stroller. Her watch time was closer to 28 minutes, since it took her a long time to reach the starting line, starting at the back of the pack. At the finish line Dimple said to Josh, "We did it!", to which he confidently replied, "I did it!"