Fifth Ave Smile

Bob C.

Eight years ago, at the end of my first year of running after getting back into shape, I ran a race called the Fifth Avenue Mile. It's a one mile running race starting just south of 80th Street and going down Fifth Avenue to just past 60th Street. I was 47 at the time and I ran it in 6 minutes and 10 seconds. I have wanted to do the race again ever since to see if I could do better but other things always got in the way. This year I finally signed up for it.

My wave was going to start at 11:15, so I was able to have a relaxing morning before the race for a change. I really didn't know if I would be able to beat the old time of 6:10. Worries started to creep in - from an old calf injury acting up, to whether I ate too much the day before. Still, I felt like I was in pretty good shape, and that maybe I could go under 6 minutes. But I am eight years older and maybe I was pushing the limits of optimism to think that. So I really didn't know.

On Sunday I got up at a leisurely time, and I headed out and started to walk up to Fifth Avenue.

I ran into a few friends and Flyers near the start, and watched as their waves left. About a half hour before my wave was to begin I started warming up. Fifth Avenue was closed for the race from a few block north of the start so we had lots of room to run around.

At 11 it was time for me to line up. My wave wasn't very big, and it included both men and women from 50 to 59 years old. I guess I should have lined up before 11, since I was buried about half way into the pack. The start line was on the right hand side of Fifth Avenue, and I was able to get all the way to the left side, which I figured would give me some passing room, as the course opened up to the full width of the avenue pretty quickly.

Running the 5th Ave. Mile!

They gave us a countdown; one minute; thirty seconds; ten seconds. Then the gun went off. We were off! I wanted to control my pace and not blow up in the first hundred yards. I did have to get by quite a few people, though, squeezing in between two at one point. But the field opened up pretty quickly and we were clear to run. I continued to pass people, and only a few runners got by me. I tried to think about keeping my cadence up and think about my running form, but I all I could think about was getting enough air!

Shannon Rowbury (4:23.3) & Andy Baddeley (3:51.8) won the 5th Ave Mile

I felt like my legs could go faster but I just couldn't breathe any harder. After a while I saw a marker on the side of the road: 1/4 mile. That's all? The first quarter mile had a slight downhill to it, the next quarter mile went up. Not much but I could feel it. I kept passing people but could see those in front of me pulling away. Along the side of the road I actually did see some friends cheering me on. I didn't wave though; I just kept running. At the 1/2 mile mark the hill ended and we started going downhill a little. That felt better, but breathing was still hard! I kept remembering to concentrate on my cadence and form, but still all I could think about was breathing.

After the 3/4 mile mark my chest was aching! In fact it ached all the way down to my elbows, I felt like my chest was going to explode! I was thinking that this can't be good, but I kept running. I would speed up to the point of suffocation, then back off a bit. I felt like I was running so slowly. People were getting further and further in front of me. I remembered the race eight years ago very differently - I remember being surprised how few people there were in front of me. Not this time!

Finally I got to the point where I could see the finish line and read the clock. 5:50. I had less than 20 seconds to get to the finish line to beat my old time! I kept alternating between "I can do this", and "no I can't", and I would speed up with the enthusiasm and slow down, discouraged, accordingly. The time was slipping by quickly and I wasn't at the finish line. With only a few yards to go I saw the 6:10 come and go. Rats! I kept going trying to limit my damages and crossed at 6:13.

I was disappointed not to beat my old time, but still pretty happy that I was so close. It took a long time to catch my breath and I was coughing the whole rest of the day. My chest still hurt hours later! I talked to a few friends at the finish line and then headed home.

When the official results were posted later in the day, my actual net time was 6:07! I didn't think that it took me so long to cross the start line, but apparently it did, and I had beaten my old time by three seconds! That's my first PR in years!

I was 15th in my age group. My fastest pace over the mile was 4:48 right at the beginning - I guess I still went out too hard. At my slowest I ran a 7:01 pace, and crossed the finish line at about a 5:45 pace. My heart rate average was 176 with a maximum of 198 right at the end! Probably way more information than you wanted to know but I find it all very interesting!

It was a race I could be happy with. Congrats to everybody who ran! - Bob C.

Famous Fifth Avenue!