Race Report: Illinois Ozark 10K Trail Run

Saturday morning was beautiful.  It was sunny and the high 30s at race time.  There was a slight breeze.  I was fretting over my clothing choices because I was chilly getting ready.  I had to remind myself to dress for the run and not the standing around pre-race.  We got to the park and picked up packets.  It was early enough that I went back to the car for a few minutes to relax.  It finally got close enough and I head out for a short warm up.  I had a GU with me, but decided to save it until mid run.  About 15 minutes before start I finally dragged myself out into the cold.  A final restroom stop and time to warm up.  We ran a short loop around the streets near the ball field and headed to the line.  After the national anthem, I moved to the front of pack and tossed my jacket to the sidelines.  We got a whistle and were off.

I still feel odd when I move to the front -- like an imposter.

I stayed with the lead group for about half a mile.  I was trying to pace with them, but realized it was something I couldn't sustain -- I needed to run my own race.  Around about that time, Ryan passed me.  With his long stride I wasn't surprised.  We hit the trail a little less than a mile in and started going up, up, up.  From last year I remember how much energy I expended trying to run this first one.  I switched to a quick walk and focused on turnover.  I was able to pass two of the ladies who had passed me on the pavement, as well as Ryan.  At a mile and a half we finally hit the top of the bluff.  I began running again and the trail began its descent.  I kept my eyes on the trail and moved as quickly as I could without tripping over my own feet.  I finally reached the bottom and the flat section of the race.  Ryan passed me again, as did some girl who came out of nowhere and made me feel like I was standing still!  I saw the three mile mark and knew I was halfway.  I was mentally preparing myself for the climb that was yet to come.  I came out into the opening and got passed by another woman.  She had been in the lead group with me at the start and I had passed her on the first climb.  I grabbed a cup of water and began the uphill.

The beauty of trail running...amazing scenery.   

Finish strong!

Bling!!!

I found a good walking pace up the stone "stairs" and managed to pass the woman again.  Ryan was just ahead of me.  Leg speed, leg speed.  I got passed him again as well.  The trail flattened and I ran again until it tilted back up.  Time to walk again.  I saw another woman ahead of me and I tried to shut down the gap.  I was closing in on her until we reached the top.  She was able to descend faster than me--story of my life.  This descent was less treacherous than the first.  It was also the uphill we originally climbed.  I saw the marker for mile five and knew I was close to pavement.  I popped out of the woods and onto the road.  The first half mile or so of the road was downhill, until we made the left back to the park.  It was around there that Ryan passed me again.  I tried to move in behind him and pace/draft off of him, but I couldn't match his stride.  I turned the corner into the parking lot and started moving my arms faster hoping my legs would follow suit.  Finally the finish!  I had no idea how many woman were in front of me, but I was just glad to be done.  Official time was 55:29, a little less than two minutes faster than last year's race.  1st in AG, 4th in women, 19 overall.

Race Report: Castlewood Cup

It was sunny, windy and about 39 degrees on Saturday for the race.  I did a little under a mile warm up at a comfortable pace.  I was ceded in the third heat for the race (there were about a hundred in each heat).  We got the horn and I started weaving my way through people to get some open ground.  The race start in a field and wound around for a few minutes before hitting the first of three climbs.  The first climb was pretty rocky, a lot of loose gravel, but it wasn't too steep.  The hardest part was getting around people.  It flattened out for a minute before kicking up again.  After that we headed out into single track.  I was at the back of a line of about eight people and the opportunities to pass were limited.  I got around two as we wound through the woods and back down.  Once we hit the bottoms again, it opened up and I was able to move in front of most of the people.  We had a water station just before mile three and the second climb.  I grabbed a cup and walked a few feet before heading up the hill.  I had already decided I would walk the second and third hills to maximize my energy.  The second hill was long and wound around.  I knew there was a bench at the top and was happy to see it.  I was able to start running again.  We began our descent and hit a water stop around mile 5.  I took a GU, walked the stop and had some fluids before starting again.  The next few miles were simply a blur.  I know I ran, I know I walked a hill, but I truly don't remember much else except tripping twice and recovering before I face planted.  I had found some strange running zone and was just going with it.  Around mile seven we began to descend.  I could hear the announcer and music and knew we were closing in on the finish.  I felt tired but good, and in hind site, may have pushed too hard then.  We came out into the clearing I knew we hadn't seen mile marker 8, but I got a bit giddy about being close to the finish.  Then we wound back into the woods.  It was here that I walked for about 100 paces.  I started running again and made the creek crossing and made my way through the woods to cross the road.  I really hoped the finish was soon, but no such luck.  We wound around the same way we did for the start through the field.  I don't know know if it was my mind or my legs, but I walked.  I went through about three phases of walking in that last mile.  When I finally saw the finish line, I was able to start running again.  My splits were as follows:

