i had never raced a 10 mile race before and had some arbitrary time goals based on my half marathon PR and the mcmillan calculator‘s estimate of what i should be able to run for my marathon time goal. in the least, i wanted to be able to run marathon pace (~8:20) and in a perfect world i was shooting for around a 1:18. really i wanted to get my mindset back in race mode, i wanted to run negative splits, and i really wanted to finish strong. it’s been a while (maybe since my half PR in march) where i feel like i have run a strong race from start to finish, and i really wanted to work on the mental aspects of pushing harder at the end of a race. i know i can do it, my mind just likes to tell me otherwise sometimes, and i really needed that practice and confidence with my next marathon 3 weeks away.
since i did my long run friday morning, i was able to do a short recovery run saturday morning. after being awoken by thunder, i eventually got up and got out the door for a run in the rain! i was SO excited to be out in the rain, it was so refreshing and it was still pretty warm out, so i was loving every second. i took the dogs who also enjoyed the rain. my legs felt pretty good, i was forcing them to stay slow and really hold back. i wanted to make this a true recovery run and kept telling myself to save my legs for the race the next day.
5.4 miles/52:57/9:49 avg pace
i attended my friend’s second wedding shower afterwards and then made it home in time to set my stuff out for the next morning, eat a small bowl of pasta and relax. i watched without limits for the first time ever to get a little inspiration, but it also kept me up too late. i finally got to bed a little after 11:00pm with a 4:30am wake up call… uggg.
the alarm went off a few times before i dragged my butt out of bed. i got dressed, drank my coffee while i ate an engligh muffin with pb and then a banana. tara was at my house at 5:30 on the dot and we hit the road to sacramento. it was about an hour and fifteen minute drive, so not too bad, and it was really easy to find. we parked, got our numbers and chips, used the bathrooms and hung out in the car for a bit. it was actually pretty cool out (yay!) after a week of hot temperatures, so i was excited. after texting with amy we got to meet up and chat for the first time in person which was great! we have been emailing a ton lately so it’s always nice to have a real person to put the emails with, and i am super excited to run running a bunch of races together in the upcoming months. a couple more trips to the bathrooms (always 3 times, i am completely mental about this), we headed to the start line!
we lined up together and i told myself out loud, “no 7:30 first miles aron”. then we were off! about 1/4 mile in i looked down at my garmin and was running a 7:23 pace – ha! that’s closer to a 5k pace silly, so i slowed down and let all the runners pass me by, but i knew it was what i needed to do. the first couple miles i thought felt a little harder than they should, i was hoping to be running 8:00 flat for the first miles, but i just went with it because i wanted to be able to hold on and pick it up the last half. i was able to stay pretty consistent and my legs eventually got a little warmed up. i took a gu just before mile 5. i realized my 1:18 goal probably wasn’t going to happen, but i reallllly wanted to cross the finish line in 1:20 or less so i knew i was going to have to pick it up!
mile 1 – 8:05, mile 2 – 8:10, mile 3 – 8:10, mile 4 – 8:07, mile 6 – 8:06
the course was pretty much as flat as you can get, and it just goes through some sacramento neighborhoods. there were a couple out and back portions so we got to see the leaders which is always fun and then i got to wave to amy and tara too which always gives me a boost. i told myself it was time to start picking up the pace so i gradually did. i wasn’t really paying much attention to my pace on my garmin, i was more concerned with my effort. i had no idea what mile i was at between 5-8 even. i just tried to make sure the effort was getting harder as i went. i was getting tired but i really kept my mental focus together and strong towards those last few miles. once i saw the 9 mile marker i knew i just had to give it everything. i was pushing harder and i was getting tired! i don’t know if i have ever felt like that towards the end of a race, i was starting to feel sick, but i just kept on running and not giving in to my body that just wanted to slow down. i saw the finish line and gave it all i had.
mile 6 – 8:00, mile 7 – 7:54, mile 8 – 7:54, mile 9 – 7:55, mile 10 – 7:36, last .1 – :43 (7:04 avg)
garmin stats:
10.1 miles/1:20:39/7:59 avg pace
at 10 miles: 1:19:56 so technically i got my second goal 
official stats:
10 miles/1:20:39/8:04 avg pace
overall: 202/435
AG: 9/24
even though it wasn’t the time i had really hoped for, i am really happy with this race. i totally ran a negative split, stayed strong throughout and finished great. i was able to push those negative thoughts out pretty easily today and just keep pushing, which is what i was hoping for the most.
AND i did that on tired legs and finished off my highest mileage week ever at 60.8!
so now i have 3 weeks to go! i don’t know if i really consider myself in taper mode yet because i am going to do my last 20 miler this thursday, but i am going to cut back my overall mileage, so i guess it is considered “tapering”.
twenty one days to go until my 5th marathon!
Congrats! That is an awesome time, especially after a long run on Friday.
That's pretty darn speedy, if you ask me! Great job, Aron.
Awesome job aron! That's a great time. Hmmm a 20-miler on a Thursday interesting idea.
Awesome awesome awesome race Aron! You killed it! Great job out there. You were mentally with it and really focused. You ran an amazing race & i'm SOO pumped for your race @ Cowtown! Your going to nail it!!! Way to go girl!!!!!!
Congrats, Aron! Way to go!
