Track Racing: A Summary

Summer time in Florida typically means one of two things for marathon runners: cross training or speed work. Or both. I tend to focus on the 5K & 10K distance during the summers, but this time, decided to try something new when I heard about a track race series in Tampa, hosted by the University of Tampa Track/XC coach. The Triple Crown series would consist of a mile race, a 2-mile race, and a 5K race, all spaced two weeks apart.

I haven't raced on a track since high school. And back then, my events were 200m, 400m, 300m Hurdles (sometimes), and relays. I raced the mile once. Though I did cross country, I was more of a sprinter in track. So I really had no good baseline for this series, which can be a good thing.

In my adult running life, short distances are my weakness. As I've posted about in the past, my marathon times are not comparable to what I am racing in the 5K and 10K; the shorter races are disproportionately slow. So its good for me to work on this weak end of my training during the summer.


Race by race, here is how it went:

Mile - Sponsored by Brooks

This was the race that I was the most nervous about when I registered for the series. Given that my turnover needs the most work, and that my only baseline for this distance was a mile time trial in high school (I think I ran a 5:45-5:50? Not totally sure), the unknown can be scary.

I went out with the group, hanging close to the lead group of women: Terri & Lynn, both of whom are rock star Masters runners and members of the New Balance Masters Elite team. I figured they could pull me along to at least a better time than what I did in high school.

After lap 1, I felt stronger than I expected, with regards to lactic acid. Around lap 2, I felt strong enough to pull ahead of the pack. I had no idea if I could hold that speed, but was going to try. After all, 800m is only a short sprint for a marathon runner! Sure enough, I held the pace and even accelerated through the last 300m to the finish, for an overall women's win and a shiny new PR of 5:41! And best of all, it was over in a flash.

2-Mile - Sponsored by Adidas

This was a total unknown for me. I have never raced a 2-mile, on the road or track, so any finish time would be a PR.

Same crew of fellow competitors, and same general plan: the pack of Terri, Lynn and I stuck together pretty well through the first 800m. Things felt OK after the first mile, coming in around 6:00 flat. I had hoped to keep a faster pace, as I tentatively thought I might finish in under 12:00, but wasn't going to get hopes up TOO high. At 1.5 miles, I pulled ahead of the pack and began to surge through the last couple of laps. Finished first overall woman again, at 12:06.

This race reeeeaaaly started to hurt in that last mile, the lactic acid accumulating significantly more than in the mile. Made me quite nervous for the track 5K.

5K - Sponsored by New Balance

This race had me very nervous. I have had trouble lately striking a good pace balance with the 5K on the road, never quite getting it down to the time that Mark and I think I am really capable of. On the track would be a different ballgame, mentally more than anything else. But the rhythm inherent in each 400m lap would help me to pace myself more meticulously. Terri had an idea that we could shoot for 45 sec / 200m, which would amount to 6:00/mile, and an 18:45 finish. Yeah...that would be a full minute faster than my current 5K PR. Ambitious to try, but not likely, especially on a warm and humid evening.

We went out as we had before, sticking to our plan. First 200m in 43 sec, and slowing up a bit in the next 200m to work more conservatively. Each subsequent 400m got a little bit slower, until we stayed around 1:35/400m. Terri and I stuck together well through the second mile, but with about 800m left Terri pulled ahead of me. It was due time, since I had surged ahead of her in the same way for the last two races. I tried to move up on her but my legs felt like lead with the last 400m to go. Lactic acid was not my friend. She finished in 19:33, and I just behind her in 19:38. New PR for me! Though certainly, and still, not what I think I am capable of in the 5K. That still needs work.

What have I learned from this experience?

Two things:

1. After the mile race, Coach Joe Burgasser told me that at age 35 I can, actually, race in the US Masters Championship. I turn 35 in June, and the race is in July of next year. After looking up some results from this year's championship, it appears that I could conceivably win my age bracket in the 1500 and/or mile. While I never considered track racing in the past, and I really like marathons, its nice to know that there is this whole other world of Masters track racing out there that awaits me if and when I am ever tired of marathoning. Getting to know Lynn and Terri has been awesome, as they are both such incredible inspirations as Masters athletes, as are my training partner Christina, and my Oiselle teammate Laurie, both of whom are also on the New Balance Masters Elite team. It's great to get a glimpse of what could be one day.

2. Having said that (#1), I do not ever want to race anything longer than a mile on the track again. The 5K was one of the most profoundly miserable racing experiences I've ever had. So here's to my first and last track 5K! Really, though, I am glad to have done it. It was a wonderfully humbling learning experience, and definitely an incredible workout! But I'll stick to the road, thanks.

Moving forward, I have three more upcoming 5Ks with which to apply this track experience to the road, and improve my 5K time (hopefully!):

- Watermelon Run Series #4 5K in Lakeland
- One Step Closer to the Cure 5K in Downtown St Pete
- Treat Yourself 5K in Seattle

By that point, I should be feeling thoroughly sick of 5Ks, and ready to embrace the 20+-mile long runs leading up to my November marathon!