Yesterday's 30K wrapped up the 2012 Striders Winter Running Circuit in Ogden. It was another gorgeous day for a run---sunny, perfect temperatures, snow-capped mountains in the vista. I was a bit unsure how my body was going to respond after last weekend's hard effort and the effects of an allergy flare-up this week, but once I started warming up I knew it was going to be fine. The goal was to run a controlled effort and not let the other ladies who were in contention for the overall title get too much of a gap. I had a minute and forty-odd seconds to play with so I figured the best strategy was to simply stalk the other girls and let them do the pacing work. So that's what I did and it ended up working pretty well. I felt strong for most of the run, with just a bit of tightening up in the last two miles, and held on for 3rd place on the day in a time comparable to my 30K run split at the ITU World Champs last November. It was good enough to earn the overall cumulative series title, which is a nice validation of the hard work and progress I've made in running over the past year or so. Most rewarding, and I hope a sign of good things to come!
Some highlights of the day:
---The relaxed yet highly organized atmosphere of a Striders race; they know how to do it right!!
---Chatting with some of the other ladies in the middle of the race, miles 6-9.
---Running alongside the "wild" horses at Stink Corner...both human and equine athletes seemed to enjoy it.
---Hot drinks at the finish line; nothing beats a hot chocoloffe!
---Pausing just before the start to watch a hot air balloon drift by.
---Soaking up the post-race atmosphere with friends old and new.
This week's round of thanks go to Albert for motivating me to get out the door and run, Powerbar for keeping my energy stores stocked, Pearl Izumi for the cool AND functional footwear and gear, and Recovery Pump for keeping my legs fresh.
Next up: REV3 Knoxville next weekend! Can't wait to break out the new Fezzari speed machine!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
It's Getting Better All The Time
So to get the full effect you have to read that title with the tune of the Beatles song in your head. I'm not sure how many people know this, but in middle and high school I listened to everything by, and read just about everything about, the Beatles. To call me a fan is putting it mildly. I was obsessed. If I had been alive during Beatlemania I would have been the most manic of them all, a hair-pulling, teeth gnashing, hormone-ridden shrieking sobbing teenage fanatic. I've mellowed out in my old age (ha!) and while I'm still an ardent fan of their music (and can probably sing AT LEAST 95% of their songs word for word from memory), I'm not the same Beatle-knowledge-obsessed girl that I used to be. Times change. (On a side-note, my dad's 64th birthday was yesterday and can you guess what song was running through my head all day? Of course you can...but I digress.)
Back to speaking of times changing and things getting better all the time...I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon today and, boy oh boy, did my time ever change! Two weeks ago I ran a solid PR of 1:26:07 on an honest course in Ogden. I was surprised by that performance because my running volume has been relatively low so far and I haven't done any high intensity work (other than races, that is). It got me thinking that if I could let go of any preconceived notions of what a "sensible" pace might be and just run by feel, that I just might be ready for a real breakthrough at Salt Lake. And I was not disappointed! Thanks to perfect weather, a nice clean start in the first corral, and by adapting a strategy of completely ignoring my watch, today I was able to knock another minute and forty-three seconds off my time from a fortnight ago for a new PR of 1:24:24. Yes, that's right folks. I'm tooting my own horn! It's just part of the gig of being a professional athlete, however insignificant your sport may be in the grand scheme of things. Stand aside while I inject a little personality here!
In all seriousness, this run was a huge step forward for me and it's taken years of hard work to get here. I had some success in the running arena when I was younger but then my body changed, I stopped running, and swimming became my sole focus for a time. When I discovered triathlon and started running again in my later college years, I could get by in shorter triathlons with a stronger swim and a decent bike, then still manage to hold off a lot people during the run despite lumbering around with a stereotypical swimmer's top-heavy build. Eventually I realized that you can run up a hill faster when you're carrying less weight around, and over the past couple of years Albert and I have made some significant (but not drastic) changes to our nutrition that have helped me pare down to more of a runner's shape. That, along with consistency in training and a renewed joy for the sport, has really been a huge piece of the puzzle. My ultimate goal is to be the best, most well-balanced triathlete that I can be; running has perennially been my Achilles' heel but I think it's safe to say that the gap has been whittled down some. There is certainly still work to do, but today's result tells me that I'm headed in the right direction.
