10/12- 10k Peace Race 46:55


This is one of the best races Ohio has to offer. It is actually the Ohio State 10k championship race. It is run through Mill Creek park and downtown Youngstown.
You park downtown by the YMCA. The atmosphere is great..music is playing, a spinning class is going on outside the YMCA and the hustle bustle of packet pick up and registration!
Shuttles leave from the YMCA to a spot farther north in Youngstown..where you initially start on a street and work your way into the park. getting on a shuttle early isn't a bad idea. there is a school you can go into to stretch and use the restrooms. The surrounding area is quite deplorable. beware: dog lovers will want to take all the strays home! very sad! This year a pit bull mix was hanging around the runners and actually ran the whole darn race. I was so worried about this dog at the start. Low and behold, a couple from Pittsburgh adopted the dog at the end of the race! What a great ending!
Pre-register b/c they will run out of your shirt size and the race day registration line is ridiculous!
over 700 runners lined up for the 10k..(Kelly Pavlik) ran race..Race conditions couldn't have been better..65 degrees..should have had a tank top on! I ran a good first mile..and started to catch a side stitch..I fought through it for about three miles! I can't stand getting stitches..I have since then found the key to them. For me, if I breathe out on only one footstep, it never happens. I usually try to breathe out on right step..since my stitches are always on the right side due to the diaphragm being under liver. But on that day, i could not shake it off so quickly..I tried massage and had to slow a bit! It eventually subsided around mile 4-5. I just kept telling myself to run smooth on that last mile..through the park it's mainly downhill..but when you come into the city..you get to come up the hill to go over the bridge! the bridge will definitely make or break your race! The finish is awesome..streets are lined with people cheering you on! Everyone gets their picture taken and it is posted on the website! very nice addition..they did not do this in 2006.
I finished in 46:55..breaking my 2006 time by over 4 minutes! I dry heaved a bit, which i never do after races. i contribute this to a short stint taking accutane from august to september. I have not gotten any heaving the last few races..so I'm hoping the drug has worked it's way out my system!
There is only water at the finish..no fancy post race food..but the race itself is enough:) This is one of my favorite races of the year!! Goal for next year is under 45 mins

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