A Balance, Redefined

Deseret News 10K 2009—

This race sure knows how to turn around my mood. I’ve been very hesitant coming off my August 20^th injury. I know I ran St. George on it (probably not the best idea but I don’t regret it). Since then I’ve been making a slow climb back to “health” and now athlete again. I’ve had glimpses of encouragement along the way, some fast time trial 5K and all out miles. However, I still had some lingering pain and was not 100% confident going to the start line.

Sandra was gracious enough to pick up my, Sasha, and Jeff’s race packets Thursday. Sasha stopped by that night to pick up his (sorry about the safety pins). Then Jeff came by my place at 5:20am on the dot and we warmed up over to the start. With both I had good conversations.

Then at the start saw a lot of people I haven’t seen in awhile. I could really feel the nerves. I knew I had built this race up in my head as “my return” so the pressure was on. However, I wasn’t sure what to expect or how to proceed.

A few minutes before the gun, I felt that I would just try and keep some of the familiar faces in view and go by feel. The night before I had re-read last year’s race report and really wanted to have a repeat but also did want to go out and break myself again. I knew Albert was in much better shape than last year and there would be no Chad, however there were both Cody and Jon at the start this year and though I knew they are both running well this year I felt I would try and keep up with them.

The first mile as always is a screamer and to my surprise I looked down at a almost the exact same split as last year. The good news was that despite the heat and humidity it didn’t feel as hard as last year.

5:03.86 aHR 176 Ascent 16ft Descent 206ft

I could see Albert was already well out of reach. I felt Jon might be as well. I could see Cody and began to work up to him. Though he had his first split as a little slower than mine I didn’t think I passed him until the down by the VA Hospital. The second mile surprised me even more as I saw that split was also about the same as last year.

5:05.05 aHR 185 Ascent 32ft Descent 205ft

After this I was a little in a daze. I couldn’t believe how good I was feeling with the heat. I just focused on a Wasatch Running Center jersey about 50m up and wanted to catch whoever that was. However, every time I made a move he seemed to do the same. The distance even started to grow at this point. There was a guy in a black jersey and one in a red jersey as well and I tried to work off of them. The third mile felt hard and was bummed to see that it did deviate from last year’s but wasn’t too worried about it at that point.

5:23.90 aHR188 Ascent 86ft Descent 172ft

Remembered were the 5K point was and looked down to see a 15:55.## click by. Pretty sure that is a new PR…

At this point I was just happy that I made it through half the race without my legs falling off or my knee exploding all over the street. My hip was tight but not too bad. I was in race mode and wanted to keep going. This next mile was the last of the “easy” miles and I wanted to do my best. Wasatch guy still didn’t seem to be getting any closer and I was definitely getting more tired.

5:34.82 aHR 186 Ascent 91ft Descent 187ft

I could tell the wheels were falling off and even with the parade crowd I was finding it hard to hang on. Mile 5 was a blur and all I remember is hearing someone coming up very close.

5:28.79 aHR 186 Ascent 130ft Descent 232ft

I was happy to see a slightly faster mile. However, the “person” got closer and then pulled up alongside of me. When I heard my name I just assumed that yet again I had gone out too hard and Jon had got me toward the end of yet another race. But to my surprise it was Josh S. I assumed he would have either been way ahead of me or playing around out back. But I forget what a stellar athlete he is and he was just playing around up front (or at least by me). I tried to tuck in behind him and he encouraged me. But I was not having it. I was done. I let it creep into my mind how few training miles I had done and that it was too hot. My bad on all accounts. Before he left me he said we could catch the two guys ahead (one of them Wasatch guy). I didn’t think so and just watched him go. But to my surprise they started coming back to me. I tried to push a little harder and though Josh continued to leave me the other two were getting closer and closer…

5:47.19 aHR 188 Ascent 52ft Descent 70ft

I was really hurting but mustered a high school finish and “sprinted” past first black shirt guy and then at the line Wasatch jersey guy.

1:06.63 aHR 190 Ascent 4ft Descent 10ft

My post race time and place: 33:31.1 in 33^rd place

My official striderracing.com time and place: 33:30.8 in 38^th place

That is my second fastest 10K. Turns out Wasatch Jersey guy was Darrell Phippen and black jersey guy was Seth Gutzwiller. Chris Odekirk also came up to me after the race and I guess I was his Wasatch Jersey for the race but he ran out of road, lucky for me…

Overall, I am very happy with this performance. I guess I cannot play lame duck anymore. I’m still sore in all the wrong places but I am not sorer than going in so I think that is a good thing. I double checked and I have run 719 mi less this year than last with much less structured training.

After the race (and before the race) I met some more bloggers. Redrooster and Dave S among a number of Walter’s women. It is always nice to put a face to a name. Then Jon Cody and I ran up to the start.

Total for the day

2.5 mi wu Avg. 9:14

6.2 mi Race Avg. 5:24

5.5 mi cd Avg. 10:08