Doonst's third go-round at Egg Nog Jog
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:33 pm
I just realized looking at my old results that this is the first race I have done 3 times. I must like it to keep at it year after year. Although it is close to home, and there's not much competition from other races in December, it really is a special race.
It was a good day for it, just below freezing and light wind. It started snowing lightly just as we entered Terra Cotta. A beautiful wintery scene. There was quite a large maniac turnout, some I saw before the race and some after. I met a few new faces too, Rockstar79, GK, and rundmc, all very nice (so far). Several familiar faces that I won't all list. I knew lots of locals and some friends from Toronto and Mississauga too.
My previous times were 55:55 and 52:14. Last year I was in another epic duel with dgrant where he edged me by 3 seconds. Today I would be happy just beating that time, as I wondered if I could keep up that intensity without the competition factor. My last 2 races in November were both struggles, but I was feeling okay today.
The first 2 k are mostly downhill, Its so much fun. I did a 3:51 and a 3:48 K splits, first time ever (I'm sure) that I have done back-to-back sub 4's. Last year was 4:04 and 4:02, I'm ahead already. Heading up a couple easy hills, people start streaming by me. I guess they had gone out more conservatively, but hey I know the course. I gotta be me and run my own race, and not let it drive me crazy when people pass. So the next couple k's of rolling pavement went well, didn't feel too bad and the times were fine. Turned north onto dirt road, rollers then a downhill on snowpack or mud sections. Usually through here you could pick ice snow or dirt to run on. One aid station at 5 k, then "the big hill." It rises 50 M in 400 M. I did walk a bit of it again this year, more people passed me including 2 that I knew. There was no bag-pipes this year?? Then a flat stretch and another little hill, that one always gets me. Just not enough time to recover from the big one and you go up again. Soon we turn east back onto pavement and it seems much easier and faster. Just before 9 K we turn south back onto a dirt snow covered road, but the end is near. Speeds go up again, as people pour it on. I pass and am passed. At 10 k we are back onto pavement and heading downhill around a big corner. I re-pass one of the people I knew that got me on the big uphill, again she shouts encouragement. I get huge speed up on the downhill, just flying. Then a flat bit and a right turn in to the final stretch to the line. I know my time should be good, but figure I am somewhere in the 51:xx range. Crossing the line I see 50:30 on the clock, wooo hoo. Official time is 50:34, I'm happy with that, 100 seconds faster than last year on similar conditions. My last 800 M was done at 3:39 pace; 4:41 pace average. Lots of people to talk to after the race, then I head inside the shelter for food. Talking to Jim Gore, he points out that I am shivering. I go over near a heater for a while, more people around including Adeel. He points out that I am tall. Eventually, I go to the car to change clothes at least. S.O. is there with Bud our dog, and he is shivering too, so we head out. All in all, it went well, which is great, I can only imagine that it wouldn't be a good place to have a bad race.
It was a good day for it, just below freezing and light wind. It started snowing lightly just as we entered Terra Cotta. A beautiful wintery scene. There was quite a large maniac turnout, some I saw before the race and some after. I met a few new faces too, Rockstar79, GK, and rundmc, all very nice (so far). Several familiar faces that I won't all list. I knew lots of locals and some friends from Toronto and Mississauga too.
My previous times were 55:55 and 52:14. Last year I was in another epic duel with dgrant where he edged me by 3 seconds. Today I would be happy just beating that time, as I wondered if I could keep up that intensity without the competition factor. My last 2 races in November were both struggles, but I was feeling okay today.
The first 2 k are mostly downhill, Its so much fun. I did a 3:51 and a 3:48 K splits, first time ever (I'm sure) that I have done back-to-back sub 4's. Last year was 4:04 and 4:02, I'm ahead already. Heading up a couple easy hills, people start streaming by me. I guess they had gone out more conservatively, but hey I know the course. I gotta be me and run my own race, and not let it drive me crazy when people pass. So the next couple k's of rolling pavement went well, didn't feel too bad and the times were fine. Turned north onto dirt road, rollers then a downhill on snowpack or mud sections. Usually through here you could pick ice snow or dirt to run on. One aid station at 5 k, then "the big hill." It rises 50 M in 400 M. I did walk a bit of it again this year, more people passed me including 2 that I knew. There was no bag-pipes this year?? Then a flat stretch and another little hill, that one always gets me. Just not enough time to recover from the big one and you go up again. Soon we turn east back onto pavement and it seems much easier and faster. Just before 9 K we turn south back onto a dirt snow covered road, but the end is near. Speeds go up again, as people pour it on. I pass and am passed. At 10 k we are back onto pavement and heading downhill around a big corner. I re-pass one of the people I knew that got me on the big uphill, again she shouts encouragement. I get huge speed up on the downhill, just flying. Then a flat bit and a right turn in to the final stretch to the line. I know my time should be good, but figure I am somewhere in the 51:xx range. Crossing the line I see 50:30 on the clock, wooo hoo. Official time is 50:34, I'm happy with that, 100 seconds faster than last year on similar conditions. My last 800 M was done at 3:39 pace; 4:41 pace average. Lots of people to talk to after the race, then I head inside the shelter for food. Talking to Jim Gore, he points out that I am shivering. I go over near a heater for a while, more people around including Adeel. He points out that I am tall. Eventually, I go to the car to change clothes at least. S.O. is there with Bud our dog, and he is shivering too, so we head out. All in all, it went well, which is great, I can only imagine that it wouldn't be a good place to have a bad race.
