Growler Gallop 10K Race Report

Race: Growler Gallop 10K on 10/6/19. Race #6 of 7 in the Trivium Race Series.

Goal: Well… I kinda knew I wasn’t in PR shape (48:30ish) but I figured I could run low 50’s like I did at RunnerDude 10K in April. I set a tentative goal of 26 minutes for the first 5K and 25 minutes for the second half.

Gear: Once again… hot! (ugh) so I wore my new-to-me Oiselle crop, Oiselle shorts, and my usual (Smartwool socks, Altra Kayente racing shoes, Garmin 935 watch, Whoop band, Nuun electrolytes). I also tried out my Bose Soundsport wireless headphones for the first time in race. AND I finally remembered to use my “Fierce Flyer” tattoo from Oiselle 😉

Gut: A late day race (5 PM) means a weird day of eating. I tried to time it right but ended up eating lunch a bit early, then having a snack later. Writing this 3 weeks later, I don’t remember exactly what I ate, other than rice. I felt a little unsettled in the tummy heading into the race, but thankfully it behaved while I ran!

Weather: 75* and cloudy. About 20 degrees hotter than I wanted, but I had to just go with it. Thankfully it was cloudy for most of it, with a nice breeze.

Pre-Race: I showed up around 4 to pick up my packet, then chilled in the van for about 30 minutes. After a 0.8 mile warm-up, stretch, and bathroom break, I met up with my neighbor & friend, LS, and her family and friends. I also saw my former coworker BH, who’s doing this race series also.

Race: It started off well enough… I tried my best not to go out too fast, but I’m sure I did (since I slowed down every mile after that).

The course was a lollipop shape—running across Elm Street, over to the Greensboro Country Club area, 2 laps around the golf course, then back to Gibb’s Hundred for the finish. Each mile had uphills and downhills and turns, so I didn’t find my groove, and I started to get hot about 2 miles in. I started getting passed by other runners left and right. Discouraging. I knew it wasn’t going to be my day, so I just tried to push as much as I could without red-lining. I really wasn’t feeling great, physically, but wanted to keep a good spirit mentally. I worked on some positive self-talk: “Who cares if you have a slow time? Your “slow” is someone else’s fast!”

Ironically, a sign came in the form of a song:

“Time means nothing…

We’re all right where we’re supposed to be (Time means nothing)
We’re all right where we’re supposed to be (Time means nothing)”

After Hours by We Are Scientists

The song gave me comfort, and made me laugh a little that it came at just the perfect time! Also, I was thrilled that my wireless headphones were performing perfectly.

On the second lap, I finally found someone to run with, around mile 4, and just followed him until mile 5-6, when he slowed and I passed him. I couldn’t see anyone in front of me, which I really dislike. I like having someone to chase, or at least draft behind, and it also helps to know where to turn by watching the person in front. I had to pay more attention to where I was going. I picked it up a little (mile 6 was my third-fastest mile, lol), and really picked it up for the final 0.2 stretch (7:10 pace—if only I could run that pace the whole time!)

I knew I didn’t run a great time, but still finished knowing I had given my best on the day, and felt happy about that.

Results: Sadly, I came in 8^th of 19, so definitely no age group award here. The top 3 in my age group all ran 51 and some change, which would have been doable for me in a different time & place. I shook off my disappointment quickly though (the beer helped, haha!). Official results here.

Recommend: Yes! This was a fun venue—I had never been to Gibb’s brewery, but I liked the set-up (and the free beer! Plus snacks!)

I also liked the race T-shirt, and the competitive field that showed up. Definitely a fun race to attend as a spectator, because you can sit on the little hill and easily see runners coming down the street.