Race Report: Joe Kleinerman 10k Classic, 2013

I did not fall off the planet.  I merely went to New York for a few days.  And that meant no blogging because I decided to unplug.  No computer or iPad traveled with me on this trip.  I took my phone so I could be in touch with my peeps, and I took a book.  It was a much needed escape.

I'll do another post about all the fun happenings of my trip, but tonight I'm wanting to report on the race I ran this morning.  It was the Joe Kleinerman 10k, a full loop of Central Park hosted by NYRR.

The bad news:

It was 32 degrees when the race started.  That's a little bit frigid for my taste.

And I was very sleepy.

But the good news...

I got a PR!

Chip time - 47:31
Overall - 634/3144
Gender - 117/1425
Age group - 35/321

My previous 10k PR was 49:45.  I think this is a nice improvement!  I've done faster training runs, and I've definitely felt better at pretty much every race I've run than I did at this one, but I think I performed mightily in the face of the chill and the hilly course.  This was the first time, actually, that I realized how hilly Central Park is.  I am definitely going to need some hill intervals as I gear up for the half I'm running there at the end of this month.

The race was really amazing over all.  I ran it alone because no one wanted to face the cold with me.  ...Oh wait, I didn't run it alone at all.

I shared the course with over three thousand New Yorkers!  But seriously, AE decided to skip out on the race, and I was a little bummed.  But I was mostly bummed because I had to face the cold on my own. 

As with all NYRR races, the miles were clearly marked.  And there were clocks on each mile marker... you know, in case your Garmin poops out on you.  The water stations were plentiful, easy to access, and I didn't see any bad traffic patterns around them.  When we crossed the finished, we were handed a bagel and an apple, as well as gatorade and water (ICE cold, like the air).

This was my first race of the year--first run of the year, in fact--and I think it was a great way to kick off 2013.  The long sleeved tshirt was a nice bonus too.

The New PR Grin.  And hat hair, but just don't look at it.

I did my post-race ritual, too:

Cheeseburger.  I got this one from Shake Shack.  Gosh, I love that place.

Like I said, I will do a fuller post about my NY trip, but for now I've gotta say "Adios."  I'm one tired little runner.