Doonst does a timely Sulphur Springs 25 K report
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:32 am
Brief background, I did this race 2 years ago in humid conditions and struggled to a 2:36 finish. I was hoping to shave 12 minutes off that time, but thought that might be ambitious. I have no real reason to think that I am any faster than last year, but on a good day maybe. I also did my first trail race here 3 years ago, the 10 K.
I haven't felt that great this week, from GI problems to congestion to a sorer knee than I've had in a month. I figured that meant I might have a good race today, sometimes that's just the way it goes. Up at 4:45, gone by 5:45, at that time it was 8 C as the sun rose. At the race I met up with Kinga, Mike Laz and Wes Casual-Runner. Nice black tech singlet this year.
It was Casual-Runner's first trail race, fresh off his first marathon 2 weeks ago. He was hoping to tag along for 10 K or so to get a feel for it. It was fun showing him the ropes, mostly not going out too fast, and that it really is okay to walk the steep hills. Of which there are several. One woman ran right into a steel post blocking the trail from ATVs, went down hard right in the starting line crowd. We do a first 5 K loop and return to the start mat, time here was 25:5x, or about 1:10 faster than last time. Times 5 that would be 6 minutes faster, but again I went out too fast last time. Now we do the big 20 K loop, and things thin out as we lose the 50 K people.
It really is a hilly course, big small, long and steep. Good footing though, just a few muddy spots. I chose road shoes for this one, worked fine but they are dirty now. At the 11 K out and back aid station, I noticed I was feeling pretty fresh; it was here that I flagged last time. Still there were times we seemed to lag slightly, overall it was going good. The rollers from 12 to 18 K went quick, it helped to have someone to talk to. Around 18 K Casual said he was going to ease up a bit, but he somehow stuck with me. Big long hill ending at 20 K, then flats beside a field. At this aid station someone asked if we were brothers, just because we are both 6'2" and wearing matching shirts. That's when I knew I had to drop him. I was feeling pretty good with 5 K to go, so I stepped it up. Big long downhill now, just enough that you can run it without gathering too much speed. Over a K long, fun fun fun. Back up the gulch one more time, power walked it faster than the first time I'm sure. Passed one guy here who looked like he might be in my age group. I knew for a while that my time would be good, but wow. 2:13:44, or 23 minutes improvement! Almost a minute per K. So I concluded, I really did have a bad race 2 years ago, I am faster now, and I had a solid race today. Verging on very good. Just the thing for my waning confidence, best performance this year for sure. Results aren't up yet but I saw 5th out of 28 for men 50 plus, dunno overall place.
It was beautiful weather for a race, at least from 7:30 to 9:45, even then it was warm in the sun. We were thinking of the people doing 50 and 100 miles, but still pretty fine out. Another good day at the races!
I haven't felt that great this week, from GI problems to congestion to a sorer knee than I've had in a month. I figured that meant I might have a good race today, sometimes that's just the way it goes. Up at 4:45, gone by 5:45, at that time it was 8 C as the sun rose. At the race I met up with Kinga, Mike Laz and Wes Casual-Runner. Nice black tech singlet this year.
It was Casual-Runner's first trail race, fresh off his first marathon 2 weeks ago. He was hoping to tag along for 10 K or so to get a feel for it. It was fun showing him the ropes, mostly not going out too fast, and that it really is okay to walk the steep hills. Of which there are several. One woman ran right into a steel post blocking the trail from ATVs, went down hard right in the starting line crowd. We do a first 5 K loop and return to the start mat, time here was 25:5x, or about 1:10 faster than last time. Times 5 that would be 6 minutes faster, but again I went out too fast last time. Now we do the big 20 K loop, and things thin out as we lose the 50 K people.
It really is a hilly course, big small, long and steep. Good footing though, just a few muddy spots. I chose road shoes for this one, worked fine but they are dirty now. At the 11 K out and back aid station, I noticed I was feeling pretty fresh; it was here that I flagged last time. Still there were times we seemed to lag slightly, overall it was going good. The rollers from 12 to 18 K went quick, it helped to have someone to talk to. Around 18 K Casual said he was going to ease up a bit, but he somehow stuck with me. Big long hill ending at 20 K, then flats beside a field. At this aid station someone asked if we were brothers, just because we are both 6'2" and wearing matching shirts. That's when I knew I had to drop him. I was feeling pretty good with 5 K to go, so I stepped it up. Big long downhill now, just enough that you can run it without gathering too much speed. Over a K long, fun fun fun. Back up the gulch one more time, power walked it faster than the first time I'm sure. Passed one guy here who looked like he might be in my age group. I knew for a while that my time would be good, but wow. 2:13:44, or 23 minutes improvement! Almost a minute per K. So I concluded, I really did have a bad race 2 years ago, I am faster now, and I had a solid race today. Verging on very good. Just the thing for my waning confidence, best performance this year for sure. Results aren't up yet but I saw 5th out of 28 for men 50 plus, dunno overall place.
It was beautiful weather for a race, at least from 7:30 to 9:45, even then it was warm in the sun. We were thinking of the people doing 50 and 100 miles, but still pretty fine out. Another good day at the races!
Holy Carp!
