Robbie-T @ 5 Peaks-Albion Hills Enduro
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:08 pm
Pictures link
http://robbie-t.kicks-ass.org/2009-08-Albion%20Hills%20Enduro/
Last race before baby #3 arrives, wanted to go out hard and have a good race before packing the race shoes away for a few months.
I ran a half marathon at Albion Hills a couple years ago so I knew what I was in for. Lots of hills, nothing too technical, constant twists and turns for 12.8 km.
The boys both ran the kids race, both guys fell at the start, got back up and finished the run bloody knees and all. They had fun.
My sweet goal was top 10, but top 20 would have been nice too, 5 Peaks races always have some top touch talent show up. I thought an average pace of 4:20-4:30 would be a good goal looking at last years results.
Doonst snickered at my goals, just what I needed before the race
a doubter for incentive.
I took off with the first wave, started near the back of the pack, not what I planned, but they got started before I was really set, so I make my way through the pack, then start my watch about 700m into the race, oops no biggie really.
The first 1-2km I'm making my way through the pack and settle in behind 'red shirt' for a while. Around 4-5k I pass him and make some distance on him. After that I didn't see anyone ahead of me, so I hold my position for a while then I got a glimpse of 'no shirt'. Oh Boy!! a target. So for the next few km, I work on making some ground on him, and ever so slowly I do. At one point a pass a volunteer that said I was in 11th, well that is just going to make me push just that much more to get into the top 10.
The trail was tough, always up and down, twist and turn, and I was feeling more tired. With about 3k to go, I finally find myself on 'no shirt' heels, I wait for a good spot to pass, right at the top of a hill and push hard down the hill to try to break his spirit. Now I'm running scared and I know there isn't much race left and I want to stay in front of him.
Finally in the last km and I give it all I have left, race recklessly down the final hill and through the finish.
55:49 final time
10th overall
5th in my age group 30-39 out of 58
4:22 avg pace 12.8km
I grabbed the 3rd place AG medal, since 2 of the top 3 were also in my AG.
I feel super about the effort I put into this race and my results.
Pictures to come.
http://robbie-t.kicks-ass.org/2009-08-Albion%20Hills%20Enduro/
Last race before baby #3 arrives, wanted to go out hard and have a good race before packing the race shoes away for a few months.
I ran a half marathon at Albion Hills a couple years ago so I knew what I was in for. Lots of hills, nothing too technical, constant twists and turns for 12.8 km.
The boys both ran the kids race, both guys fell at the start, got back up and finished the run bloody knees and all. They had fun.
My sweet goal was top 10, but top 20 would have been nice too, 5 Peaks races always have some top touch talent show up. I thought an average pace of 4:20-4:30 would be a good goal looking at last years results.
Doonst snickered at my goals, just what I needed before the race
a doubter for incentive.
I took off with the first wave, started near the back of the pack, not what I planned, but they got started before I was really set, so I make my way through the pack, then start my watch about 700m into the race, oops no biggie really.
The first 1-2km I'm making my way through the pack and settle in behind 'red shirt' for a while. Around 4-5k I pass him and make some distance on him. After that I didn't see anyone ahead of me, so I hold my position for a while then I got a glimpse of 'no shirt'. Oh Boy!! a target. So for the next few km, I work on making some ground on him, and ever so slowly I do. At one point a pass a volunteer that said I was in 11th, well that is just going to make me push just that much more to get into the top 10.
The trail was tough, always up and down, twist and turn, and I was feeling more tired. With about 3k to go, I finally find myself on 'no shirt' heels, I wait for a good spot to pass, right at the top of a hill and push hard down the hill to try to break his spirit. Now I'm running scared and I know there isn't much race left and I want to stay in front of him.
Finally in the last km and I give it all I have left, race recklessly down the final hill and through the finish.
55:49 final time
10th overall
5th in my age group 30-39 out of 58
4:22 avg pace 12.8km
I grabbed the 3rd place AG medal, since 2 of the top 3 were also in my AG.
I feel super about the effort I put into this race and my results.
Pictures to come.
.
