How Much Discomfort Can I Tolerate?!

Lake Mingo 7.1 Mile Trail Race

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Location:

Eugene,OR,USA

Member Since:

Nov 09, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

  • 5k PR - 18:48 (7/04/08)
  • 8K PR - 33:46 (5/19/07, on trails)
  • 10k PR - I have not run a competitive 10K yet.
  • 12K PR - 50:10 (8/09/08)
  • 15K PR - 1:04:52 (3/22/08)
  • Marathon - Have run 1 trail marathon, (Grand Island) 3:55 (July 2007)
  • Ultra Marathons -
  • Farmdale 33.5 miles, 10/08 - 6:08
  • Riddle Run 28 Miles, 01/09 - 5:35 (run in 2-3 inches of snow)
  • Devil's Lake 50k, 07/09 - 6:22
  • Howl at the Moon 8 hour, 08/09 - 39.98 miles
  • North Country Trail Run 50 miles, 09/09 - 9:44
  • Farmdale 32 miles, 10/09 - 5:45
  • McNotAgain 30 Miles, 10/09 - 5:50
  • Red Rock Canyon Half, Las Vegas, 06/12 - 2:15


Short-Term Running Goals:

Keep running in the winter - 1st year in Eugene - fun!

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep on Keeping on..

Personal:

Moved to Eugene in Autumn, 2012 - Track city USA!

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Lake Mingo 7.1 Mile Trail Race (7.1 Miles) 00:56:15
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
16.700.007.100.0023.80

What a great day. When I put in sessions like this I see my running potential unfolding in ways I had not imagined. 

After checking in at race registration I passed Mike I. Last year Mike and I had some fun speed sessions at the track, and he won the 2008 master runner of the year award with our running club. He expressed surprise at seeing me, thinking I had left the running scene because it had been months since I had participated in a race. I explained my winter injury, and then he told me he heard I had signed up for the Howl race in August. I laughed, good news travels fast.

When I started my 2.5 mile warm-up I was happy to find that my legs felt on edge and ready to roll. I had forgotten how potent race day adrenaline can be. It had been a long time since I felt the running fire burning hot.

When I lined up to start the race Mike made a place for me next to him. I told him I would be happy to break an hour. "I will bet you a six pack that you break an hour", he joked. I was ready to shake his hand, but then I pulled it back, because I knew I was most likely going to break an hour. "Well, I probably will break an hour, if I do I will be happy", and soon we were off.

I started off a bit quicker than my long run pace, so I was moving slow, but I felt great, and knew that at any time I could put in a burst and pass a lot of people. But I also knew that I had not run a sustained hard pace since the Siberian race back in January, so I could not expect to hang with my regular group of runners. I was content to experience the race from the middle of the pack, and after all, if I drop comparison's with others, any place in the pack seems fun and fast if I am trying hard.

At the half mile mark I saw Audrey I., a top local master female runner, and I tucked in behind and followed her pace. She had a nice stride going, and I felt happy to be back racing the trails, smelling the warm foliage and grasses, feeling the mud and moist earth moving beneath me. It was the first time I had a chance to wear my cross country shoes in a race, they felt light and fast, gripping the dirt and mud securely, the flat heel leaving little chance of an ankle twist.

Audrey and I passed a few people and I hung with her until mile 3. We were running an 8:15-30 pace, but she started to slow on the short, steep hills, so I moved past and struck out on my own. I passed some runners, and then I heard puffing that was getting louder with each step. I turned behind and saw Margaret B, another top local master runner, gaining on me fast. I moved to the side of the narrow single track to let her pass. When she did I made the observation that I was still in long run mode, my breathing quiet and my heart rate moderate. Margaret was straining, willing herself onwards. I knew I had to quickly decide whether to follow Margaret, or let her go. Having Margaret come along was like getting dealt  AA in poker, when you are lucky enough to hold those cards, folding is the last thing to do. I decided I needed to gamble by increasing my pace, but I knew the final 3.5 miles were going to be risky and difficult. I sucked it up and tucked in behind Margaret, feeling my turnover increase, along with my heart rate. We were pacing at  7:30-45, so this was now becoming my first speed run of the season. I still felt good, my legs were fresh, and even though my breathing was no longer serene, I felt I had a chance to hang with her to the end.

We passed a lot of runners, and even talked a bit. She had never run the course, so every half mile she was asking me how far we had left. She was not slowing down, but she was not speeding up either, so I had a chance to make it to the finish without bailing.

When we reached the 400m grass straightaway leading to the finish, I found another gear and smoothly accelerated past Margaret, and I passed 3 or 4 other runners as I coasted to the finish, getting into the chute in 56:15. Two years ago I ran this course in 51:26, but I had practiced a lot of speed runs that year, so to run it 5 minutes slower is to be expected with my current state of fitness.

After the race I met Joe P., and we talked for 15 minutes. When I got back to my car I saw Ken W. and talked with him, then Margaret came along and the 3 of us talked running.

I refueled at my car and then readied myself for the second adventure of the day, 2 more loops of the Mingo course run at long run speed. It was going to be challenging because it was 80 degrees and humid, and I had just expended a large amount of energy in the race.

The 2nd loop went smoothly, and I saw a woman who had run the race doing the same thing as me, we smiled and said hi as we passed (she was going in the opposite direction). When I started the 3rd loop I was fatigued, hot, hungry, but I got into a running zone at mile 2 and cruised slowly to the finish.

A great workout today, it should help in getting me ready for the 50k in July at Devil's Lake.

Comments
From JimF on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 19:36:24 from 68.58.15.32

Good job on your first race in a while. It is always nice to get that adrenaline going again. Awesome putting it two additional loops.

From JD on Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 22:54:44 from 166.203.116.87

Nice job! It's great to be reading one of your race reports again. What a great day of running!

From Will on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 16:08:04 from 76.227.78.202

Thanks Jim and JD, I am looking forward to more races this summer, it will be fun. Good luck to the both of you with your own racing schedules.

From Twinkies on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 20:39:15 from 67.166.71.60

Wow. Running the course three times. That's some dedicated training. You'll do well at your next race.

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