PRC Turkey Tea 10K Preview

The Turkey Tea 10K is recognized as a fast 10K race. It's been mentioned in Canadian Running Magazine, and is highly regarded among local top tier runners. The net downhill with a fast final 4K along with typically ideal fall racing temperatures make this a race where PBs are achieved.

Start to 2.75KM

The start is in Donovan's Industrial Park on the intersection of Glencoe Drive & Kyle Avenue. Right from the start you have decline. If the wind is not an issue, the first (almost) 3K have a chance to pretty fast KM. You'll run the back of Donovon's which will be a decline or at worst flat running. You'll feel like you are starting too fast, but as long as you aren't straining your body beyond your 10K race effort, just ride the faster times. This will be a great kick off to the race, but if you hit a stiff headwind after the 1K mark, it means this could be a rough race. Let's just focus on the course though.

2.75KM to 4KM

As you hang the hard turn onto Clyde Avenue you start the "middle" portion of this course. You have a short/moderate climb right away which flattens out as your pass Corisande Drive and take the bend in Clyde Ave back towards Sagona, recover from the hill and keep up a solid race effort.

4KM to 5KM

This will be the toughest stretch. As you get back on Sagona it's pretty flat/slight incline for most of the KM, then you finish off the halfway point in the race with the toughest portion. The hill at the end of Sagona is about 300M in length and moderate incline. Remember not to just run up the hill, but run through it. Dig in and power up the hill. This is the last real resistance on this route, so show no fear.

5KM to 6KM

This is the transition KM as you come off Sagona onto Old Placentia Road. Overall it's a very slight inline, but there are a lot of small subtle rolls on this section. There is no reason not to be running at goal pace here. You are in the back half, the hard stuff is behind and everything after this point will be clear decline. You'll hit the 6K mark just before the intersection with Ruth Avenue.

6KM to 7KM

As you hit the Ruth Avenue section the fun begins. You start dropping lots of elevation over each of the final KMs. You should be hitting above your target pace here and holding it the rest of the way. It shouldn't feel like death because you are just running that 10K race effort down a decent decline. You'll close out this KM just after the hard left onto Smallwood Drive.

7KM to 8KM

Heading down Smallwood is just plain fun. You can see all the way down. This is where you may find out someone behind you has been waiting for the downhill section. Don't be surprised if someone blows past you. This is perhaps one of the best KM of racing you can find in this Province. Enjoy it, enjoy a nice pace return off a solid race effort.

8KM to 9KM

This is mostly cruising down Park Avenue. Still a big net decline. If you've burned the match right, you can probably reel in a few people on these final 2K. People often slow after losing the big decline on Smallwood. Take no prisoners.

9KM to Finish

Just bring it in strong and consistent. You'll close out Smallwood Avenue and take a right onto Park Avenue. Approach this corner smart. Run the tangent and take it tight to the side walk. Don't lose speed cornering, remember you strides and run in and out of the turn strong at the edge of the asphalt/sideway.

Once you take that turn there are about 600M left. Might as well leave it all on the course here. It's the same ol' story. Decline, I'll even go so far as to say downhill. You pull a hard right onto Worral Crescent/Park Place Community Centre for a final 100M, which will honestly feel pretty tough after all the downhill. It'll look like the finish is far away. Keep those legs moving, you can throw up in the woods after you cross the line.

Summary

Overall this course is a big net downhill. The 3KM to 6KM portion is a slight challenge, but the rest of the course is build to fly. This is an easy negative split even with a fast start. You should see the second half is run 40 to 70 seconds faster than the first half.

So reminder, when to say the start is fast, don't force it, but ride the course to make it fast. You have your 10K race effort. What effort level can you hold over 40, 45, 50 minutes of race effort running? The effort should be consistent, but pace will respond to the course. In this case, largely positively. The middle 3KM might see you slower than target, but everything else is at target or faster if you don't overcook your effort. Be smart until you know you don't need to be smart anymore, then hammer that finish.

Good luck to everyone!

PARKING TIPS

This is a one way route, so you'll likely find yourself without a car at the finish. Also not a lot of parking at the finish. I find a great compromise is to park at the Summit Center in Mt Pearl to get a nice warmup in back to the start. Then your car isn't only a few KMs from the end for a little recovery walk.

RACE STRATEGY:

1) Run the Tangents - Run the straightest line possible. Not hard to do on this route because it's basically all right hand turns. Hug those curbs and don't trail out to the center of the road.

2) Pass with Authority - As I mentioned in the breakdown, slowly close in on people, especially later in the race. Focus on closing that distance, when it's time to pass, hang just behind them for a moment, recover, then push past them like it's easy for you. This will give you motivation and a boost... and hopefully crush the spirit of the person you passed:)

3) Surge Early - Don't be afraid to take advantage of the course and put some little surges into your run to gain you some seconds here and there.

4) Never Look Back - Don't look back for other racers. This throws your body out of alignment, and takes you out of your stride. If you need to take a peak, wait for one of the turns, where you can reduce your head movement and sneak it in.

5) Attack the Corners - This course has a handful of well defined curves. Most people naturally slow as they take turns, take advantage of this and push through the turns - surge in, through, and out of those corners. This is something I've always found beneficial and just mentally gives me a boost.

6) Run over the hills - People tend to run up a hill then slow as they approach the peak. Keep the effort up over the apex of the climb and head into the decline strong where you'll get natural recovery. Hill's are a great place to pass people.