M1--8:47

M2--9:07

M3--9:00

M4--10:24

M5--8:48

M6--10:53

M7--9:07

M8--8:33

M9--9:06

.2--9:30

My overall pace was 9:15.  I went back and looked at Pere Marquette in December--the terrain there was a bit hillier, but it was a shorter race.  My average pace for it was 9:48.  I was pleased with everything except my last mile for this race.  I just didn't feel like I "had it".  

Race Report: Nippy Niner

Off and running! *Photo credit: Brent Newman

I don't know what's come over me the last few months, but I've been enjoying my running more and more--including racing again.  I'm guessing that, and a little persuasion, was what talked me into the Nippy Niner.  The race was up at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area, the same location as our Wednesday Night Time Trials.  I had never realized there were off road trails up there, but they are beautiful.


The drive up to the race was dreary.  There was a heavy mist and it was chilly.  And of course my "wonderful" navigation skills set the course through some scenic neighborhoods!  It just helped to make a great day more interesting.


The race course started with four miles of gravel, headed into about 3 miles of single track, and ended with grass, field roads.  I got there and did an easy mile warm up and went back and got my Gu before heading towards the start.  The mist had let up by the time we were called to the line.  I started about mid way in the group. We got the start and I'm not sure what came over me, but I took off like a woman possessed--very inspired.  I began weaving my way in and out of the runners in front of me and quickly found myself sitting in 3rd for women.  I was pacing the 2nd place woman comfortably, but knew I was going hard and at some point I would need to let up, but not quite yet.  I caught the girl in 2nd and stayed with her.  My watch beeped at mile one and I saw I was running a 7:20 something pace.  Oh my!  That's not what I run.  I eased up a little and the girl went in front of me.  I knew I was still going too fast to maintain the pace for the entire race.  My pace for the 2nd mile ended up around 7:39--still too fast for me.  I got slowed myself down for mile three and four, still on the gravel, and I felt much better.  I grabbed water and Gu'd at the rest stop around mile 4, before the course headed into the single track.  By this time I was sitting about 5th.  The condition of the single track really surprised me.  While there were no real hills, the ground had little ups and downs.  I kept thinking how much I wished I was on my cx bike, catching air off some of those little rollers.  The miles through the single track were very peaceful, going right next to the river.  I wished I could have slowed down to enjoy the view.  I began to struggle a bit mentally around mile six, because I got passed by three more ladies.  I hate getting passed.  I also knew my splits weren't negative.  These were my slowest miles of the race, one going at 9:01.  I came out of the woods and ran the paved path for a short bit before turning into the field.  I was not prepared for this section at all.  With the rain we had this weekend, the ground was soft and squishy.  It felt like running in quick sand and my legs quickly tired.  I wanted so badly to stop and walk but would let myself.  At one point through this section, the course was under water, calf deep--I did let myself walk that.  By then, the finish line was in site in the distance and I just kept pushing through.  By the time I could see the finish clock, it was at 1:14:23 and there was no way I was going to let it hit 1:15 on me.  I dug in and went harder to get in at 1:14:39. Results were: 31st overall, 9th woman, 1st in my age group.


Overall I'm very pleased with my run, but I know I need to work at my start--going out at a pace I can maintain and getting going harder if I feel good.  My pace was strong, especially considering the terrain. I also need to work on not letting my mind limit my body.  I've never been a "true runner" in my own mind, so running sub-8 scares the heck out of me.  I have a 5K this Sunday and my approach is going to be to go all out and really see what I can do.  
  

