Stupidity meets ineptitude. I remembered how terribly hot my feet got last year so I decided to run with no socks. My feet actually didn't get too hot, however, I developed terrible blisters on the arches of both feet, 3 inch skin flaps, I'll be off from running for a few days, I really hope not longer than a week, we'll see.
The race itself was pretty good, I tried to go out controlled, I was hanging behind Frank Mylar until about 1.5. Hit the 2 mile mark in 10:44. Didn't go with Frank because I thought I would pass him later, let 1st place girl go and passed another guy. Then came the blisters. Through the 2.5 water stop I tried to throw water on my feet, I missed, then I took a few steps in the small stream beside the road. Both times I slowed my pace way down and had a hard time getting back in a fast rhythm. I got passed by the masters guy, then got passed by Michelle (hard fore-foot striker). I ran as much as I could on the softer ground to the right of the road, this race is just a killer, of course there's the leg pain, then the lung pain, and to add the foot pain, I just gave up. My right shoe came untied the last 1.5, but my left foot blister is the bigger one. I'd say I had 5 chances to run better but didn't. I still won first in my age and the Peruvian owner said it was fast for an old guy :-) The last 3 miles were at 5:40 pace. Teren won, then Seth Wold, then Augustus Gray. My time last year (26:10) would have beat the Master's runners I think, Cobler and the winner.
I couldn't even put my left foot in water, the pain was too great, but the skin and somewhat reattached (Monday). This has given me a fire to train more, I just can't do it right now. | 