A huge shout out to all the friends, acquaintances, and random spectators who were out there cheering today. Your support really did give me wings! It was a wonderful feeling to see so many familiar and friendly faces along the course, to have my name pronounced correctly 9 times out of 10, and to catch up with long-time friends at the finish line. There really are some priceless joys in doing a "hometown" race. Thanks to the police officers, race staff, and volunteers who helped keep everyone safe; this event could not have happened without you. Thanks also to my sponsors who help make this lifestyle possible for me; I am particularly grateful this day to Charlie at REV3 for believing in me, Pearl Izumi for the fast shoes & race kit, PowerBar for giving me the power to push, and to Recovery Pump for keeping my legs fresh. Congratulations to the winners, and to all the participants across the board who overcame their own personal challenges to get to the starting line today.
Back to speaking of times changing and things getting better all the time...I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon today and, boy oh boy, did my time ever change! Two weeks ago I ran a solid PR of 1:26:07 on an honest course in Ogden. I was surprised by that performance because my running volume has been relatively low so far and I haven't done any high intensity work (other than races, that is). It got me thinking that if I could let go of any preconceived notions of what a "sensible" pace might be and just run by feel, that I just might be ready for a real breakthrough at Salt Lake. And I was not disappointed! Thanks to perfect weather, a nice clean start in the first corral, and by adapting a strategy of completely ignoring my watch, today I was able to knock another minute and forty-three seconds off my time from a fortnight ago for a new PR of 1:24:24. Yes, that's right folks. I'm tooting my own horn! It's just part of the gig of being a professional athlete, however insignificant your sport may be in the grand scheme of things. Stand aside while I inject a little personality here!
In all seriousness, this run was a huge step forward for me and it's taken years of hard work to get here. I had some success in the running arena when I was younger but then my body changed, I stopped running, and swimming became my sole focus for a time. When I discovered triathlon and started running again in my later college years, I could get by in shorter triathlons with a stronger swim and a decent bike, then still manage to hold off a lot people during the run despite lumbering around with a stereotypical swimmer's top-heavy build. Eventually I realized that you can run up a hill faster when you're carrying less weight around, and over the past couple of years Albert and I have made some significant (but not drastic) changes to our nutrition that have helped me pare down to more of a runner's shape. That, along with consistency in training and a renewed joy for the sport, has really been a huge piece of the puzzle. My ultimate goal is to be the best, most well-balanced triathlete that I can be; running has perennially been my Achilles' heel but I think it's safe to say that the gap has been whittled down some. There is certainly still work to do, but today's result tells me that I'm headed in the right direction.
A huge shout out to all the friends, acquaintances, and random spectators who were out there cheering today. Your support really did give me wings! It was a wonderful feeling to see so many familiar and friendly faces along the course, to have my name pronounced correctly 9 times out of 10, and to catch up with long-time friends at the finish line. There really are some priceless joys in doing a "hometown" race. Thanks to the police officers, race staff, and volunteers who helped keep everyone safe; this event could not have happened without you. Thanks also to my sponsors who help make this lifestyle possible for me; I am particularly grateful this day to Charlie at REV3 for believing in me, Pearl Izumi for the fast shoes & race kit, PowerBar for giving me the power to push, and to Recovery Pump for keeping my legs fresh. Congratulations to the winners, and to all the participants across the board who overcame their own personal challenges to get to the starting line today.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Round Four: Striders Winter Running Circuit
Last weekend marked the fourth installment of the 2012 Striders Winter Running Circuit in Ogden. The course is essentially run on the first part of the Ogden Marathon route, so it's a nice preview for those who are gearing up for the marathon in May. For me it was a nice step in my training progression of doing some longer runs at a good effort in preparation for the triathlon season. I love training in the Ogden Valley, and what better way to kick off a beautiful spring morning than doing a little run with the spectacular view of a snow-capped Mt. Ogden in the distance!
Rather than writing a complete recap of how the day unfolded, I'm simply going to include a list of highlights (and challenges) from the day. Here they are, in somewhat chronological order:
---Doing a local race = a relatively normal morning! Wake up, eat, walk dogs, drive to Red Moose Lodge.
---The bus ride up to the start line: who doesn't enjoy a good ride in a cheese wagon full of runners?!
---Running in my new Pearl Izumi Streak II shoes...happy happy feet!
---Experiencing a shoelace malfunction (read: it came untied) around Mile 2.
---Cursing myself for not having put lock laces in my new shoes.
---Despite wearing gloves, having fingers so frozen that I could not fix the shoelace problem until Mile 3.
---Enjoying the crisp spring morning sunshine, the mountain panorama...and the inevitable country morning aroma of skunk wafting through the air.
