Endangered Distance

I've got the itch to run another race before Ohio goes all colder than a well digger's ass. There's the Stomp the Grapes half marathon I could do, appropriately sponsored by a winery with free wine at the end. Which even for this boozer sounds like a terrible way to follow up a race. However, I've already done two halfs this year. It's not like I need more proof that I haven't gotten any faster since May. No thanks! I'd like a different (i.e., shorter) challenge.

A 10K would be perfect. With my post-marathon base, I'd like to see if I can break 50 minutes. But lo and behold, there are no 10K races in Ohio the rest of the year. In fact, I don't really know of any other 10Ks in my area during the year besides the one I ran in July. I don't get it. There are a ton of 5Ks. There are plenty of half marathons to choose from. And there are even a couple more marathons to consider. And that's just in Ohio. Yet, not a single 10K. Why no love for the 6.2?

Is the 10K an endangered distance? I did a search on the Runner's World race calendar and found 294 10Ks out of 1,194 events remaining in 2007. Hey look, four are in Ohio! Oh wait, for some reason the calendar also lists 5Ks, 8Ks and 15Ks in search results for 10Ks (of which, as I said, there are none). As for the 5K, 80 percent (966) of the listed events are 5Ks. That seems like a staggering differential.

Maybe it's snobbish of me, but a 5K doesn't excite me much. Go undrunk for a night just to wake up early for a half hour of running? Gimme a break! A 10K on the other hand is just right. It's long enough to feel like a challenge, but short enough that I won't need new legs afterward.

Why won't these fascists race directors give me what I want? Bring back the 10K!