Toad '09, what's a Doonst to do
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:12 pm
I've been aiming at this race for 6 weeks now, the first big test of my return to any distance after a slow summer of AT issues. Aiming means stressing, hoping, and riding that fine line in training between conservative injury management and maximizing distance to be prepared. All along I've said the main goal was just to be ready enough to finish the thing. Then, after one 20 K last weekend, and a couple of tempo runs this week, I started looking at my previous time here (2:19:43) and saying, what if? Oh, vain hopes. I even made the plan; 1:08 first loop, then a 1:10 final loop.
SO and Tuzo bailed on coming yesterday because of rain forecasts. Of course it turned into a fine day (for running), cloudy with sunny breaks, some breeze. Coolish except in the sun. There wasn't even that much mud on the course, just a couple of spots.
Lots of maniacs in attendance, way too many to mention. Hopefully all will race report in. The social aspect is a big part of this race. If I started I would write a book!
So we're off, the 1200 people didn't seem to make for the crazy crowd scene you might think. At least for those of us up front. I went out too fast last time; this year it was a conservative yet strong first half. Totally in control. It didn't feel all that easy though, I was wondering how I'd manage to keep up near that pace second loop. Went through the line at 1:08 45, sort of okay with that. I felt strong enough up until about 14-15 K. Then my feet started to hurt. Made me mad a bit, but really I just don't have the miles on them lately. Slowed down noticably here. Then my hip started to hurt for a while, probably because I was running funny because of my sore feet. All that passed though and I got a few good miles in. Then around 19 K, I started getting sharp pain in my right knee. It was intense for a while, had me worried, but that too passed. I slowed down big-time here. Mid-Packer and Bruyere (yes, doing the 50!!)passed me between 19 and 22 K marks, of course so did a lot of people. I had basically stopped racing to baby my knee. The pain did come and go, and I did get moments of good running in, in between the sucky parts. My goal had changed from sub 2:18, to sub 2:25, then please sub 2:30. I need some small victories. The last part wasn't too bad, nothing hurt for a change. Came in at 2:26:06, or 6:23 slower than last time.
I figure that most of the pains and most of my slacking in the second half, is caused by the reality of my lack of substantial training for the last 4 months. Just because I'm less injured doesn't mean that I snap my fingers and return to peak form. I should be happy that I got it done, my AT feels fine, and I'm making progress. (getting there) I just wanna be fast again! Only fellow runners would know what that 6 minutes means.
Sometimes wardrobe malfunctions are just wardrobe malfunctions. As MidPacker passed me (around 20-22K I guess?) he mentioned that I had a split in the rear of my shorts. Yes, my beloved Lava Flow shorts had a 2 inch crack in the seams. So as soon as I finish, I go over to sit on a picnic table in the med are with Marg. A couple of minutes later, a guy comes over, from the Chiptime van area it looks like. He tells me that I have a split in my shorts, I say yes I have heard that. He says, no in the front too. As we all look down, woops there it is, mostly berries but some twig. I quickly cover up with a shirt after thanking him kindly. And I slink off to the car to change... Worst part was Trixiee gleefully make me re-tell the story 100 times.
The Toad, at 1250 people, is still the Toad only bigger. Never my favorite course, still they do so many things first rate. Runners and walkers from all over the spectrum. Course records this year in both distances. Lots of great Maniac performances today too, DKLS as always stands out, but how about that Bruyere???!!! So impressive, a BQ will be an anti-climax. Thanks to all, especially Prats and Trixiee, and Mini-T for volunteering. And Marg and Tortoise. And Ed Fizz... and...
SO and Tuzo bailed on coming yesterday because of rain forecasts. Of course it turned into a fine day (for running), cloudy with sunny breaks, some breeze. Coolish except in the sun. There wasn't even that much mud on the course, just a couple of spots.
Lots of maniacs in attendance, way too many to mention. Hopefully all will race report in. The social aspect is a big part of this race. If I started I would write a book!
So we're off, the 1200 people didn't seem to make for the crazy crowd scene you might think. At least for those of us up front. I went out too fast last time; this year it was a conservative yet strong first half. Totally in control. It didn't feel all that easy though, I was wondering how I'd manage to keep up near that pace second loop. Went through the line at 1:08 45, sort of okay with that. I felt strong enough up until about 14-15 K. Then my feet started to hurt. Made me mad a bit, but really I just don't have the miles on them lately. Slowed down noticably here. Then my hip started to hurt for a while, probably because I was running funny because of my sore feet. All that passed though and I got a few good miles in. Then around 19 K, I started getting sharp pain in my right knee. It was intense for a while, had me worried, but that too passed. I slowed down big-time here. Mid-Packer and Bruyere (yes, doing the 50!!)passed me between 19 and 22 K marks, of course so did a lot of people. I had basically stopped racing to baby my knee. The pain did come and go, and I did get moments of good running in, in between the sucky parts. My goal had changed from sub 2:18, to sub 2:25, then please sub 2:30. I need some small victories. The last part wasn't too bad, nothing hurt for a change. Came in at 2:26:06, or 6:23 slower than last time.
I figure that most of the pains and most of my slacking in the second half, is caused by the reality of my lack of substantial training for the last 4 months. Just because I'm less injured doesn't mean that I snap my fingers and return to peak form. I should be happy that I got it done, my AT feels fine, and I'm making progress. (getting there) I just wanna be fast again! Only fellow runners would know what that 6 minutes means.
Sometimes wardrobe malfunctions are just wardrobe malfunctions. As MidPacker passed me (around 20-22K I guess?) he mentioned that I had a split in the rear of my shorts. Yes, my beloved Lava Flow shorts had a 2 inch crack in the seams. So as soon as I finish, I go over to sit on a picnic table in the med are with Marg. A couple of minutes later, a guy comes over, from the Chiptime van area it looks like. He tells me that I have a split in my shorts, I say yes I have heard that. He says, no in the front too. As we all look down, woops there it is, mostly berries but some twig. I quickly cover up with a shirt after thanking him kindly. And I slink off to the car to change... Worst part was Trixiee gleefully make me re-tell the story 100 times.
The Toad, at 1250 people, is still the Toad only bigger. Never my favorite course, still they do so many things first rate. Runners and walkers from all over the spectrum. Course records this year in both distances. Lots of great Maniac performances today too, DKLS as always stands out, but how about that Bruyere???!!! So impressive, a BQ will be an anti-climax. Thanks to all, especially Prats and Trixiee, and Mini-T for volunteering. And Marg and Tortoise. And Ed Fizz... and...