---Running past my training partner's house and thinking of all the good bike rides we'll do in the valley this summer.
---Playing my favorite running game of "Go Fish" and working hard to reel people in.
---Duking it out for 3rd place over the last mile of the race.
---Setting a new half-marathon PR in spite of the time spent fiddling with my shoelace.
---Hot chocolate and coffee at the finish line!
---Even better...a hot breakfast inside the Red Moose Lodge!!
---Bumping into some fellow "Ben Lomond Morning Swimmers" in the food line...it's always funny to see people out of context.
---Chatting with my new friend Phaedra (who rocked the Masters division!).
---Visiting with some of the old Salt Lake crew: Demetrio, Carol, Bill, Gene, and Brandon. Always a treat to see you guys!
---Earning $50 for my efforts...I think it's the first time I've ever won money at a running race!
---Sharing 3rd place honors with Albert. We're rich! Or at least we can buy a new pair of shoes.
---Leapfrogging into first place in the overall cumulative series. Four down, one to go!
Thanks to all of my sponsors, on this day particularly to Pearl Izumi for the great shoes and running apparel, to Powerbar for fueling me to a good time, and to Recovery Pump for the pre- and post-race squeeze. A big thank you to my friends and family for continuing to humor me in my athletic undertakings, and to my fellow runners for inspiring me to dig deep and aim high. Happy running!
Rather than writing a complete recap of how the day unfolded, I'm simply going to include a list of highlights (and challenges) from the day. Here they are, in somewhat chronological order:
---Doing a local race = a relatively normal morning! Wake up, eat, walk dogs, drive to Red Moose Lodge.
---The bus ride up to the start line: who doesn't enjoy a good ride in a cheese wagon full of runners?!
---Running in my new Pearl Izumi Streak II shoes...happy happy feet!
---Experiencing a shoelace malfunction (read: it came untied) around Mile 2.
---Cursing myself for not having put lock laces in my new shoes.
---Despite wearing gloves, having fingers so frozen that I could not fix the shoelace problem until Mile 3.
---Enjoying the crisp spring morning sunshine, the mountain panorama...and the inevitable country morning aroma of skunk wafting through the air.
---Running past my training partner's house and thinking of all the good bike rides we'll do in the valley this summer.
---Playing my favorite running game of "Go Fish" and working hard to reel people in.
---Duking it out for 3rd place over the last mile of the race.
---Setting a new half-marathon PR in spite of the time spent fiddling with my shoelace.
---Hot chocolate and coffee at the finish line!
---Even better...a hot breakfast inside the Red Moose Lodge!!
---Bumping into some fellow "Ben Lomond Morning Swimmers" in the food line...it's always funny to see people out of context.
---Chatting with my new friend Phaedra (who rocked the Masters division!).
---Visiting with some of the old Salt Lake crew: Demetrio, Carol, Bill, Gene, and Brandon. Always a treat to see you guys!
---Earning $50 for my efforts...I think it's the first time I've ever won money at a running race!
---Sharing 3rd place honors with Albert. We're rich! Or at least we can buy a new pair of shoes.
---Leapfrogging into first place in the overall cumulative series. Four down, one to go!
Thanks to all of my sponsors, on this day particularly to Pearl Izumi for the great shoes and running apparel, to Powerbar for fueling me to a good time, and to Recovery Pump for the pre- and post-race squeeze. A big thank you to my friends and family for continuing to humor me in my athletic undertakings, and to my fellow runners for inspiring me to dig deep and aim high. Happy running!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Famous Cow Photo
So there's Bree in front with the motorcycle, then the cow, then next in line just past the cow's hump is me!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
REV3 Costa Rica---Pura Vida!
I can't think of a better thing to do at 6am on the morning after the race than sit in a pair of Recovery Pump boots and write a race report! A very loud bird woke me up this morning and I wasn't able to get back to sleep so I thought I'd take the opportunity to write down a few thoughts about the REV3 Costa Rica race experience while it is still fresh in my mind.
This has been a really wonderful trip, more like a vacation than any of the other races that I do. It's a nice low-key atmosphere in a beautiful country, the locals are incredibly welcoming, and of course REV3 and their Costa Rican partners put on a top-notch event. I feel like I am surrounded by friends here---funny how that works in a foreign country!
The race itself was not a great performance on my part but I think it fairly reflected my current fitness level, if not slightly exceeding it, so I can't really be disappointed. Taking the long view, the purpose of this race was to dust out the cobwebs, get a fitness check, earn some points (and hopefully some coin!) in the cumulative REV3 Pro Series, to get fired up for the long season ahead and to HAVE FUN. With the exception of the coin---I missed that by one placing---the mission was accomplished.
