Saturday, April 25, 2009

Get In Gear 10k Race

An annual event since 1978, the Get In Gear 10k is one of the largest 10k races in the country. In addition, it’s one of the Minnesota Grand Prix races, so we always run it. This year we joined 3400 other runners in the 10k, along with 1600 in the 5k and 800 in the new half marathon just added this year. Add to that the 2k, which doesn’t have posted results, and you’re well over 6000 runners. I wonder if they’ll add a marathon next.

I hope so. This is a very well-run race. Everything clicks. If there’s a problem one year it’s fixed the next. Results are up on the web when you get home, probably sooner. If you want a model for your large race, this is it.

The weather didn’t look promising the day and night before. Cold, rain, wind, and possibly lightning. But we got the best of all of those - it was cool - 43 degrees - and slightly windy, but no rain and certainly no lightning. Actually it was pretty good running weather. I wore shorts and two technical shirts, which was plenty. Also, despite my slow pace, I somehow ended up fourth of nineteen in my age group, and nothing hurts. It’s a masterpiece!

Splits: 8:54, 8:25, 8:39, 8:53, 8:23, 8:43, 1:39, total 53:37, pace 8:39.



Crocuses budging their way up through the leaves. If Get In Gear isn't a clear signal of spring, the crocuses certainly are.

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