BAA 10K Recap

As I write this I’m on a plane, making my way home after what has been a crazy busy week. Seriously, I feel like Henri was just dropping me off at LAX but really I’ve run two races, visited with lots of family, been to Boston and New York AND attended two retirement parties for my dad. Wow, no wonder I’m so tired this morning – but it was totally worth it to be here this week!

 

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Today let’s chat about the BAA 10K this past Sunday. Before I signed up for this race I didn’t realize that it fell on Father’s Day. When I found that out I figured that I would be “flying solo” for the race, especially when I saw that the weather forecast was for crazy, monsoon-like weather.

On race morning I woke up early, hopped in the car and drove into the city. I actually ended up making great time so I was able to sneak in a quick nap in the car until 45 minutes before the race was set to start. One of my favorite things about this race is that they mail you your bib numbers ahead of time so all you have to do is show up, warm-up and race – easy peasy!

I left ALL of my stuff in the car and headed out for a 2 mile warm-up. It was already POURING rain but luckily it was warm enough that running in just a tank and shorts didn’t feel too cold. I got in some drills and strides before heading to the starting corrals 10ish minutes before race-time. As I was doing some last minute strides I noticed Emily, one of the athletes that works with my old coach Mark. While chatting we found out that we were both looking to run about the same time, and decided to run together for as much of the race as possible.

A little before 8am they released the corrals and we shuffled towards the starting line. Before we knew it the gun airhorn sounded and we were off! 

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As we approached the half miler marker we made the turn into Comm Ave and I heard someone shouting “Gooooo Lauren!!!” I looked over and saw MY MOM!! She came out to surprise me – despite the awful, rainy weather she came out to cheer me on. Talk about the best mommy in the world!! 

With the weather the way it was I threw all ideas of running a speedy time out the window and just wanted to average around a 6 minute pace. The course was an out and back, slightly up the first half and slightly downhill the second half. 

DSCN3313The race was kind of a blur and I don’t remember many details, mostly because I was just trying to survive the rain, but my splits were as follows- 5:48, 5:56, 6:03, 6:06, 6:14, 6:16 (5:46 pace for the last .2 miles) for a finish time of 37:39. 

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Emily finish a few seconds ahead of me and really helped pull me along the last 1.5ish miles when I just didn’t feel like dealing with the rain anymore! 😉 we chatted up in the finishing shoot before volunteers started shooing us away… Haha

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Wish I was still in Boston to run with this speedster- she ran 2:48 at Boston this year! 

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After grabbing one of everything in the food line my mom and I picked up my t-shirt, I changed into some dry clothes did my cool-down and we booked it home to dry off, warm up and celebrate Father’s Day!

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If you ever have the chance to run a BAA race DO IT! Don’t hesitate! Just sign up! They are always so well organized, the courses are awesome and there are lots of enthusiastic cheerers along the way! 

Have you ever run a BAA race?

How has your week been so far? Busy, laid back, a little of both? 

Do you have any fun plans coming up this weekend?