Race Recap: Christmas Classic Miracle Mile

After reflecting on my blog posts from this year, I somehow realized 2010 was a good running year for me.

• 2010 was the year I was picked up as a Brooks ID member and became a Marathon Maniac.

• It was the year I went through 3 pairs of running shoes, wear tested 4 pairs of road and trail shoes for Brooks, and ran/raced more than 1,700 miles in a couple different states and on varying terrains in said shoes.

• 2010 was the year I PR'd in the 5k, 10k, and half marathon. It was the year I ran my first 7k, 5-mile trail race, and marathon.

As I looked back on my 2010 races and onto holiday race options, I noticed I was missing a key distance on my running resume: No where have I actually logged how quickly (or slowly, depending on which day you ask me) I'm able to race a single mile.

One mile. The distance by which I split every single leisurely run and race down to. The basic building block of my all-time favorite hobby. Sure, I can tell you what my fastest mile split is during any distance I've raced, but I cannot tell you how quickly I'm able to run a single mile alone.

So as I prepare to leave 2010 in the dust, I stuffed one more PR under my belt and tacked on another new distance to my resume. Today I ran the Christmas Classic Miracle Mile and completed my 2010 race schedule with a smile -- and a prize!

Like most shorter races out there, this race was a fundraiser -- this time for a local women's shelter. It had no timing chips, no photographers, no National Anthem, nor a starting gun. It was people writing checks to a heartwarming homeless shelter, spreading a little holiday cheer, and running through Golden Gate Park on this rainy morning.

I lined up toward the front of the pack hoping I wouldn't get tangled in the mess of people who run 4-minute miles, but also not stumbling over those who walk 20-minute miles. Unlike most races where we establish ourselves in the pack within the first mile, I had no time to figure this out. I decided to err on the side of caution and move ahead, allowing plenty of space around me for people to pass. The announcer honked his car horn as the signal to start, all hell broke loose, and before I knew it, I pretty much saw the finish line a few strides after starting. What a nice feeling. :)

Waiting for the start.

Obviously this is the shortest race I've ever done, and all I have to say is ... that mile was probably the most taxing on my legs! I started off in a sprint and felt my right quad strain right away. I pulled it back a little bit, but tried to lengthen my stride to cover more ground. When I saw we had .25 to go, I picked it back up to a sprint again. Done and done! My time was even good for a third-place finish in my age group! I ended up getting a commemorative winner card and a gift certificate to See's Candies.

The winna! Kind of.

While waiting around for awards, the nicest little lady come up to me and asked me how I did. She was also curious if I run more races in the area. I told her what little I knew of the races in San Francisco and a bit about my running background. While reiterating the same questions to her, I learned she just started racing a year ago and has already completed her first marathon -- which, of course, she didn't really train for -- and she finished in under 5 hours! She finished this 1-mile race about 20 seconds behind me (getting 2nd in her age group!), and then went on to double up and run the 5k race that happened afterward. This little lady has a bright running future ahead of her!

She and her dad also run a lot of the DSE races in San Francisco and she asked if I'd ever want to run any of them with her -- of course I had to agree.

And a very happy birthday to my new running buddy, as she turns 15 tomorrow!

1-mile split: 6:22.07 -- an automatic PR ;)
Air Temp: 57F, rainy

Average Pace: 6:22 (9.52 mph)
Overall Place: 39 out of 79
Age/Gender Place: 3 out of 8