Getting Beat At The 2024 Carlsbad 5000

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The Carlsbad 5000

by John Phillips

Carlsbad – 2024

After my first Silver Strider race in 2019, I was lucky to sit with Jerry Dietrich at breakfast. I had just turned 75 and Jerry said aging up to a new age group is the best shot at winning. Jerry really inspired me that day and has ever since with his valued tips.

Now I realize if I just make it into a new age group it is an advantage. Fewer and fewer show up as age marches on.

Now at 81 and competing in the 80-84 age group, it has become sort of a given that I will win my age group. More in question will likely be if there are any others at all in the same age group running that day.

So now with over 50 races won in a row against no faster competition, on my wife’s encouragement I have looked to seek out some out of area races.

I’ve enjoyed travel events, especially in California.

One special outing was The Double in Palo Alto last December. I combined the race with a visit to my daughter son-in law and grand children. The race is a 5k or 10k option or both.

Bob Anderson, founder of Runner’s World magazine, is the race director who began Double Road Racing.

It is a stage race with the 10k run, then 45 minutes after starting the 10k, a 5k. Finishing times are combined. It has caught on over its 10 plus year history and is now running globally. I thought I could post a new all-time world record for my lofty age group.

Pacing it is a key discipline toward having something left for the 5k. But I did not take the record that day. I found myself in a pack which cut off part of the course in error so my time did not count. Bob was impressed anyway and asked to comp my return for the next run this March to take another shot at it.

March 23, a cold windy rainy day along the water of San Francisco Bay I got the job done and claimed my place on top of the 80-84 age group all time record, at least for now.

Bob, still a dedicated and accomplished runner at 76, mentioned last December that he had run the big Carlsbad 5000 for the past 25 years, but only made the podium once. I had heard of this highly competitive race and decided to sign up and try for a win there.

Holly, my wife, jumped at the chance to travel to California and we booked a nice condo on the beach near the start finish line and a Starbucks. I’m not sure which mattered more to me. Maybe the Starbucks. It was the beach for my wife.

We walked the course the day before, all on Hwy 101 along the ocean with a 55 foot slope down after the start and back up toward the finish.

They run masters events, a juniors run and invited elites, male and female. The elites were amazing to watch with the winning times 13:47 and 15:19.

The masters events are so large that the men’s and women’s starts are separate to avoid congestion.

We watched the women take off at 7:00 AM under a clear blue sky and waited for the men’s start at 7:50. I took a place toward the front and the gun went off precisely on time. Other race directors, please note.

Immediately I could tell I didn’t bring my best self that day but as typical still needed to hold back early on and not go out too fast. After the first mile I was right on my personal pace plan and joyed to see the front runners returning in a blaze of youthfulness. I shouted encouragement to them as they wizzed by.

After the turn it was up hill almost all the way back and fatigue started to set in. At 2 miles I was already some seconds late and began the steepest grade up toward the finish. I focused on a group of palm trees which I had noted were at the top of the grade and did the best I could that day.

On the flat for the last 1000m or so I was able to put in a good blast at the last and came across at 26:05. But was 40 seconds off my race plan.

At the results booth, I entered my number and saw I took second place of thirteen, losing by 31 seconds.

Immediately two local guys starting asking me about my running, they were the same ages as me. The winner said by beating me he had just won 44 in a row. I said I had just lost my first in over 50 in a row.

In the free beer tent, we decided on a rematch, when we both know each of us is there. Maybe if I bring my best, I can keep a new string going.