The hike last Sunday really put me in a big hole. I think that wore me out and was probably the major cause of me getting sick. Then I upped my running ad run intensity during the week and did track 2 days before the race. A couple hours after my track workout my nose started to run and the coughing began. I had already signed up for the race online (to save a whopping $3.50), so even though I was taking NyQuil Thursday and Friday nights and DayQuil all day Friday, I decided to race Saturday because I had already paid for it. My legs were still sore from Thursday track but I was hoping they would loosen up as the run went on.
Saturday was a beautiful day. Sunny and a high of 70. The race started at 9, so it was a little chilly but things were warming up nicely. It was a decent turnout, almost 200 people. I jogged a mile or so to warmup and felt ok, not great but not horrible. I lined up near the front, because no one else seemed to want to and we were off.
The course started off flat, but quickly started off on a gradual uphill and then narrowed to a steeper/long uphill. I got passed by a woman, then another, then more people. I tried to relax and pace myself--it was 10.5 miles after all. My legs felt awful. They were so sore already, I couldn't breathe. Maybe once I adjusted to the effort I would feel better?
I hit mile 1 in 8:05. Wow. Not good. Yeah, it was hilly, but still. Ok, just keep moving. Mile 2, at 16:04, a little better but not much, I mean still hilly, but it felt like the longest 16 mins of my life. Some sections of the course were nice but this section was on a trail that ran right along side the highway. Not as scenic as I was hoping for.
At this point, I knew it was going to be a training day only. My legs were tightening up on my and I couldn't breathe well at all. I got passed by some people on the really tough long uphill, then passed most of them on the downhill. Most people run really slow downhill. Even when I feel horrible, I can at least run downhill fast.
The course was 2 loops and I seriously considered dropping at halfway, but I started sort of feeling good at that point. On the hill at the start of the second loop I started to pass people. Maybe everyone else just went out too fast? I had a good mile or so, then I started to have trouble breathing again and my legs tightened back up and I just survived it back to the finish with a couple of long walking breaks.
I got beat by a woman wearing full makeup, earrings, perfume, and a fuel belt (even though there were 3 aid stations and it was only 10.5 miles and not that hot). I was kicking myself for that. I did beat the woman wearing an ipod and the guy wearing the bunny ears so I was happy about that.
The stretch along the lake for the last 3/4 mile or so was pretty, but the rest of the course was not as scenic as I hoped. Of all the runs I've done since I've been here, this is the worst I've felt and slowest my legs have turned over. I'm hoping it is from the cold and not from being worn down from training and the hike, but it may be a combination of all 3.
I ended up running 8:24 pace overall and 19th female. Not good for me but it is what it is. I'm glad I finished it but it was not smart of me to run it when I was sick.
5 comments:
It is what it is, indeed! It's in the books.
I'm often surprised how few people have downhill running skills. Doesn't it feel great to blow by them though? :)
Hey, you tried but take care of yourself and get better and I'm sure you'll see those times come down! Especially when you come back from altitude and beat the rest of us at sea level up and down!
I hope you feel better soon Maija!! Always tough to run when you aren't 100%.
I'm glad you're out racing in CO and I imagine the results will be much different once you've got some more altitude miles in them!! Good pace-I find running is ridiculously hard!
Hope you feel better!
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