IBM Uptown Classic 10K

A great race! I haven't participated in many of them, yet the organizers of this one seemed to know what they were doing. The sponsors came through with boodles of freebies after the race. I loaded up on Clif bars, Mangia pizza, oranges and bananas.

The IBM Uptown Classic proved to be mostly flat with just a couple of slight uphills along the route. I enjoyed the scenery during the first half of the race along Shoal Creek and wished we could have run along Shoal Creek for a little longer. Also the first half of the race is when everyone is trying to get their pace set and negotiating running room around the slower runners, walkers and the strollers. Compared to the 5K I didn't have to run around too many walkers or strollers this time. However, there were still quite a few ten-to-twelve minute mile racers too far front at the start.

Northcross Mall seemed a very good location for a 10K start. Plenty of parking and area to walk around, stretch and a convenience store or two to pick up last minute items. I forgot my orange juice, honey and M&Ms so I stopped in.

I decided last week to run in my Merrell mocs, since last week they felt pretty good on a six mile run. My New Balance had worn a little next to my little toe and caused a blister to form. They proved to be the right shoe for the run and I had no problems. My new shirt did prove to be a problem. I picked up a sleeveless polyester running shirt from Oshman's last week, as the sweatty cotton shirts were rubbing my chest raw. This one did as well so I'll have to figure something out, short of shaving my chest.

My new running socks did their job. I didn't feel like I had water-soaked socks at the end of the race. They vented the moisture out of the foot area and transferred it to the shoe, that then vented it out.

My tunes worked out. I spent Saturday sewing my arm band strap and it worked well, except for the one time the MP3 player paused. I removed it from the strap, adjusted the song list and when it went back on the strap it fell to the ground. The SD card went one way, the battery another, and the battery cover in another. That cost me a couple of minutes. I'll have to do some more sewing.

What I ate seemed to agree with me as did the two days of rest before. Potatoes, pasta, tomatoes and a little wine fully got digested by race day. The yogurt the morning of the race, coffee, orange juice and M&Ms worked as well. I also drank like a fish (water) the day before which made me quite hydrated for the race. I only stopped for water after mile three, and drank half the cup of water at mile four, five and six with the other half going on my head.

My new hat worked out better than the cycling hat I've been running in. This one has air holes, and although there wasn't any breeze during the race, it allowed a little ventilation.

I came across the finish line, feeling like I hadn't pressed for a faster pace. I finished with energy left to burn and found out my pace was 9:25 per mile. The legs and body felt good. No cramps or discomfort whatsoever. It did feel like it took some time for the stomach to shut down so maybe I need to look at what I eat the day of the race to make it shut down a little sooner.

Race Results
My Results
  • Overall: 966
  • Bib:2166
  • FinTime:59:33
  • ChipTime:58:29
  • Age:44
This was the first race of the Austin Distance Challenge. A 10K to start, culminating in the 26.2-mile Freescale Marathon in February. I don't see how I'll make 26.2 miles in February, but then again, I didn't think I'd be running ten miles at this point either. It seems that you add the mileage slowly, and before you know it, there it is.

After the first race, I'm in 521st position of the Distance Challenge. Position doesn't really matter as much as finishing my first marathon in February.

Next up, the Pervasive Power Charge Ten Miler Oct. 16.

RunTex recap of the race.

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