Race Report: Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run

Ah the things that tequila after a bike ride gets you into . . . actually, I can't use that excuse this year. I signed up for this race last year due to that reason, but didn't get to race because of an unexpected trip to Texas. So this year I was all about it. The Metro East Tri Club bills this race as "an off-road 7.5 mile Train Run. We run along single-track trails through the scenic Pere Marquette State Park. Ours is considered the toughest and most grueling race in the Midwest!" That don't call this biotch Godzilla for nothing!
I got to carpool up to the race with Bob B, Tommy, Jenny and Liz. Although we spend a lot of Wednesday evenings together during the summer, this was my first race with them. We got to the lodge and picked up our numbers and vest. I was surprised at how many people I knew at a non-cycling event. It seemed like there was someone around every corner. Back at the car, I pinned on my number and found my gloves! I thought I had forgotten them and was more than a bit concerned since it was still only 19 degrees. It was about 10 minutes to our wave going off, so I did a short six minute warm up on another part of the trail.
There were 650 runners registered for the race, and I think something around 20 waves going off, 30 seconds apart. Bob was in wave 10, Liz and I in wave 11, and Tommy and Jenny in wave 12. I have no idea how they cede the waves because there were some hella fast runners starting behind us. We got a whistle and I took off. I looked over my shoulder for Liz but didn't see her. I fell in behind one of the men in our wave and let him pace me out for about the first half mile or so before I couldn't hold with him. It was within that first half mile that the trail went up, and kept going up. I tried to run it, but soon found that I was better off walking. With a good steady stride I was able to pass people and keep my heart rate under control. I decided that would be my strategy for the race. I don't think I've ever walked as much as I did on a run as I did on this one. I totally missed the first two mile markers because I was watching my footing on the ground and engaged in the race. at the first water stop I asked how far we'd come and the volunteer told just over two miles. I took water, but must have swallowed wrong because it made me cough like crazy. I took off running again.
I fell in with a small group of men and paced with them through mile 3 and the second water stop. I GU'd there and had to stop because my GU was so thick. I didn't think I could walk and chew. The group got in front of me so I set off to see if I could catch them. I got them back in sight on occasion, but never caught them. I also kept looking for Bob, wondering how fast of a pace he was keeping because I hadn't caught him.
The fourth mile marker gave me energy because I knew I was over half way done. It was around there I started toying with some girl in pink. I saw in front of me and set off to catch her. I passed her on an uphill, but she got me on the downhill. I worked to make sure I didn't let her out of my sight. The course is cruel in that somewhere right after mile six, you descend to the parking lot and turn and go straight back uphill. I kept her in my sight on that uphill, passing three men and catching her at the top. I reached the top and started running again. We hit the mark for mile seven and she passed me. Nope, not today. I went right back around her and took off. I descended like a mad woman. There were railroad ties in trail and I used those to launch myself. How I didn't fall, I'm still not sure. Regardless, I gapped her big. I wasn't sure how close she and the guy I passed were, and I didn't want to turn around to look so I just went harder. I could hear the crowd as I rounded the bluff and saw the line.
I finished in 1:13:09, which is a 9:45 average. I was 157th overall, 22nd in women and 4th in my age group. I don't know when I've been happier to run a near 10 minute mile, but on that course, I'll take it with a smile. I grabbed water, looked for Bob, and waited for Liz. I ended up running into more people I knew, which made it more fun. Liz came in about 15 minutes later and Bob was not far behind her. I guess I passed him somewhere in that first two miles where I was in the zone.
This amount of uphill in this race made it more challenging than Valmeyer, however the trails at PM were more "civilized". Still, I think it's the toughest run I've ever done. And I'll be back to kick Godzilla's butt next year. (provided it's not the day before state :-P)

Race Report: Illinois Ozark 10K Trail Run

The last time I ran a race was April 2009.  It was the Go! St. Louis Half, my seventh half marathon and it rained and rained and rained.  I stopped at mile six, asked a spectator to use his phone and decided I was ready to go home.  See, I had started racing my bike, and I had finished six halves and had nothing left to prove.  When I was debating whether to do the Go! or to blow it off and do Tour of Hermann, Coach asked me, "Are you a runner or a bike racers?"  I didn't even have to think about it.  

