With 17 consecutive participations, this has become my own personal 10K benchmark (that was my 63rd 10K race but I still have more 50K races in my log, at 84). Actually, my first participation was the elite 5K which was part of our USATF Pacific Association Road Grand Prix back then, and I clocked 16:34. I then ran the 10K distance every year: 35:05, 35:20, 35:06, 36:09, 35:41, 35:49, 36:10, 34:57, 35:51, 35:51, 41:34 (still suffering from the 2018 injury), 40:17 (2020 virtual edition on an improvised course in some French countryside), 38:51, 37:45, 39:55, 39:26 (post 7-month break after meniscus tear). Looking back at this series (all race reports under the Turkey Trot tag), it clearly shows that I never fully recovered from the 2018 injury. And now having to rebuild after last year, not to mention handle the years which pass...
As I mentioned, my legs still felt tired from last weekend's ultra distance. I went for a 1.5-mile warm-up on the course then found a spot 4 layers behind the start line. Among runners who seemed to be at the front mostly for the pictures and selfies so I paid extra attention not to trip when we were sent off.
With the joint start of the 5 and 10K, with all the competitive runners, the kids and the occasional runners who know less about pacing, the race starts really fast. I used to stick close to the front but not anymore and the hundreds of runners at the front felt a bit overwhelming. Two tenth of a mile after the start I glanced at my GPS to get a sense of the pace: dang, it was still on the mode "Wrist hear rate disabled, Start now?" Shoot, I had forgotten the switch that mode back after last weekend's 24-hour, when I switched it off to save the battery so the GPS battery and recording could last 24 hours. Dude, yes, please start!
With that, I missed my split time at the 1-mile mark but got a 6:27 shortly after. Not too bad but it wasn't going to get me under 40 minutes. Our friend Nathalie was volunteering again at the first aid station in Japan Town, around 1.5 mile, and got a couple of shots.
As you can see, I was still in a pack, in good company. The good news though was that my glutes, really tight in the first half mile, had now loosen up. Bring it on!
That good sensation allowed me to pick the pace up a bit, passing a few runners and still being passed by others. That got my second split down to 6:23. Shortly after I recall passing a young girl with a turkey hat and shoes which were making noise like carbon plates. Is that possible 12-year old kids have carbon plate shoes already? Maybe I need to give it a try...
Most of the runners turn left toward the 5K finish but there were still quite a few on the 10K. My third split was similar, at 6:24.
On the 4th mile, after turning around the SAP Center, there is a small did to pass under the rail track, that did cost me one second, for a 6:25 minute split. However, in that section, one runner caught up with me only to stay just behind, in my stride, something I don't really like. That got me to pick up the pace again, this time clocking 6:15 for the 5th mile, while navigating the Emory/Myrtle/University turnaround before returning on The Alameda, aka 82.
Breathing was good, legs felt good, plus the motivation of cross the rest of the pack, including getting some verbal encouragements from my friends (Tanguy then Igor), I went all in to the finish. I only discovered afterwards that I ran mile in 6:12, what a god surprise!
Then, approaching the finish line I saw the clock displaying seconds: 39:50, 51, 52, ... My recollection was that I crossed the finish line in 39:58 but I was awarded 39:56, I will take it! My last 10Ks were 40:36 last December at the DoDouble in Palo Alto, and 40:30 at Trailblazer in September, it feels good to break 40' again! Oh wait, 2 days later and I realize that I actually did better. I was so focused on 40 minutes, I misread the clock while at full speed, it was actually 38:56, even better! And maybe the course was on the short side, as some others reported, but still, that was the same distance for all.
That was good enough for 3rd in my age group this year again. Second was Raymond Rodriguez, 64, in 38:20. As for the first place in our age group, Thomas Tayeri won again in a blazing time of 36:23, this is really fast. This is actually a 90.01% age grade, or an equivalent of 29:19.7, World class/level! In comparison mine was 84.12% or 31:23, not too far from today's winning time of 31:13 (Brian Wyatt from La Jolla).
Proud of Agnès for finishing 5th of 363 in her age group!
But the most important measure for this event is the number of registrants and the money raised for local charities. In the spirit of the race founders, 21 years ago, Carl and Leslee Guardino.
23,000 registrants this year, for an event under the direction of Chris Weiler, Race Director at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation (in yellow jacket).
We were quite lucky with the weather again this year. It was chilly in the shade of the buildings but really nice in the sun, in the middle of the festival area. Perfect place to meet friends, at least for those making the effort to find others among thousands. Here with Tanguy, waiting for Rosalie and Virginie.
And one of the 50+ IBM colleagues who had signed up this year, Danny.
Having ran 10 or more editions, there was even a poster this year, with our names on it!
Can't wait for next year then, what a great Thanksgiving tradition, and a treat for our Silicon Valley communities!
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