Tallahassee Turkey Trot 2009

It was a chilly start to my first Turkey Trot 15k and my sister Shea's first 5k. Perfect running weather and a beautiful Thanksgiving day in Tallahassee for the 34th annual event. There were a total of four races on November 26th. They included a 1 mile fun run, 5k, 10k, and 15k. I chose the 15 kilometer race as it was the final Gulf Winds Track Club Grand Prix event for the year. My expectations were not very high as I've been battling illnesses for the last couple months and it has severely limited my training.
The three longer races were held on the same course with a modified loop for the 10k and 15k runs. A record crowd of almost 4,000 people ran in the four races and donated food and items. Some proceeds also benefit the Refuge House.
I started out at a maintainable pace but couldn't have gone much faster due to the crowd. At this pace it took quite awhile to warm-up as I'm used to starting out much faster for a shorter race. Thanks to chip timing, splits were given. My 5k split was 24:40, much too slow. I increased my pace slightly in the 2nd leg and my 10k split was 49:07. I pushed toward the finish in the final leg and finished in 1:13:16. A pace of 7:52/mile. My goal was 1:10 but I was satisfied with my result in my first 15 kilometer run.


Check out:
Herb's Wills Trouble Afoot report
Tallahassee Democrat report
Official Race Results

Race Results

To chart my progress I will post my results in this blog and update it with additional race information. I will also include links to compete results and information about the race, course, or anything else that's noteworthy.

Date	Race	Location	Time	Rank
1/9/10	Bowlegs 5k	Tallahassee	21:33	15rd/84
12/5/09	Ten Mile Challenge	Tallahassee	1:16:56	23rd/117
11/26/09	Turkey Trot 15k	Tallahassee	1:13:16	94th/345
11/14/09	BBVAC 5k	Tallahassee	21:29	4th/77
10/31/09	Boston Half-Marathon	Boston, GA	1:48:14	49th/324
10/25/09	FSU Cares 5k	Tallahassee	20:45	19th/253
10/24/09	Sundberg 5k	Tallahassee	20:53	29th/263
10/18/09	Big Bend Cares 5k	Tallahassee	21:29	6th/82
10/17/09	Chi Omega 5k	Tallahassee	21:37:99	13th/299
10/03/09	Pine Run 20k	Tallahassee	1:47:16	55th/155
09/26/09	Prefontaine Forest 5k	Tallahassee	24:48	25th/141
09/19/09	Women's Distance 5k	Tallahassee	22:04	38th/156
09/12/09	Sickle Cell 5k	Tallahassee	21:19	17th/171
09/07/09	Red Cross Hurricane 5k	Tallahassee	21:23	35th/620
08/29/09	Miller Landing 8k	Tallahassee	38:49	45th/151
08/15/09	Breakfast Track Mile	Tallahassee	6:09:54	44th/176
08/1/09	Fallen Heroes 5k+	Tallahassee	22:59	11th/164
07/18/09	Bridge of Lions 5k	St. Augustine, FL	21:32	31st/431
07/4/09	Firecracker 5k 5k	Greensboro, FL	22:13	12th/78
06/27/09	St. George Sizzler	St. George, FL	22:35	30th/214
06/13/09	Potluck Bash 4 Miles	Tallahassee	31:19	58th/177
05/16/09	Wakulla Springs 5k	Wakulla, FL	23:23	19th/223
05/9/09	Marsuq Shriners 5k	Tallahassee	22:11	11th/161
05/2/09	Tails & Trails 5k	Tallahassee	21:59:57	41st/464
04/25/09	Run for Reading 5k	Tallahassee	22:30	7th/151
04/18/09	FSU Habitat 5k	Tallahassee	22:39	9th/89
04/11/09	Palace Saloon 5k	Tallahassee	23:08	183rd/1022

Cole's Goals

Tonight as I recover from being mildly under the weather and haven't run in 2 days. I decided I'll use that time to create a list of my running goals in no particular order:

• Run a sub 6-minute mile
• Run a sub 20:30-minute 5k
• Break my half-marathon time of 1:48:14
  
• Complete a marathon under 4 hrs

Running Fun

I've been running for a few years; a couple consistently. Mainly I started jogging to be more active, lose weight (I was 215 lbs), and feel better. My first actual race is now my favorite Gulf Winds Track Club event, The Palace Saloon 5k.