Now, it'simportant to know that I was supposed to race Godzilla last December, but a last minute tripto Dallas caused me to skip it.  While I wasdown there, Coach took me on a trail run, AKA put the needle in my arm onceagain.  I was in heaven.  I loved running the trails so much morethan the road.  I was hooked.  Still, I'm a bike racer (at least awanna be bike racer).
Let's jump aheadto September.  One too many pitchers of margaritas and I'm again signed upfor Godzilla.  I've got a bit of a competitive streak in me, so if I'mreally going to do this race I need to get my happy butt out on the trails. I was looking at the St. Louis Track Club website and found the IllinoisOzark 10K Trail Run.  How effing cool!  So close, I ride my bike bythere weekly, I was in!  I even decided to skip a time trial today to runthis race.  Wowza!  You know I'm hooked!
Iwas so nervous about the race this morning.  Since it's been so long sinceI've run one, I felt like I forgot my pre-race routine. I did oatmeal andcoffee about two hours before and got to the park in plenty of time.  Iwas so cold when I got there, I was worried I had dressed wrong.  I got mynumber and went back to the car and pinned it on.  I sat in the car tostay warm until about 20 minutes before the race.  I watched other runnersget there and I remembered how I never felt like I belonged to the"runner" group.  I still feel like I'm a poser. I only startedrunning five years ago.  It's a past time I had to work very hard at whichto become mediocre.  
Imade a last minute restroom trip and took my GU and some water before headingout to warm up.  I did a little seven minute run and went back to thestart line.  I saw Tom Hootselle in the back, so I stood back there andchatted with him before we started.  He finished IMKY, his first, inAugust and is trying to get me to the tri side.
They gave a fewinstructions and blew the horn--off we went.  Because I started in thevery back, it was slow getting started.  Tom took off ahead of me and Ifigured I should start moving my way forward.  I worked my way through thecrowd, trying to find my pace and rhythm.  We were still on the pavementwhen I felt like I was able to open up and hit my stride.  I passed Tomand heard him tell me to go get 'em.  
We turned on tothe trail and it was all uphill.  I kept moving up, passing people andrunning.  The grade finally got too steep and I had to walk.  I waspacing against a girl right in front of me, and for a few minutes, I thought Icould pass her.  She found a little kick and put some ground in betweenus.  We kept going up and up and up.  It was about a mile and half inbefore the trail leveled out into some good rollers.  The girl was out ofmy sight by then.  I was running on my own.  The first major descentbegan and it was steep.  I took it a bit slower than I would have liked. I could hear someone behind me, but I focused on the trail ahead.  Ihit the base of the trail and was able to add a little speed again.  I sawthe three mile mark and knew my pacing was good, my legs felt good and mybreathing was fine.  I also knew it was about time to head back up.  
I finished thatsection of trail and was heading back to Salt Lick.  I walked the waterstop and the lady there told me I was the second woman overall.  In myhead I thought that couldn't be.  She must be lying to get me to pushharder.  The trail headed back up the bluff from there.  This sectionwas very steep and had logs laid in as steps.  I walked most of theuphill.  I could feel my heart rate was high and I was trying to keep itsomewhat in control.  When it would level out, I would run again. Somewhere in there I saw the four mile mark and a volunteer who told meit was only a tenth of mile more uphill.  He did lie.  It was morethan that and there were some short steep parts.  I finally crested andsaw the water stop that was at 4.5 miles.  I started running again and wasdetermined I wouldn't stop.  The next mile and a half was all descending. I could hear someone behind me again, making up ground.  I amdefinitely timid on the downhill!  
57:14 was my official time. Splits were: M1--8:10, M2--10:02, M3--8:41, M4--10:31, M5--10:53, M6--7:05 plus the 1:49 change for the .2.  You candefinitely tell where I was going uphill!  That effort got me1st in my agegroup, 2nd overall.  I'll take it! Bring on Godzilla!

My bling!