Just Another Special Day in Detroit
Detroit is on a roll. The momentum and positive vibe in the city and metro area is strong. Detroit has hosted several successful big events recently including the NFL Draft and the Detroit Grand Prix. Now buzz has started for the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic later this month. But a lesser attended event held last weekend was just as successful, and important. The 21st anniversary of the Detroit Riverwalk Run brought over 1600 runners downtown to enjoy the Riverwalk.
The 5k and 10k races raised funds for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. It didn’t go unnoticed that it seemed odd to be raising funds to support an organization that recently revealed they had lost $40 million to embezzlement allegedly by their CFO. However, while there were conversations about that news, it didn’t deter people from enjoying the event and recognizing the great work the Conservancy has done to bring the Riverwalk to life.
A Uniquely Beautiful Course
When I’m deciding which races to run each year I take a few things into consideration. The date of the event is first. I prefer Saturday morning races and try to avoid Sunday morning races so I don’t have to miss church. Many larger races like half-marathons and marathons are held on Sundays so sometimes I don’t have a choice.
The next consideration is the size of the event. I usually don’t like running in huge events like Turkey Trots. Also, I don’t care for most “themed” races like color runs or costume runs. It’s great that events like those often give new runners a goal and can get people to consider running for the first time. Anything that motivates people to get healthier is good. But, gimmicky races are just not my thing. Call me a race snob.
The final consideration is often the deciding factor in selecting races. I look for unique, interesting and scenic courses. The Detroit Riverwalk Run is a beautiful, unique course. Starting along the Detroit River then running up the Dequindre Cut and back to finish on the Riverwalk, runners pass industrial areas, , the gleaming glass towers of the RenCen, greenways, fountains, a merry-go-round, and open views of Canada across the sparkling Detroit River.
Running vs. Racing
Many people enter a 5k, 10k or longer distance race just to run it. They like the experience and the sense of accomplishment of finishing the distance. And for many people finishing any distance truly is an accomplishment. I encourage and applaud them for training and getting healthier. For me, completing the distance is not the reason to enter a race. I can run the distance alone at home or go to a scenic route and run anytime. I enter races to compete. That means competing against other runners in my age group but also competing against myself.
Competing against others in my age group can be challenging and also misleading. Some smaller races may only have a few guys in my group. So finishing 1st or 2nd out of three or four guys is not a huge victory. Plus, the age group can vary by event. Many races break the ages into five year ranges, so I’m currently in the 65-69 group. Others, like the Riverwalk Run last weekend, broaden the range to 60-69 so I was competing against a bigger group and many guys six years younger than me. Six years doesn’t matter as much in your 30’s as it does in your 60’s.
Competing against myself has changed over the years. When I was racing as a 30-40-year old I would try to improve my finishing time each race. I didn’t always accomplish that but the times usually didn’t vary too much. Now, racing in my mid-60’s, I find myself comparing my race times to my races in past years to see if I’m maintaining fitness. Or more accurately, how quickly I’m losing fitness.
My Race Results
So, how did I do at the 2024 Detroit Riverwalk 10k? Well, it depends on how you look at it. I didn’t place in the top 3 of my age group so I didn’t “medal.” But, I did place 5th out of 25 so I was faster than most of my peers. I was also 75th out of the total 447 runners completing the 10k and since only 10 runners were in older age groups, I guess 75th overall is okay.
Comparing this race to past 10k races, I don’t feel too bad. My last 10k was the Volkslaufe in Frankenmuth in 2021. I finished in 49:24 with a 7:57 pace. In 2014 I finished the Riverwalk 10k in 49:43 with an 8:00 pace. So this year’s finish of 50:56 with an 8:12 pace isn’t too far off my normal time.
No matter what my finishing time or pace was, I’ll say I was successful because I got to spend a good morning in Detroit, enjoyed great scenery and am still healthy and able to race 6.2 miles. That’s a WIN!