race — Page 2

What a beautiful day for a race. The air was clean and clear and the temperature was around 58 °F at the start of the race. I made my way over to the track on the campus of Minnesota State University Moorhead around 7:30 to pick up my bib. After stretching a little bit and warming up I lined up at the start. This was a chip timed race but they didn’t have starting mats, 0nly finishing mats. So, your time is based on the gun no matter where you start in line. Fortunately this race is rather small with about 250 people, so it wasn’t a big deal. I was about 1/3 of the way back from the start – maybe 15 yards. My goal was to finish in less than 50 minutes. I made my 10K PR of 48:48 on this out and back course in 2006 but I am a little bit heavier now than I was back then, so I didn’t expect to beat that this time.

The gun went off right at 8:00 taking me by surprise a little bit. I sprinted out of the starting gate west along 6th Avenue. I was feeling really good and established a consistent fast pace right from the get go. West for half a mile or so, a turn to the left for a few blocks and then back east on 9th Avenue got me to the 1 mile mark in 7:42. I felt a twinge in my knee but it quickly disappeared and it was fine for the rest of the race. We came up to 20th street and at about 1.5 miles and I was still feeling great. My pace stayed pretty much the same but my heart rate was climbing over 170.

I turned south on 20th Street and hit the 2 mile mark with a 7:49 mile. Slipping just a bit but still within my goals. The course went another mile south where we turned around to follow the bike path back north. Mile 3 was a little bit slower – 8:04. I was starting to feel the fatigue at the half way point and I was thinking – “This would be great if it were a 5K race!” But I dug down deep and pulled it out from within. Mile 4 – 7:55 YES! Mile 5 – 8:02 – Ok . . Hold ON! You’re almost there. Mile 6 – I had to let up just a little bit. My slowest mile of the race was the last mile 8:12. I could see the end in sight and when I came around the corner and turned into the Nemzek field I let it all out and finished strong. My official time – 49:43. Not bad. Made my goal but not a new PR. I was happy with my race.

It was a bittersweet race for me. I did get a PR but it was no where near my goal. My garmin says 4:26:06 (4:26:02 official). Regardless, I’m still happy. I know what to do differently next month in Winnipeg.

Here are some highlights.

8:00 am – pretty calm winds, temp of 50 degrees. PERFECT. I started out with the 4 hour pacer. The beginning of the race was fantastic, but the pacer was going too fast. between 8:30 and 8:45 for most of the first 10K. In hindsight, this was my downfall. By around 9 miles I started to slow, he pulled ahead of me and I lost him. Winds were picking up too. I was still feeling ok and hit the half way point right on track at around 2 hours. Then I started to go downhill. I lost steam. I finally figured out that I was dehydrated. The winds were really drying me out. Even though I was drinking water at every station, I was not drinking enough. I started walking through the water stations and drinking 2 or 3 cups. I started feeling less light headed but I still just felt off. So I decided to modify my goal and shoot for 4:15. I was alternating walking and running through miles 15, 16, 17, 18. Around mile 19 I saw the 4:10 pacer go past me and that picked my spirits up a little bit. I continued my off again, on again running through miles 20 and 21. I wasn’t dead but I was starting to feel the fatigue. It was then that I felt a horrible twinge in my hamstrings. Uh oh. Cramps coming. I dropped down to a walk and stretched through it until it felt better. Thankfully no full out cramps. I continued to run and walk to manage my hammys. I was feeling a little bit down that I was not making my goals. I thought I was doing really bad when the 4:20 pacer met up with me around mile 23. Again, that lifted me up because I thought I was doing worse than that. I knew I would get a PR at least. By now the winds had picked up to gusting over 30 mph. I was still slowed by fatigue and now another potential cramp in my left calf. I slugged along at about an 11:30 average pace. The finish . . well . . this race finished INSIDE a large dome. Amazing, by the way. But as I was putting it all in at the end going down the ramp into the dome there went my hamstring for good. I didn’t want to finish this way. I had to drop to a walk and hobble down the tunnel. Fortunately it stretched just enough that I could pick it back up and finish strong as I entered the arena. I headed to the medical tent for an ice pack and now it’s feeling pretty good.

So, overall I wish I was feeling better and could enjoy the race more. The last half I was just so focussed on trying to get down the road that I didn’t really appreciate all the crowds around me. But definitely another one under the belt and I’ve learned some good lessons. The weather was fantastic – – about 65=70 at the end of the race. Even the wind felt pretty nice in spots.

Here I am just after mile 4 on 8th Street. I’m still looking pretty fresh.

That’s my boy, cheering me on.