Gallow Set's a new Gopher Record
in the Hartshorne Master's Mile
in the Hartshorne Master's Mile Gopher Steve Gallow was becoming disappointed that Stephen Codner and Ron Moore were running away with all the Gopher records. So, in an attempt to rectify this situation Gallow decided to run a 1 mile race. (None of the other Gophers have ever run a 1 mile race before, so he figured he was in line for a record.) Coached for 2 weeks by Herb Engman, Gallow participated in the prestigious Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile. Gallow started out on pace with a 1:30 for the first 400 meters. The next 1000 meters were difficult for Gallow, and he remembers very little of it. The last 200 meters Gallow kicked it in to pass one other runner and finish with a 6:11 mile. He hopes to train more, and break 6:00 next year.
(Photo by Laura Voorhees, from Finger Lakes Runners Club Web site)
The rest of the story
John Saylor asked for an account of us normal people on the Hartshorne Mile. Here was my response.
I arrived at the track early. I was nervous, and excited about the thoughts of participating in my first Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile. I realized that I hadn't trained enough, but I figured 2 weeks of training with Herb Engman was about the equivalent of training for a month on my own.
Training
When I had decided to run the mile, I had to find somebody who knew what they were doing. I certainly had no idea. I went to Herb, and asked for some help. He suggested that I try running one mile fast to see how I could do. I did as he had suggested, but had forgotten to wear my watch. It felt like a 5:30 mile, but in all reality it was probably closer to a 7:30. The next week Herb was taking it easy with 6-200 meters intervals at a slightly faster then race pace. He was getting ready for the Finger Lakes Track Meet 1500 and 3000, so he didn't want to over do it. This was a good start for me. I found that my legs felt fine, but my breathing was very difficult. The following Tuesday Herb was going to do 10-400 meter intervals at near race pace. I couldn't join him that day, so I attempted the workout on Monday. I estimated my race pace for 400 meters to be about 90 sec. I did the first one in 85. The rest went downhill from there ranging from 93-95, with the final one being a 92. I almost stopped several times, but finally did all 10 of the intervals. I had started out too fast on the first one, and paid for it on the rest. This was a good time to do this, because it helped prepare me not to go out to fast in the beginning of the race. (Although Ken Zeserson advised me was to go out as fast as I could the first 200 meters of the race. He later told me that this was a joke.) The following Friday I joined Herb for several 200 meters intervals at slightly faster then race pace. It helped a lot to have someone to train with. The intervals went by much more quickly, perhaps because they were only 200 meters instead of 400. The Tuesday before the Hartshorne was our final speed workout. We did 3 400s and a few 200s. I felt much better this day then the week before. I was as ready as I would be for this year's Hartshorne.
Pre Race
A few days before the race, I received a list of who would be in the heat that I was to run. I quickly attempted to find out the times of the other runners in the heat. I saw that Bob Talda was going to be in the same heat as I was. I had finally beaten him in a race this previous summer, The Recway 10k. Of course he was pushing a baby carriage the whole race, and I wasn't. But a win is a win. I saw my target. I was going to have to try and stay with Bob, who had broken 6 minutes the previous year. Herb was also in my heat, but I knew he was out of my range. Ken Zeserson had be training with us, and had a slight injury. I figured that would work to my advantage. The others I didn't know as well. Steve Halebsky had joined us for some of the workouts. I wasn't sure how I would do against him.
Race Day
As I said in the beginning, I had arrived early. It was about 9:45 AM. Tom Hartshorne and Pete Taylor came into the meet. Pete introduced himself, and asked me my name. I told him, and Tom and I could tell he was checking his internal database to see if he had heard of me as an elite runner. Tom and I said at the same time, that I was not one of the elites, and he wouldn't know me. I told him, I was more in the 6 min/mile range. He responded with a very gracious comment about how most people cannot run a 6 min/mile. I went over and helped Tom set up the PA system.
Now it was around 10:00, and I still hadn't seen Herb. Would I have to do a warm up myself? How should I warm up? What if I do it wrong? Will I crash in the mile? My mind was asking stupid questions a mile a minute. (I guess my mind could run the race much faster then my body.) Finally Herb arrived looking very relaxed. I guess 20 Hartshorne's does that to you. He said that he'd start stretching around 11:00, and then warming up for the 11:45 start. Bob Talda arrived a few minutes after Herb, pushing a baby stroller. I was hoping that he would push this during the race. I might have a chance of beating him if he did. I asked Bob what he was expecting to run. He said anywhere from a 6:00 - 6:30 mile. I was estimating around a 6:15 pace for me, but was hoping to do a sub 6:00.
Herb, Ken, Bob, Steve, Steve, and Steve all warmed up together. The runners in our heat all introduced ourselves to each other. The race was approaching....
As we lined up for the race Pete Taylor called out each of our names and had us step forward like elite runners. It was quite a thrill. Coach Herb Engman received the most cheers in our heat. It must be his smile.
With that the runners all approached the start line, and the gun went off. Having never started a race like this before, I was quickly in the back of the pack on the first turn. I then moved to then second lane and passed a few people to enter somewhere closer to the middle of the pack. All the way around the track I could hear shouts, "Go Steve". I'm not sure which Steve they were all shouting for, so I just assumed it was me. Early in the first couple of laps I passed one of the other Steve's, and was on target for a 6 minute pace after the first 400 meters. (90 seconds). After that it became much more difficult. I could no longer calculate in my mind what the splits would need to be for the next several laps. All I knew was that I was falling behind, and was being told to run faster.
Somewhere in the middle of the race Ken Zeserson passed me, and I couldn’t maintain his pace. I thought maybe he was playing mind games with me. Due to oxygen deprivation, there wasn’t much of my mind left, so it didn’t work. Lap 7 Bob Talda passed me. All I could think was “Where is his Baby Stroller?” The only thing left in my mind was lap 8. Coach Herb told me to sprint the last lap. He told me that I would use different muscles that would still have energy. I came out of the first corner of lap 8, and there was Bob. I passed him on the straight away, and rounded the last corner. There was Ken Zeserson. I thought to myself I could catch him, and then Ken took off. I ran as fast as I could to come in just after Ken, with Bob breathing down my neck. I had completed my first mile race.
I remember talking to my Dad this past year about my marathon training, and how I was going to approach the marathon. He was never a runner, and was amazed at how complex running is. He stated that he thought people just got out there and ran. I now realize that the mile is just as complex as a marathon. There’s a lot to it. I’ve got a lot to learn. The challenge makes it very interesting to me.
I also received advice from Bruce Roebal told me that I need shorter shorts, and I need to run faster. Don Farley told me that I needed running flats. Good advice from both of you. I hope to take up those suggestions on my next mile race.
I want to thank Rick and Tom, and everybody else that worked so hard to put on this event. I cannot begin to imagine all of the work involved. It is much appreciated. I also want to thank Coach Herb, and everybody for their advice. I tried to follow most of it. (I’m still looking for the right shorts Bruce.) I also want to thank everybody who encouraged a back of the packer like myself. I’m beginning to think that someday I may actually become a runner. I do feel like I am surrounded by Giants, and have a long way to go.
Groton Gopher Steve Gallow