The race is very popular for a number of reasons. First, it is one of the oldest organized races in Tallahassee. Secondly, it is part of the GWTC Gran Prix Series, so it attracts many competitive runners. Thirdly, the route is very flat and even ends downhill on Jackson Bluff Rd. An excellent PR course. Finally, runners can enjoy free beer at the finish line, directly in front of the Palace. The 2009 Palace Saloon 5k, on April 11th, drew a spectacular crowd of 1,022 and co-directors, Reid Vannoy and Herb Wills added a second chute to avoid a bottle neck at the finish line.

My expectations weren't very high for this race. I hadn't been doing any speedwork nor had I run any races to know what to expect. I had run the course a week prior to get a feel for it, but that was it. My goal was to run (jog) the entire race and finish under 25 minutes. Race day I tried to place myself toward the front but behind many of the fast runners at the starting line, it was quite intimidating to say the least. I did achieve my goal and finished 183rd overall with a time of 23:08. I was very happy and gladly enjoyed a couple cold ones after finishing.

I cannot wait until the 2010 Palace race when my goal will be to break the 20:00 minute mark. It will take a lot of track work and mileage to accomplish this but I have about 6 months to do so. The 2010 Palace Saloon 5k will be held on April 10th and will likely draw even more runners, placing it second behind the Turkey Trot as the most attended Tallahassee race.

*Click links in article for more information.

My First Half-Marathon - Boston, Georgia

On Halloween, Saturday, October, 31, 2009, I completed my first half-marathon, The Boston, GA Mini-Marathon. It was kind of a last minute decision to run. Previously the longest distance I had run at one time was 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) at the 2009 Pine Run at Tall Timbers on October 3rd. The Wednesday before, I ran about five miles at Lake Overstreet Trails, an excellent running spot, just watch your footing especially at dusk. Thursday I went for a short bike ride and rested on Friday.

Lisa, another Gulf Winds Track Club member and myself got an early start in our drive to Boston, Georgia. We hadn't registered but fortunately were able to easily park, register and take our time preparing prior to the race. This is unlike me as I usually am one of the last to arrive and am scrambling to park and register before racing to the starting line.

After the Star Spangled Banner was sang I started my Garmin 405 GPS watch at the gun. At the last minute I had set an average pace on my watch of 8 minutes 15 seconds per mile. I started out too fast as usual but settled in behind Lisa for the first few miles. We were heading east on Jefferson Street and into the rising sun. It was about 70 degrees at the start. The course consisted of slight rolling hills and wide open cow pastures. By mile four I had slowed to a more maintainable pace of about 7:50-8min/mile. Although it was warm I still felt strong around mile six, where I spotted Herb Wills and his trusty camera. Roughly half-mile later I was on my way back to the start. I was alone most of the return trip, well behind the fast runners yet ahead of the middle-pack racers. A couple of "run-then-walkers" would pass me before slowing to let me regain the lead, over and over again. That's a strange method in my opinion, but it definitely works for some people. By mile ten, with only a 5k race distance to complete, I began to fade; my legs could sense any, even a minuscule change in elevation. Approaching a water stop I ate my second Orange Gu Energy gel and washed it down with Gatorade, although I spilled most of the drink all over myself. A Boston farmer was nice enough to mist runners with a hose around mile 11. It revived me just enough to push toward the finish.

Finally, I had finished in 1 hour, 48 minutes and 14 seconds. I am very pleased with my time, as I had no idea what to expect. I believe with some more distance practice I will be able to cut many minutes off my next half-marathon. Supporters of the race provided many refreshments and snacks after the race which I gladly enjoyed and always appreciate. Awards were handed out at 11am prior to the annual Boston parade.

In the 30th year anniversary of the Boston Mini-Marathon, 324 runners finished. A number of those runners are GWTC members and many placed. Vince Molosky and Sheryl Rosen were male and female overall winners in a time of 1:19:49 and 1:27:10, respectively. Lisa Cox, pictured left, placed third in her age group with a time of 1:49:16.






Connect:

Race Results : Gulf Winds Track Club - Boston Mini
Herb's Report: Another Boston Mini Win For Rosen
My Garmin Race Report: Garmin Map/Report (couldn't stop watch)

Tallahassee Running

I've created this blog to help me keep track of my running in Tallahassee, FL. This seems like a good way to record my runs, races, and share pictures and info with others. Enjoy.