Race morning started with a 4am wake-up call, a quick breakfast, then a little bushwacking jog down through the golf course in the dark to get set up in the transition area. It was incredibly convenient to be staying in a condo at the host resort this year, as opposed to being a 45 minute drive away last year with less-than-reliable transportation to worry about---a big THANK YOU to Krista and Charlie for arranging the on-site accomodations this year! After a quick gear set-up and topping off the tires, I jogged a little more (and spotted a pisote doing his morning business, that made me laugh) then headed down to the water to swim a bit before the race start. The swim was 2 laps with a beach start and a run-out in between laps. I had a great start and found myself swimming comfortably right on the feet of the lead girls on the first lap. Woohoo! I've tweaked my training schedule a little this year to include more swimming so it was nice to see that reflected in the race. However, I was NOT prepared for the extreme pain I experienced as a result of the run-out on the beach in between laps. OUCH! I'd forgotten how nasty that can be, particularly in a short-course race where the intensity is so much higher. It took me almost to the first buoy on the second lap to recover from the shock---my legs were DEAD and I had to breathe every stroke. The two lead girls were obviously better prepared for this and they established a gap over the little group that I was swimming with. Overall though, the swim was definitely my strongest leg of the day and is an indicator of good things to come.
Onto the bike! The course gets exciting right out of the gate with a dicey gravel section that you have to navigate, followed by two miles of some serious hills. Last year I was completely unprepared for the hills and they about knocked me sideways. I knew what to expect going into it this year and was able to prepare more effectively, but that still doesn't mean it was a cake walk! I passed a couple of girls on the hills coming out of the resort and found myself in second place heading out onto the main road. At this point I was feeling like a rock star and decided to put the hammer down to try to catch the leader. My roommate (and REV3 Racing Team teammate) Bree Wee was right there too and we overtook the leader a couple of miles into the first straight section. Bree and I exchanged the lead a couple of times, and then suddenly I realized that maybe I was getting a little too carried away with the pace, considering that I have done just about ZERO speedwork and have put more miles in on my mountain bike than any other bike at this point of the season. So I eased off the paced a bit and watched Bree ride off into the sunrise. It was at this point that the herd of cows came across the road---only in Costa Rica! There were't any collisions as far as I know, and there is a really great photo that captured the moment (to be posted later).
The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful. It is a technical course with several out-and-back sections and 180 degree turns which can be tricky on the narrow Costa Rican roads, but I feel I handled them better than last year. It didn't take long for eventual winner Nicole Kelleher to come zooming by, followed by Emily Cocks who was also having a strong ride. After tackling the hills and gravel a second time coming back into the resort I found myself in 4th place starting the run, with a pack of hungry girls right on my heels.
This run course has a little bit of everything in it. The beach, packed gravel, pavement, ups, downs, you name it. It is definitely a strength course and I was excited to have another go at it this year as my running has been coming along nicely in training. However, if the bike fitness isn't there and you spend a little too much energy pedaling, the run can be a rather brutal experience. So I didn't have the run I was shooting for, and I slid back a few places within the first couple of miles. There was a large enough gap back to the next girl that I was able to ease up and just go into damage control mode in the second loop and still hold onto 7th place. I would have liked a bit better showing but again, it's early in the year and you can't always be in peak form. It's a good motivator to buckle down for the next couple of months before the next outing at REV3 Knoxville in May, and see what kinds of improvements can be made between now and then.
A big congratulations to my roommates Bree and Jesse for their podium finishes, to Nicole and Cameron for their dominating wins, and to all my REV3 teammates for a strong showing. Thanks go out to: the Costa Rican people for hosting us in their country, REV3 for another great event and awesome athlete support, Powerbar for keeping me fueled, Pearl Izumi for the new racing kit, BlueSeventy for helping me swim fast, Recovery Pump for the pre- and post-race squeeze, and last (but not least!) to all the friends and strangers who cheered me on and have helped make this a memorable trip. Pura Vida!
***Note: check back soon for a picture diary, in my classic techno ineptitude I failed to bring the USB cable to download photos from my camera.
This has been a really wonderful trip, more like a vacation than any of the other races that I do. It's a nice low-key atmosphere in a beautiful country, the locals are incredibly welcoming, and of course REV3 and their Costa Rican partners put on a top-notch event. I feel like I am surrounded by friends here---funny how that works in a foreign country!
