On October 16, 2016, I took part in the 10 km race as part of the first Saratov marathon. He showed a very good result for himself and a personal record at this distance - 32.29 and took second place in the absolute. In this report I would like to tell you what preceded the start, why the Saratov marathon, how it decomposed forces, and what the organization of the race itself was like.
Why this particular start
I am now actively preparing for the marathon, which will be held on November 5 in the village of Muchkap, Tambov region. Therefore, according to the program, I need to complete a series of control races that will show certain points of my preparation. So 3-4 weeks before the marathon, I always do a long cross in the area of 30 km at the planned pace of the marathon. This time he ran 27 km at an average pace of 3.39. The cross was given hard. The reason is the lack of volumes. And also 2-3 weeks before the marathon, I always do the tempo cross for 10-12 km.
And this time I did not deviate from the system tested over the years, and also decided to run the temp. But since in neighboring Saratov on October 16, a marathon was announced, within which a 10 km race was also held. I decided to participate in it, combining business with pleasure. Saratov is very close, only 170 km away, so it is not difficult to get there.
Start lead
Since it was essentially a training race, and not a full-fledged competition, to which you usually begin to make eyeliner in 10 days, I limited myself only to the fact that the day before the start I did an easy cross, 6 kilometers, and 2 days before the start I did 2 slow crosses, not reducing volumes, but reducing intensity. And a week before the start of 10 km, as I already wrote, I completed a control race of 27 km. Therefore, I will not say that I purposefully prepared the body for this start. But in general, it turned out that the body itself was ready for it.
On the eve of the start
The 10 km start was scheduled for 11 am. At 5.30 a friend and I drove out of the city, and 2.5 hours later we were in Saratov. We registered, looked at the start of the marathon, which was done at 9 am, walked along the embankment. We studied the entire route of the race, walking along it from start to finish. And 40 minutes before the start they began to warm up.
As a warm-up, we ran at a slow pace for about 15 minutes. Then we stretched our legs a little. After that, we made several accelerations and at this the warm-up was completed.
Nutrition. I ate pasta in the morning, at 5 o'clock. Before the start I didn't eat anything, because I didn't feel like it on the way, and when we arrived in Saratov, it was too late. But the supply of carbohydrates obtained from pasta was quite enough. Still, the distance is short, so there were no particular problems with food. Plus it was cool, so I didn't really want to drink either.
Start and coping tactics
The start was delayed by 7 minutes. It was pretty cool, around 8-9 degrees. Little wind. But standing in a crowd it didn't really feel.
I stood in the front line of the start, so as not to get out of the crowd later. Chatted with some of the runners who were standing next door. He told someone the approximate direction of movement along the highway, since the road markings were far from ideal, and if you wanted to, you could just get confused.
We started. From the start 6-7 people rushed forward. I held on to them. To be honest, I was surprised at such a fast start from so many runners. I did not expect that so many runners of the level of 1-2 categories could come to the satellite race.
By the first kilometer, I ran in the top three. But the group of leaders consisted of at least 8-10 people. And this is despite the fact that we covered the first kilometer in about 3.10-3.12.
Gradually, the column began to stretch. By the second kilometer, which I covered in 6.27, I ran in 5th place. The group of leaders of 4 people was 3-5 seconds away and gradually moved away from me. I did not try to keep their pace, as I understood that this was only the beginning of the race and there was no point in running faster than my planned time. Although I ran not by the clock, but by the sensations. And my feelings told me that I was running at the optimal pace so that I had enough strength to finish.
By about 3 kilometers one of the leading group began to lag behind, and I "ate" it without changing my pace.
By the 4th kilometer, another “fell off”, and as a result, the first circle, the length of which was 5 km, I overcame with a time of 16.27 in the third position. The lag behind the two leaders felt about 10-12 seconds.
Gradually, one of the leaders began to lag behind the other. And at the same time I began to increase the pace. I overtook the second by about 6 kilometers. He was already running on his teeth, although there was still 4 km to the end of the distance. You will not envy him. But I was not up to it, I continued to run at my own pace. With every meter I saw that I was slowly approaching the leader.
And about 200-300 meters before the finish line, I came close to him. He did not notice me, because in parallel with us those who ran 5 km and marathon runners finished their laps. Therefore, I was not particularly visible. But when there were no more than 2-3 seconds between us, and just a little bit before the finish line, he noticed me and began to run towards the finish line. Unfortunately, I could not support its acceleration, since I spent all my strength trying to catch up with it. And I, without changing the pace, ran to the finish line, 6 seconds behind the winner.
As a result, I showed the time 32.29, that is, I ran the second lap in 16.02. Accordingly, we managed to very clearly distribute forces and roll well to the finish. Also, a good second round turned out precisely thanks to the struggle at a distance and the desire to catch up with the leaders of the race.
I am generally satisfied with the tactics, although the 30 seconds difference between the first and second laps suggests that I was saving too much strength at the beginning. It would be possible to run the first lap a little faster. Then perhaps the time would have been even better.
The total climb was in the region of 100 meters. There were a couple of sharp turns on each lap of almost 180 degrees. But the track is interesting. I like it. And the embankment, along which more than half of the distance ran, is beautiful.
Rewarding
As I wrote at the beginning, I took 2nd place in the absolute. In total, 170 runners finished at a distance of 10 km, which is a very decent number for such a marathon, and even the first one.
The prizes were gifts from sponsors, as well as a medal and a cup.
From gifts I received the following: a certificate for 3,000 rubles from a sports nutrition store, a rope, Scott Jurek's book "Eat Right, Run Fast", a good A5 diary, a couple of energy drinks and an energy bar, as well as soap, apparently handmade, nice smelling.
In general, I liked the gifts.
Organization
Of the advantages of the organization, I want to note:
- a warm tent, in which the start number was issued, and also there it was possible to put a bag with things for storage before the race.
- a well-equipped stage for awards and presenters who entertained the audience.
- An interesting and varied track
- Quite normal changing rooms, which were organized in a large tent provided by the rescuers. Yes, not perfect, but I did not experience any particular problems.
Of the minuses and shortcomings:
- Poor track markings. If you do not know the route scheme, then you can run the wrong way. Volunteers were not at every turn. And the pedestals were located in such a way that it was not always clear. It is necessary to run around the curbstone to the right or left.
- There was no big circuit diagram that could be seen before the race. Usually, a large route map is posted in the registration area. I looked at the diagram, and it is more or less clear where to run. It wasn't here.
- There were toilets. But there were only 3 of them. Unfortunately, there were not enough of them for two races, which started almost simultaneously, namely at a distance of 5 and 10 km, and a total of about 500 people. That is, it seems they were, but just before the start it was impossible to go there. And the runners know perfectly well that no matter how much they walk in advance, they will feel an urge almost before the start.
- there was no finish line as such. There was a finishing turn uphill on tiles. That is, if you wish, you will not compete on it who will come running first. Whoever takes the inner radius has a big advantage.
Otherwise, everything was fine. Marathon runners ran on chips, food points were organized that I did not use, but marathon runners did not run by by themselves.
Conclusion
The 10 km control race went very well. He showed a personal record, got into the prize-winners. I liked the track and the organization in general. I think that next year I will also participate in this race. If it is carried out.
