Santa Monica Basic 10k is my quickest 10k shortly. You’d assume after 15 years of racing, I’d be taught to not take races out too quick. That wasn’t the case right here. My first mile was 6:23 and for a quick second I believed: is that this a 10k I might break 40 minutes at? LOL, that’s not what occurred, and by mile 3 of the Santa Monica Basic 10k, I used to be cooked.
Anyway, I at all times benefit from the Santa Monica Basic 10k. Possibly it’s as a result of I often get a lodge proper on the seaside with lodge factors, or perhaps as a result of it feels just like the unofficial begin of fall. Some years the Santa Monica Basic 10k may be very sizzling. Final yr, they really cancelled the 10k and simply saved the 5k as a result of the climate was so brutal. In 2025, the climate was not too unhealthy.
Earlier than the Santa Monica Basic 10k:
We left the desert round 1 and there was some site visitors, so we obtained to Santa Monica round 2 pm. They now have packet pickup on the Third Road Promenade, which is mainly downtown Santa Monica. So it entails site visitors, parking, and strolling down. Packet pickup was straightforward and we have been out and in in round 20 minutes. We obtained an early dinner, determined to move again to select up some issues, after which headed to our lodge. It truly meant I walked a bit additional than I needed that day, however I wasn’t too involved.
I ended up waking up type of late the morning of. The Santa Monica Basic 10k begins at 7 am (and the Santa Monica Basic 5k begins at 8:30). I often prefer to be up at 4 consuming, nevertheless it was extra like 5. It was high quality, however not preferrred, and I didn’t actually hydrate as a lot as I needed. I didn’t really feel unhealthy however not nice both. I simply type of felt general blah. The Thursday earlier than, I ran a reasonably stable exercise with about 6 miles of labor. I knew it could probably imply my legs didn’t really feel nice on Sunday and so they didn’t. They didn’t really feel horrible, however not superb both. I did a couple of 2-mile warmup, obtained to the beginning, after which relaxed. We had a couple-minute delay however then we have been off.
Santa Monica Basic 10k Race:
I knew the primary mile was considerably downhill and after we began I used to be truly feeling fairly good. I believed: perhaps I’m simply going to have a very good day. There have been a few small hills, however nothing loopy, and I ran a 6:23. Loads flashed by my thoughts, and I used to be like, effectively that was in all probability not good.
The brand new Santa Monica Basic 10k has an uphill from miles 3–4.8. It’s not as unhealthy because the earlier course, nevertheless it’s nonetheless difficult. It additionally goes proper by the end line at mile 3. I ran a 6:29 mile 2 and I wasn’t feeling the worst. As we headed down in direction of the end line and the second half of the course, it was about then that I used to be like…oh no. I had not taken the race out neatly for the day. On day, on a sooner course, I do imagine I might run below 40 minutes…however that was not the day.
I ran a 6:45 subsequent mile and we began up the lengthy, gradual hill. At first it doesn’t really feel like a lot. Working simply turns into more durable after which midway up the hill you notice: I’m going uphill. I ran a 7:12 subsequent mile, which wasn’t as unhealthy as I believed. We rotated and instantly I felt like I used to be flying.
You may actually push the final mile of the Santa Monica Basic 10k since you get that gradual downhill of round 100 toes. I feel they will need to have routed us on the fallacious aspect of the street as a result of the mile marker was on the other aspect and we ended up crossing oncoming racers. Harmful? Sure.
That despatched me into just a little little bit of a bizarre mind set, however I simply saved attempting to push in direction of the tip. I used to be hurting, however I selected to place one foot in entrance of the opposite. I noticed a couple of associates going the wrong way as effectively. Somebody yelled, “tenth girl general,” and I used to be pretty stunned. Santa Monica Basic 10k at all times seems like such an enormous race to be within the high 10.
I ran the final mile of the Santa Monica Basic 10k in 6:31 and crossed the end line in 42:09.
Santa Monica Basic 10k Ideas:
I do know I’m in higher form than 42:09, however with the mixture of taking it out too quick, feeling drained, and a difficult course, it was not the day for that. It’s my quickest Santa Monica Basic 10k time for the 3 times I’ve completed it and my quickest 10k shortly. I had quite a lot of enjoyable as at all times. I’m wanting ahead to fall racing and constructing upon that health.
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Questions for you:
What’s your favourite race?
Is the 10k the toughest race distance?