The race itself was not a great performance on my part but I think it fairly reflected my current fitness level, if not slightly exceeding it, so I can't really be disappointed. Taking the long view, the purpose of this race was to dust out the cobwebs, get a fitness check, earn some points (and hopefully some coin!) in the cumulative REV3 Pro Series, to get fired up for the long season ahead and to HAVE FUN. With the exception of the coin---I missed that by one placing---the mission was accomplished.
Race morning started with a 4am wake-up call, a quick breakfast, then a little bushwacking jog down through the golf course in the dark to get set up in the transition area. It was incredibly convenient to be staying in a condo at the host resort this year, as opposed to being a 45 minute drive away last year with less-than-reliable transportation to worry about---a big THANK YOU to Krista and Charlie for arranging the on-site accomodations this year! After a quick gear set-up and topping off the tires, I jogged a little more (and spotted a pisote doing his morning business, that made me laugh) then headed down to the water to swim a bit before the race start. The swim was 2 laps with a beach start and a run-out in between laps. I had a great start and found myself swimming comfortably right on the feet of the lead girls on the first lap. Woohoo! I've tweaked my training schedule a little this year to include more swimming so it was nice to see that reflected in the race. However, I was NOT prepared for the extreme pain I experienced as a result of the run-out on the beach in between laps. OUCH! I'd forgotten how nasty that can be, particularly in a short-course race where the intensity is so much higher. It took me almost to the first buoy on the second lap to recover from the shock---my legs were DEAD and I had to breathe every stroke. The two lead girls were obviously better prepared for this and they established a gap over the little group that I was swimming with. Overall though, the swim was definitely my strongest leg of the day and is an indicator of good things to come.
Onto the bike! The course gets exciting right out of the gate with a dicey gravel section that you have to navigate, followed by two miles of some serious hills. Last year I was completely unprepared for the hills and they about knocked me sideways. I knew what to expect going into it this year and was able to prepare more effectively, but that still doesn't mean it was a cake walk! I passed a couple of girls on the hills coming out of the resort and found myself in second place heading out onto the main road. At this point I was feeling like a rock star and decided to put the hammer down to try to catch the leader. My roommate (and REV3 Racing Team teammate) Bree Wee was right there too and we overtook the leader a couple of miles into the first straight section. Bree and I exchanged the lead a couple of times, and then suddenly I realized that maybe I was getting a little too carried away with the pace, considering that I have done just about ZERO speedwork and have put more miles in on my mountain bike than any other bike at this point of the season. So I eased off the paced a bit and watched Bree ride off into the sunrise. It was at this point that the herd of cows came across the road---only in Costa Rica! There were't any collisions as far as I know, and there is a really great photo that captured the moment (to be posted later).
The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful. It is a technical course with several out-and-back sections and 180 degree turns which can be tricky on the narrow Costa Rican roads, but I feel I handled them better than last year. It didn't take long for eventual winner Nicole Kelleher to come zooming by, followed by Emily Cocks who was also having a strong ride. After tackling the hills and gravel a second time coming back into the resort I found myself in 4th place starting the run, with a pack of hungry girls right on my heels.
This run course has a little bit of everything in it. The beach, packed gravel, pavement, ups, downs, you name it. It is definitely a strength course and I was excited to have another go at it this year as my running has been coming along nicely in training. However, if the bike fitness isn't there and you spend a little too much energy pedaling, the run can be a rather brutal experience. So I didn't have the run I was shooting for, and I slid back a few places within the first couple of miles. There was a large enough gap back to the next girl that I was able to ease up and just go into damage control mode in the second loop and still hold onto 7th place. I would have liked a bit better showing but again, it's early in the year and you can't always be in peak form. It's a good motivator to buckle down for the next couple of months before the next outing at REV3 Knoxville in May, and see what kinds of improvements can be made between now and then.
A big congratulations to my roommates Bree and Jesse for their podium finishes, to Nicole and Cameron for their dominating wins, and to all my REV3 teammates for a strong showing. Thanks go out to: the Costa Rican people for hosting us in their country, REV3 for another great event and awesome athlete support, Powerbar for keeping me fueled, Pearl Izumi for the new racing kit, BlueSeventy for helping me swim fast, Recovery Pump for the pre- and post-race squeeze, and last (but not least!) to all the friends and strangers who cheered me on and have helped make this a memorable trip. Pura Vida!
