Mario Lemieux Foundation Penguins 6.6k Run–this race is one of my Pittsburgh trifecta: Marathon or Half, Pens 6.6k, EQT Pittsburgh 10-miler. I’ve done both the 6.6 and the 10-miler since their first year (2013) and I love them dearly. I plan to be one of the people still doing the race in 10-15-20 years, one of the people who can say they’ve done them all.
But I digress–I thoroughly enjoy this race, and this year I broke another long standing PR. Met up with a buddy before the race, got in on the Steel City Road Runners group pic (though sadly, did not get a pic of my own because I just wasn’t thinking–I gotta get better about that). I LOVE running through the city of Pittsburgh. Bridges and tunnels are two of my favorite things and this race has both, and it’s a big event–massive participation–and I love a big crowd at a race. Plus it’s a unique distance (4.1 miles) and you get a medal–I’m all about the bling.
Started off really strong, first mile was great. I knew I needed to keep ahead of the 11:30 pacer in order to beat my record. I started off between the 10:30 pacer and the 11. And I held that through miles 2 and 3. Mile 4 was awful. I wouldn’t say I fell apart, but I definitely struggled. I fell in line just behind the 11 minute pacers (literally I was right behind them). The air in the tunnel was stuffy as what. It was a little hard to breathe. But I kept pushing, I stayed right with the pacers through the tunnel and then had to walk a bit shortly thereafter. I was in the last half mile by that point so I wasn’t as concerned about making my goal, but man I hate to fizzle. I pushed as much as I could and managed to go from a 48:06 finish to a new PR of 46:39. The 11:30 pacer never caught me, I’m pleased to say.
Three short weeks until my next race, the one that I had initially set as my goal. I’m hoping to exceed my initial goal and actually PR again. But until then, I train.
Make it a great week.