Race #124
10k #10
2017 Race #8
2017 10k #1
Reedy River 10k #4

The plan going in to this run was to try to pace Mom to a sub 50 minute finish so that we could both register for the same corral for Cooper River next year. I didn’t tell her because I did not want to add pressure beforehand. While the heat and a bit of fatigue kept her from that goal, she still rocked the race and finished over a minute faster than last year!

Backing up a bit…

We arrived with enough time to walk from County Square up to the race start and make a pit stop in the public bathrooms just beyond the start. When we got back up to the street I could not remember which way we ran down Main Street to start the race. To add to my confusion, with less than 10 minute before the race start, a truck with a platform attached backed up just enough so that the trailer/platform blocked the road. I had no idea where we were supposed to line up. Thankfully, after the singing of the national anthem the platform was moved out of the way and we took our places on the road.

This race actually started 2 minutes early so at 7:53 we were off.

It was slow going for a short portion even though we were fairly close to the start. Once the road began to clear we were able to pick up our pace, uphill. That was fun.

This course is not easy, by no means. It also followed a different route than the previous years I have run this race, including last year. I was not sure of any of the course except for the start and the finish. The first mile is full of gradual and not so gradual inclines. I felt strong though and kept our pace around 8 minutes

Mile 1: 7:57

Somewhere in the second mile Mom told me that she was already experiencing fatigue. I had a feeling that this might end up being a tough run for her. I wanted to push her as much as I could to get that time but also wanted to be supportive. We hit another serious hill in this mile which slowed our pace a bit.

(Sorry for the leg in the forefront of the picture. Flickr has yet to restore a photo editing service so I am unable to crop the picture.)

Mile 2: 8:27

Finally we made a loop and the incline became a decline. This greatly aided our pace. I think this helped Mom as well, at least temporarily. It was crazy warm out and I was incredibly thankful for my OrangeMud Hydration Quiver. I wore it during the race because I set out for another 70 minutes shortly after we finished the race. Instead of the prescribed 2 scoops, I have started adding 3 to both make the flavor stronger and to add more nutrition. I am still experimenting as to the best way to take in nutrition during races and long runs as I increase my training and racing pace.

Mile 3: 7:58

I do not remember much about the fourth mile. That’s what happens when I wait until the end of the day to write the recap. I have no idea how people who wait days remember anything from the race.

Mile 4: 8:12

By this point in the race Mom was practically begging me to go on ahead so that she could slow down. I definitely tried some tough love at this point. She asked to walk. I said “no, she could do it.” A couple of times she slowed down to a walk and told me to go on ahead. I refused; I kept running, slower, but I refused. Each time, she caught up to me and we kept plugging away.

I knew by this point that it would be unreasonable to aim for a sub 50. I think that if we make an attempt on a much cooler day, that goal would be in the bag almost without trying. I then focused on helping her finish strong and work through the negative mental thoughts. I have been there so many times myself. I would give in to those thoughts and walk or cut the run short (for training runs) and then finish with all kinds of regrets. I also knew that if she kept pushing she would almost certainly win her age group.

Mile 5: 8:56

That last mile is tough. It was tough for me. The hills just never stop.

I was determined to keep up the positive motivation as much as I could. As we approached a hill I told her that we were going to “kill the hill.” I know I said other things too but at the moment, I can’t remember any of them.

Just before we made the second to the last turn we saw Ellis.

Mile 6: 8:51

We made the final turn and poured on as much speed as we could. I told Mom to dig deep and she did! She actually started to pull away from me!

I caught up and finished right behind her.

Final .2
Overall time: 51:30

Immediately after finishing we got a medal. I’m still not a fan of handing out medals for a 10k but I’m not going to turn down race bling.

After looking up Mom’s results and finding out that she finished first in her age group, I headed off for an additional 70 minutes. While I was running a cyclist actually slowed down and said something like, “A 10k wasn’t enough, you needed more?” Of course!

Now for the race review…

Registration and Packet Pick Up
Nothing stood out here, especially since Ellis did the packet pick up.

Race Shirt
I love the design and feel of these shirts. Unfortunately, it does not fit. I always get smalls and they fit pretty well. This one is even a little too snug for Mom. That is unfortunate. It is also 60% cotton. Even if it did fit, I would not be able to wear it to run in. I don’t run in anything made with even a little bit of cotton.

Prerace/morning amenities
Some of the normal pre-race set ups were changed due to the construction going on at the old Greenville News business. The public restrooms were still available. Since we used those we did not seek out any portopotties. I am unsure if any were available. As I mentioned before, it was odd to back the platform across where the runners were supposed to line up barely 10 minutes before the race.

Course
Any course in downtown Greenville is tough. The area is pretty much all hills. I did enjoy the route this year, despite the unavoidable hills and hope that they do not change it again.

Course Support
While I did not partake in the water stops, I did find it odd that the first water stop was not until mile 2.9 and then the remaining two came about a mile apart after that.

Finish line and Post Race Amenities
Since this race served as the SCRRCA 10k championship and was also the 40th anniversary of the race, the GTC added some pretty nice decorations at the finish on main street. It looked great. I really wish the GTC would show this sort of dedication to their races every year, not just the ones that happen to serve as state championships.
Just like last year, the refreshments were located down in Falls Park. However, unlike last year, there was no water available right at the finish line. Not cool.
Mom and Ellis waited for awards since she ended up winning 3rd place Grand Masters. I took off on my run and wondered if I should make it an out and back on the Swamp Rabbit Trail instead of a point to point ending at the Duncan Chapel Road/Furman parking lot. I stuck with my original plan. When I finished and looked at my phone, I saw a text from Mom apologizing for not being there; they were still waiting for awards! Seriously, I ran 8 miles in the time that it took them to start and finish the awards ceremony. According to Mom, the MC took time to describe a few lost and found items in copious detail, draw prizes, give out the kids awards and the 5k awards before the 10k awards. He also waxed eloquent about some of the winners, including some who weren’t even there!

Photography
Pace Magazine stated that they took pictures. At the time of writing, no pictures had yet been posted. Also, the only post on the GTC Facebook page was from race morning. Absolutely nothing else.

Results
Palmetto Timing timed the race so the results were instantly available on racemine.