***Note: check back soon for a picture diary, in my classic techno ineptitude I failed to bring the USB cable to download photos from my camera.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Round Three
Last Saturday marked round three of the Striders Winter Running Circuit in Ogden, and a beast of a course it was! This infamous 10-Miler begins with the same course as the 10K two weeks prior---not an easy course, to put it mildly---and then adds insult to injury by throwing even more hills in your path over the next four miles. As my client Miriam said, it's the kind of course that chews you up and spits you out. I love it. And hate it. It's the perfect way to kick off a Saturday morning!
My mantra was similar to two weeks ago---what goes up, must come down! This rings especially true in the last 4 miles. Mile six to seven-and-a-half is a long steady grind where you just have to grit your teeth and get it over with. The legs and lungs are burning no matter what kind of shape you're in. Once you hit the pinnacle of the climb, there's a nice bombing downhill section for about a mile and a half. This is where patience paid off and I was able to make my move. There were two girls up the road who I'd been tailing for the entire run, one of whom went into the race with about a minute lead over me in the overall cumulative race series. I'd managed to stay within striking distance through the first 10K, but then they made a bit of a break going up the long grind after mile 6 and I was uncertain whether I'd be able to reel them in. Once we hit the downhill though I noticed they were coming back to me and I decided to open up and go for it. It was hard work, but it was really fun blasting down that hill! I took the lead at mile 8.5 and was able to build a gap and hold it through the finish line.
This was a great run for me on many levels. I believe it is the first time I've actually won a road running race---woohoo! I covered the distance almost 3 minutes faster than last year. It was a great tune-up and confidence builder for the REV3 Costa Rica triathlon this coming weekend. And the experience helped reinforce the principles of patience and perseverance, and of simply staying relaxed and having fun.
Albert had a good day too. His strategy this time around involved a few glasses of wine the night before (we had friends staying with us for the weekend) and a more conservative pace over the first few miles. It paid off and he ran well, nabbing 2nd place for the men and feeling much stronger in the final miles this time around.
My client Miriam also ran, along with her friend Phaedra and a few others from her running group (the Runagades). I had warned Miriam about the severity of the course beforehand, but you really have to experience it firsthand to appreciate how beastly it is. She handled it well (although she's very hard on herself) and placed in the top 20 women. Way to go Miriam, Phaedra, Mark, and Lloyd!
A really nice touch (ha, pun intended) this time around is that there were free massages offered after the race. Albert and I took full advantage, and then we went home and I sat in my Recovery Pump boots for an hour. Or slept in them is more like it. I could get used to this whole art of recovery!
My mantra was similar to two weeks ago---what goes up, must come down! This rings especially true in the last 4 miles. Mile six to seven-and-a-half is a long steady grind where you just have to grit your teeth and get it over with. The legs and lungs are burning no matter what kind of shape you're in. Once you hit the pinnacle of the climb, there's a nice bombing downhill section for about a mile and a half. This is where patience paid off and I was able to make my move. There were two girls up the road who I'd been tailing for the entire run, one of whom went into the race with about a minute lead over me in the overall cumulative race series. I'd managed to stay within striking distance through the first 10K, but then they made a bit of a break going up the long grind after mile 6 and I was uncertain whether I'd be able to reel them in. Once we hit the downhill though I noticed they were coming back to me and I decided to open up and go for it. It was hard work, but it was really fun blasting down that hill! I took the lead at mile 8.5 and was able to build a gap and hold it through the finish line.
This was a great run for me on many levels. I believe it is the first time I've actually won a road running race---woohoo! I covered the distance almost 3 minutes faster than last year. It was a great tune-up and confidence builder for the REV3 Costa Rica triathlon this coming weekend. And the experience helped reinforce the principles of patience and perseverance, and of simply staying relaxed and having fun.
Albert had a good day too. His strategy this time around involved a few glasses of wine the night before (we had friends staying with us for the weekend) and a more conservative pace over the first few miles. It paid off and he ran well, nabbing 2nd place for the men and feeling much stronger in the final miles this time around.
My client Miriam also ran, along with her friend Phaedra and a few others from her running group (the Runagades). I had warned Miriam about the severity of the course beforehand, but you really have to experience it firsthand to appreciate how beastly it is. She handled it well (although she's very hard on herself) and placed in the top 20 women. Way to go Miriam, Phaedra, Mark, and Lloyd!
A really nice touch (ha, pun intended) this time around is that there were free massages offered after the race. Albert and I took full advantage, and then we went home and I sat in my Recovery Pump boots for an hour. Or slept in them is more like it. I could get used to this whole art of recovery!
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