Seal Beach Turkey Trot 10k (40:52)

I used to be excited to run the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k. I hadn’t run a flat 10k shortly and I knew I might run a quicker time than I’ve. What did that imply precisely… I don’t know. A lot of the 10ks I’ve run aren’t flat, and I knew I might most likely run below 6:45 tempo, however my guess was someplace between 6:30-6:40 on a flat course.

Earlier than the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k:

I had a tough week and determined to work a half day and head to Seal Seaside early. The drive to that common space might be messy. When you depart at a very good time, it could solely take about 2 hours, however when you depart throughout visitors, it’s going to be 3.5-4 with a lot of the visitors within the final 30 miles. I didn’t notably need to cope with that, so I took a half day at work and left early. I picked up my race quantity, bought a fast chew to eat, after which went to mattress early. It was largely uneventful.

I used to be involved with the parking state of affairs due to the small downtown and restricted spots. I opted to get there early however by some means it wasn’t early sufficient. Fortunately, I discovered parking and was in a position to get a 1.75 mile heat up in. Often, I might do someplace between 2-3, however that didn’t occur.

Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k Race:

I forgot the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k and 5k line up collectively and man it was chaotic initially. The course is definitely a two loop course the place the 10k does 2 loops and the 5k does 1. I get that it saves the quantity of highway closures, however it will get harmful… particularly when individuals are sporting headphones and don’t hear you arising on the second lap. It was slender in some spots and I used to be not an enormous fan however it’s a turkey trot and I do like a very good group race.

I bought tripped up a few instances however fortunately didn’t go down. One of many instances somebody had their canine leash throughout the whole course LOL. After we began there have been tons of ladies in entrance of me and I didn’t actually assume a lot of it. I hit the primary mile of the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k in 6:27 and truthfully it felt snug. I used to be shocked. Through the first mile, there was a bizarre half the place the 5k turned and the 10k didn’t, and we rejoined with 5kers who had been operating barely slower. From there, we went on a brief and slender seaside path and it was laborious to move. I made a psychological be aware that this might be loopy with so many individuals on the second lap…it was.

I hit the subsequent mile in 6:31 adopted by the third in 6:34. We glided by the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k beginning line and the 5k runners peeled off, and we had been simply left with the 10k. A lead bike owner got here and I spotted I used to be in first place. I used to be really actually shocked. Proper as we handed the beginning line, a spectator ran out in entrance of me and fortunately I used to be in a position to keep away from them.

The subsequent lap of the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k was chaotic as a consequence of how crowded it was and all of the completely different paces on the course. After we hit the slender half, it grew to become actually laborious to keep away from individuals, however I simply tried to remain centered. I loved the course as a result of it was largely flat and scenic. My final two miles had been the slowest and I used to be undoubtedly drained, however I used to be additionally weaving. I used to be pleased to run mile 5 in 6:40.

Seal Beach Turkey Trot 10k (40:52) me running — okay sure I made this face on function

Lastly, we turned towards the end line and I pushed as laborious as I might. I used to be shocked to see a tape to interrupt and ran by way of. I crossed the Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k end in 40:52.

Seal Seaside Turkey Trot 10k Ideas:

I’ve identified I’m nearer to this health for some time however haven’t run a tough, flat 10k in fairly a while. Plus, it’s my quickest 10k since 2018. I get pleasure from Santa Monica Traditional, however it’s a tough course, and operating over the Coronado Bridge was not straightforward both. So I’m pleased for a very good course and a very good day. Plus, it’s all the time enjoyable whenever you get to interrupt the tape.