PC: Elm Street Run Festival

Just like last week, I identified a relatively nearby running event, this time the Elm Street Run Festival 10 Mile in Greensboro, North Carolina, that permitted online registration up to race day, May 13, 2023, and set my alarm to 5:00 AM to decide then. Again justifying I would run this day anyway, after a few hours of sleep, I ate a piece of bread and chugged Gatorade Zero, registered online, took a longer shower this time, and headed out for a 70-minute drive to the venue. Because I continue to participate in races last minute, I tend to pay significantly more than those who sign up early and often do not receive all the swag, this time missing out on the event T-shirt due to all sizes being sold out; nevertheless, I do not feel comfortable committing too far in advance in case something comes up that could prevent me from going, and I only make exceptions for World Marathon Majors (because I have to).

PC: Elm Street Run Festival

Two-time champ!

Not seeing many 10-mile participants upon arrival, I was concerned about navigation, prompting me to ask a fast-looking runner about the course. He happened to be the reigning champion who predictably reclaimed the title, and unsurprisingly he has run a 2:17 marathon and was using this as training for an upcoming marathon in Canada. To my relief, so that I could follow them if confused, many more people toed the line out of nowhere right before the start. The course ran up and down from start to finish, and the 463 feet of elevation gain in just 10.12 miles, according to my COROS, felt more challenging, especially in the latter half, thanks to the rapidly approaching summer heat that will continue to worsen for the next several months. I opened up the first mile in 8:06 and hoped to maintain this pace, but considering the hills, I am content with a 1:30:29.7 finish.

Seeing I could sign up for The Derby Run 10K in Fayetteville, North Carolina, up to the start on May 6, 2023, at 8:15 AM, I set my alarm to 5:50 AM and decided to decide then based on how I felt. Following a few hours of sleep, I rolled out of bed just past 6:00 AM and, because I would be running later in the day anyway, convinced myself to make it a race for more fun, shoving down a piece of bread and Gatorade Zero, taking a record-breaking short shower, registering half asleep, and rushing out for a 70-minute drive to the event location, all within 10 minutes. This reckless spontaneity made me worry if I could even make it to the venue with sufficient time in case of traffic or construction.

Several participants, in addition to the official website, spoke of the challenging hills throughout the 10K course, but unsurprisingly, as I did not associate this military town with hills, they felt like babies compared to the ones I regularly train and race on. As usual for a race this small, navigation concerned me most and I ran without music to be more alert. I opened up the first mile just under 8:11 and maintained a steady pace throughout, and I cannot recall recently feeling this strong with no sign of discomfort throughout. Prior to the start, I spoke to a pregnant woman wearing a Boston Marathon shirt pushing her daughter in a stroller, and although she has run a three-hour marathon in the past, I assumed she came to jog, until I saw her blow past me not even a mile in and not slow down one bit, prompting me to comment, “That’s amazing. How are you doing that?” Crossing the finish in an official gun time of 53:00.5, I was momentarily disappointed that I came that close to hitting 52 minutes and would have had the race used chip timing at the starting line.

After confirming my official time with the staff, I saw a finisher seemingly unknowingly dragging his dog who was panting and on the verge of passing out. Many of us rushed to the dog with cold water bottles and poured water all over the dog. A peculiar way to conclude a running event, but I hope the dog is doing okay.