The Fast & the Flurry-ous
SO, I won a comp entry into a cross country race in Boulder that offers prize money. Nothing like a little Cha-Ching to bring out the pros (and apparently one fast 11 year old girl). Not like the first 3 places in my race went to Olympians from 3 DIFFERENT countries or anything...
This race has been on my ta-do list for some time. Small and intimate, yet it always brings out the talent. Set at that pat Patten HS XC course, i was intrigued how I would do on some challenging terrain that I have coached kids to race on. Nobody told me, it goes the opposite direction!
Ran 99% on grass, snow or sand, the criterion course was 3 loops which was very spectator friendly, but alsomeant that I had to climb an ugly hill 3 times. Opting for racing flats on this one was a good call, however, as the 1% was on a wooden bridge that I was pretty sure I would either imbed myself upon and need to call for help, or biff out on (which I heard one runner did...)
With the Olympian presence, i knew the pace was going to go out killer. I had delusions that I would still be able to maintain at least a 6:30 pace and wanted to start out conservatively. As I waited on the line, a perky, quiet waist high waif lined up. Being nice, i stepped aside to give her room on the front line with me and tried to make small talk about Bratz dolls and barney. instead of calling out "Stranger Danger" the little bell sprinted out with the pros at the gun. Pretty sure she used pixie dust, cuz she certainly dusted me by a full minute!
Checking my pace, i was in the high 5's at the start and needed to reel myself in. In retrospect I let a few more runners take off than I should have, but I made the pace correctiona nd got into the high 6;20's quickly enough.
Then the snow and ice patches coupled with the rolling and challenging terrain (to include loose sand--I think we ran through a sand volleyball court??) started playing with my head. Breathing wise i was fine, i just could not get my legs to turn as quickly and efficiently with force as normal. Entertainingly, i watched a young gal go past me with one and a half shoes on. Apparently her milers would not stay on and after 3 times of pulling off to the side to get it back on, she opted to run with them off! What a warrior.
Wanting to take the first hill conservatively, I was still able to pass 2 gals and let loose on the downhill (slipping and sliding through this wintry wonderland). I settled into what my son told me was 10th place, tucked behind 2 gals that looked to be about my age, using them for the moment as windshilds. Slowly, they began to pull away and mentally I let them, saying to myslef that I would be able to pull them in on the 3rd lap.
OOPS! That did not in fact happen, as we all began to pretty much settle into our paces, and knowing that I had a pretty good lead on the next gal did not help. A few times, i tried to apply pressure and commit to the race, but apparently not with as much intention as I thought I was.
Realizing that I had "settled" I at least did not want to be passed in the last mile. Bearing down, i was able to pick up the pace just a bit and steadily increased through the last half mile, to apporximate a sprint to the finish.
Got connected with my race crew and watched the men's race unfold. The dudes had an even deeper field, with lots of sponsored runners and teams present for the race. jason Hartmann won the men's and had set the pace throughout the entire race, pushing just enough to make 2nd work and still win.
The after party had many a brat and Rice Krispie treats, so after a brief cool down and awards ceremony, it was back to Morrison wtih the memory of a very fun race (no awards for me, as 4 of the top 10 were, in fact, masters...so I had the dubious distinction of being the first master without an award...sigh...)
After dropping off the members of my race crew (they can't yet drive), I did a very slow 2 mile shake out through the neighborhood to try and flush the ol' legs. Checked the garmin, whcih measured the course at 4.2 (probably due to me being a pansy and running around some of the icier patches).
In retrospect, I was not happy with my time, placing or non-sompetitiveness today, but was happy that I showed the kids how courageous it was to hop in a crazy race knowing there would be Olympic talent...and the Rice Krispy bars had these neat little chocolate chunks in them!
To thank my race crew, met up with them at CPK (had a coupon) and then went to see Green Hornet! Good times! |