I had a great time at the Alta Peruvian Downhill Dash and Bar-B-Q Bash.Woke up this morning feeling like I ran a marathon instead of an 8k. As usual, we had a great time afterwards socializing with the rest of the runners who were staying over night at the lodge.
We met Steve Anderson and his two daughters who are the same age as my kids. Ann watched the kids as Steve and I raced. "Your dad is faster than our dad", my daughter Abby said to Steve's kids as we passed them on the side of the road at the first mile. Ouch! Here are my splits as they popped up on my Garmin...
1.02 - 4:47 (Steve ran a 4:32 I think - what can you do?)
.99 - 5:01
.98 - 4:58
.98 - 5:06
1.07 - 4:42
I was hitting the split button every time I hit a mile marker and then at the finish. I attribute all the .98's to my efficiency at hitting the tangents on the way down the mountain. I'm pretty psyched about the 4:42 for the final 1.07. Although I can't say I was at the time. I was actually hoping to sort of cruise the last mile, but the races first woman was closing fast. She forced me to suffer greatly the last mile to beat her. Finished 6th just like last year and second to Steve in the Masters division just like last year. Won a free night this ski season at the Peruvian along with dinner and breakfast plus $100.00. Pretty cool.
This morning (Sunday) we went for a couple mile hike through Albion Basin to Cecret Lake with Steve and his family. Lots of fun. Did some rock climbing along the way and tried unsuccesfully to keep the kids, especially Andy, from falling into the lake. Didn't check out of the Peruvian until around noon today.
I never can figure out why only about a hundred people do this race. Probably the downhill pounding that reduces your quads to mush.Everything about the race is first rate though - it's so much more than just another road race. | 