Getting the Distances Right

Here's a quick primer on some of the standardized race distances. I'm going to ignore the mile and the 1500 meters (sometimes called the metric mile). These are distances most often, but not always, run on a closed track. However, once you begin to talk about street or trail racing the standard distance most often begins at 5 kilometers, usually abbreviated as 5K. Translated to miles, this is 3.1 miles. Of course, this would make a 10K 6.2 miles. Both of these are good starting distances when a runner begins to feel the need to run a "race."

There are obviously infinite increments possible both metrically and in miles, but the next big step up brings one into the realm of endurance racing. The half marathon is 13.1 miles and is always a road race. (At least I know of no half marathons run on quarter mile tracks.)

The longest standard distance challenge is a marathon, 26.2 miles. The original distance comes from Greek mythology. It is said that the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon (the namesake of the race) fell dead when he completed his "marathon" to Athens. He had been carrying news of the Athenians' victory over Persian forces in Marathon. The marathon race became an official event in the Olympics in 1896, but it was not until 1908 that the distance became codified. Previously, it was approximately 25 miles, the distance from Marathon to Athens. For those interested in the somewhat convoluted story of how the marathon became 26 miles 385 yards, please read the Wikipedia article.

If a marathon is not distance enough for you, there are always the ultra-marathons. Nothing is set in stone here. An ultra (as it is usually abbreviated) is anything beyond 26.2 miles. Nevertheless, the most often organized ultras begin at 50 kilometers (31 miles), with the next challenge being 50 miles.

As for me, my next couple of distance challenges will be the Chicago Marathon in October, a distance of (repeat after me) 26.2 miles. In January 2011 I will run the Big Bend Ultra in Big Bend National Park, a distance of 50K through spectacular wilderness. I've run the Big Bend Ultra before and can attest to its being an unforgettable experience. Registration has just opened. Find more information about this event here.

Capitol 10K Eve - 2010

It's an annual rite of spring in Austin, the city many regard as Texas' running capital. It's the Capitol 10K and it's tomorrow morning. I'm not perfect in my attendance; after all, it IS an out of town race for me since I live and do most of my running in San Antonio. On the other hand, this is a chance to run with a huge pack and for me that is fun. I understand why some runners prefer a small field, but I guess it's the gregarious in me which thrills at runners as far as the eye can see. The mass of 18,000 runners and walkers flooding Congress Avenue from the entrance to the Capitol grounds all the way back to the Congress Avenue bridge never fails to leave me breathless, though admittedly the first mile of the race will already have my heart and lungs pumping.

As I said, it's a rite of spring, a ritual, the Cap 10K. The elite runners come, looking for a payout and maybe a grudge competition with other of the "professional" runners. Other fast runners come to test themselves against the elites. Sometimes a dark horse will outsprint the favorites. The majority of the runners run the Cap 10K as just another run, perhaps to test themselves at the distance. That's me. I see the Cap 10K, really any 10K, as a measuring rod of where I am in terms of conditioning. For many years I have regarded the 5 or 10K distances to be runs for which I am not particularly well suited. I don't run particularly fast and I am reluctant to invest in speed work which would likely lower my 10K time. Nevertheless, I sure do like to break one hour, maybe even turn in a 58 something finish time. I'm not sure tomorrow will be one of those days.

Running is an ideal cooler weather activity. That's why the racing season here in Texas is November through March. April is a pivot month as the temps go up and the humidity follows. A couple of mornings ago it was 41 degrees in San Antonio. That would have been a wonderful day to race a 10K. Tomorrow promises a low in the 50s and somewhat soupy humidity. It will be a challenge and takes some of the fun out of this rite of spring. However, it is still going to be a good time.

In addition to the elites, the other fast runners and then the recreational runners like me, many observe the Cap 10K with a leisurely walk. Whole families will come out and you see many parents pushing strollers, sometimes even running with the high tech jogging strollers. A few will pass me and I wish them well. There was a time when this might have violated my machismo, but there's little of that left these days. One has to train too hard to play that game and, besides, it's a fool's game.

Another ritual of the Capital 10K revolves around the costumes. There are always some inventive as well as quirky minds at work here. The running Elvises show up (they are present at every race), and I am certain there will be at least a few running University of Texas towers on the course. Like the running strollers, some of these will pass me too. Superman is more than welcome to take his right of way. I draw the line at the runners who dress in suit and tie, running with briefcases in hand. Or are those the Capitol bureaucrats, "running" our state government? Whoever they are, I will sometimes quicken my pace just a bit to keep myself ahead of these runners, though normally they end up, along with the strollers and UT towers, passing me by, especially on that famous Enfield Road hill.

So I go to bed early tonight, at least for me, maybe before midnight, and maybe I'm not too miserable when the alarm clock goes off in the morning. This is a rite of spring which I look forward to and it's also the catapult which kicks us year round runners into the gear which is necessary to continue training and racing through the hot months ahead. See you on Congress Avenue. I'll be the one with the running costume on, mostly Nike. Maybe you'll say hello when you pass me by.