Awesome race!!! Incredible that you could do that after such a long mileage week. Great job!!
wow. Way to knock it out of the ball park!
you are amazing. i can't believe you did this on tired legs and look at you and your negative splits again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that really says something about experience and determination
way to go!
wow you are so awesome! negative splits are so great to see too, doubly impressive on the highest mileage week. you are a bamf!
Nice race! Good luck with your tapering, rest up!
Awesome race. I'd say those negative splits are nothing to shake a stick at–you ran strong and finished strong.
Wow, 60+ miles–crazy girl!
GREat work Buddy!! I wish I could find the legs to speed up toward the end of my races…I ALWAYS slow down mile after mile..
Nice work!
There's a great 10 miler in Philly ever year with about 20,000 runners. It's flat and fast, and a really fun tune up for the beginning of the season. It's a good distance to work out the kinks!
Good job, that is a great time!!
Very nice race, Aron. And you did it after running 18 miles 2 days before, and running 60 miles for the week. Wow! With fresh legs I bet you can run 7:40 average. You're doing great. Just rest those legs before that 20 miler. My legs are still recovering after my last 1/2, and, in retrospect, I know I should have taken a couple of easy days…
Great job
Congrats on a strong race, Aron! Stellar finish and even more amazing after completing your long run just two days before!!
I am so glad it was a good "mental" race for you. Those splits are awesome!! Way to go!
You did awesome! Congrats on your first 10 miler at a fantastic pace and the negative splits
Way to go girl!!!
You were great! That's fantastic mental training for the marathon, that's so soon!!
Great race! It is totally taper time … and you deserve it!
I ran a 10.7 miler today-I wish i had your body and legs today! mine didn't show up!
You are so fast little speedy!!! You're my hero! What a great race you ran! Congrats!!!
Great job!! A strong effort all the way around! That's a great mileage total to taper off of!!
Awesome race, Aron! I hope that was a good confidence booster for you before you head into taper-time.
Congrats! That's an awesome job!
Sounds like a great race. Enjoy the tapering.
Awesome race. Congrats on finishing strong!
What a great race! it must feel great to have tested your strategy and have made it work. It will give you such confidence in 3 weeks time – I know it. And 60 miles girlfriend you are amazing! Fantastic and very very well done.
Great job on the 10 mile race! I think this is a good indication of how your training has really made you a better runner for this marathon!
Major kudos Aron!! Sounds like you hit almost all your goals, and were only off my seconds of the time goal. That's a success!!
Have a great last 20 miler.
very cool! that's a great pace for a 10 mile race. i'm surprised you didn't finish higher in the overall standings. well done!
You rocked it! Great job on the finish! Negative splits always make the run that much sweeter!
21 days are gonna fly by (unitl taper week, when, at that point, time will stand still)! So excited for you! My Tahoe race is in 13 days – yeah, freaked out!
Have a great week, girly!
Nice work!
what a way to top off a 60+mile week! you're such a strong runner. gerat job on keeping the negative thoughts out (i need to work on that myself) and on the fantastic splits! (also something i need to work on!)
yayyyy… you did so awesome! i'm SO glad you guys came for the race and I FINALLY got to meet you! I can't wait until Cowtown, Healdsburg… etc!
it is so nice to have someone else working as hard, with the same goals, to compare notes with. seriously.
Enjoy the taper… woo hoo!
That's awesome. Sounds like you're ready!
Nice! That's great to run a negative split. Way to go!!
Fantastic job on the race!
Great job on your 10 miler!
Congratulations! Why, oh why is it always so hard to slow down for that first mile?
NICE job esp. after friday
You rocked girl, I couldn't keep that pace up for that long and those neg. splits are pretty amazing 
You never cease to amaze me. Great job and don't you just love without limits!!!
nice race!! and you aren't even training for ten milers
congrats!!! that is especially impressive given the high mileage week – imagine what you'll do when tapered! YAY aron!
Congrats, Aron!!!
Great race strategy and you pulled it off well. And on tired legs to boot. That is surely a confidence builder!
Awesome job on the race Aron! It looks like you paced it perfectly and totally hit your sub 8 minute pace.
Awesome race! You're going to be amazing with a little rest in those legs!
Wow congrats on an awesome high mileage week! Glad you had fun with the 10 miler!
great job on the race aron, that is an amazing pace. it sounds like you are READY for #5! you will do great.
Great paces!
like you said that's a darn good run on tired legs! I hope this puts a little spunk in your step for the big race!
GREAT JOB!!
Even though that wasn't your time goal, I think you met all of your mental goals….which I think will help you more during the marathon in the long run anyway.
WHOOOO Go you!!!!!!!!!
GREAT JOB!!! You did awesome!! You are so ready!!
excellent race! congrats on hitting your goals and coming pretty darn close to an "official" sub-1:20.
now just make sure you can pull the reins in on marathon-aron and save some gas for the end of cowtown! awesome awesome race!
5 marathons already? I'm still working on number 1, actually still working on my first half.. Great job on your 10 miler and the negative splits. Very impressive thing to do, especially in a race, great job!!
Aron!!! You ran a great race. Look at those negative splits and having those be your last few miles while finishing up a 60 mile week. Nice job girl.
Negative split is never a bad thing!
Catching up again, but great race!
Totally love that negative split! To run mile 10 30secs faster than mile 1 is really quite a feat. Congrats to you!
Wow, great race. Way to push yourself at the end. And negative splits are always great.
Congratulations on being awesome, as always