Today was the Antelope Island Buffalo Run 25k. I was originally signed up for the 50k but changed to the 25k due to my injuries. Since RR100 in Feb, here are my weekly running and cross-training miles. | Week | Cross train miles | Run miles | Total miles | | Feb 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Feb 20 | 20 | 0 | 20 | | Feb 27 | 25 | 23 | 48 | | Mar 6 | 20.5 | 34.5 | 55 | | Mar 13 | 14 | 31.5 | 45.5 | | Mar 20 | 14 | 44 | 58 | | Mar 27 | 0 | 65 | 65 |
Conclusion: This week is my first week with no crosstraining miles, and my first week with more than 50 miles running since Christmas (excluding RR100 race day). Not counting this week or RR, I ran 200 total miles this year-blah. In other words, I'm slowly getting back into shape but have a long, long ways to go. With that understanding, I had low expectations going into this race. I was hoping for 2:10-2:15 for the 25k, but had never been to the island before so didn't know how hilly it would really be. Cody started his 50k at 8 am, then I cheered on a few of the 50 milers and the lone 100 miler, Davy. I was very worried because my hips hurt even during the warm up, and they wouldn't get better during the race. But the pain was manageable. Soon it was our turn to start at 10 am. Weather was rather nice- sunny, chilly, with a breeze from the north. Lots of runners I knew on the start line, including Brad Mitchell, Nephi Gold, and Albert Wint. We started off at a moderate pace with a bit of chatting, and saw Cody finishing his first loop before the half-mile mark. Brad and Albert took off at mile 1, gradually pulled away, and were never seen again. After a steady climb for most of the first part, I hit aid station 1 in 43 min and 6th place, with Nephi, the famous Matt Hart, and Chris Lundberg ahead. The trail does a very enjoyable 5.5 mile loop at this point, first descending for 2 miles, then climbing with switchbacks for 2 more before some rollers. I passed Nephi and Matt on the down, then caught Chris on the switchbacks and was in 3rd place by aid 2 (mile 11). I was at about 1:24 and feeling better than expected. Karl Meltzer was at the aid station and told me that I was 8 minutes behind the leaders- wow. I charged off hard to stay ahead of the strong-looking Matt who lurked just behind. The last 5 miles were not my favorite- lots of exposed, relatively-flat trail, where I could see up to 1 mile ahead. Eventually the finish line appeared just over a mile away, and I had 10 minutes to break the 2 hour mark. I pushed hard and finished in 1:58:29, 3rd place overall. Albert edged out Brad, both 10 minutes ahead of me and in course record time (and finishing the same time as 50k Nick Clark, who also set a CR). Matt and Nephi were just behind. I grabbed my camera and ran up to the 1 mile mark on the trail, hoping to get a good picture of Cody finishing his 50k. But, I had to head back for the awards before he appeared. Unfortunately, they still had me as doing the 50k on the finishers sheet, so I didn't get a 25k award (and declined the 2nd place overall 50k award), but that's ok with me. I ate lots of yummy buffalo stew to make up for it. And Cody did awesome and won an age award, though I won't spoil his report. Overall, this is a great race in a beautiful, unique location I had never been at before. Jim really does a good job, though I was disappointed to never see any buffalo during the race, only before and afterwards. I particularly enjoyed talking to lots of great runners after the race, many of whom I only knew by their blog before today (50m winners Ryan Burch and Scott Jaime, Matt Hart, Karl Jarvis, Brian Beckstead, Nick Clark, Erik Storheim, plus FRB-ers nfroerer, facelessghost, Jim Kern, a surprise appearance by Chad and his kids, plus cheered Twinkies and Jun into the finish- plus lots of otherss!). Trail runners are a great bunch of nice folks. Cody and I had to head out so I could get my kids from the babysitter, and we were still an hour late. I'm very happy with today, though- I have a long, long ways to go before I'm in racing shape, but I already have a bit of spunk in my legs and feel like my hips are slowly getting better. And no ab pain today. Now I have 9 weeks of hard training to get ready for the tough Pocatello 50 miler. Maybe I can actually compete against Cody this time, since I wimped out of the first race of our series. A few race photos on my blogspot page.
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