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June 18, 2005
Crunchy
Yesterday was so beautiful and I felt so beat up, that I decided it warranted a short two mile jog. My theory was that it would help get the blood flowing in my legs since I planned to race today. I felt pretty darn awful early on in my little jaunt. It did get a little bit better as it went along, but I never felt really good. Other than doing laundry and going to the grocery store, it was a very boring day. I went to bed early so that I would feel pretty rested for the race.
I woke up this morning and felt a little more rested than I have for the past few mornings. I drove over to the race and registered. The race director decided that I merited a low number even though I told him that I really did not need a low number. I went out for my warm-up and did the course. I felt terrible...crunchy is the word that J and I use to describe how we feel after running harder than usual. Nothing feels right, nothing feels smooth...you just feel crunchy.
I got back, put on my racing shoes and number and got ready to race. I did see a few women who could push me. These are women who I can usually beat, but I was sort of concerned because I just was not feeling all that fluid. It is really a shame that I wasn't feeling so hot since this is the kind of course that I tend to run well on. There aren't really any steep ups or downs, it is an out and back with mainly gradual inclines and declines. The start is pretty downhill for about two tenths of a mile, then you make a left turn and go up the steepest of the hills (it is pretty steep, but is really short), then you make a right onto the main thoroughway of the course. It has a slight grade, but both ways manage to feel uphill! Just before the mile mark there is a zig-zag to take you into the park. You run about four tenths of a mile up the hill in the park to the turnaround and then do the same thing backwards.
I knew that I wasn't feeling so hot, but I really did want to win. I was with the leading woman for most of the first mile, she surged a little bit before the mile marker and maintained that distance for most of the race. At the turnaround, I saw another woman who was pretty close behind. I felt like I was closing the gap on the winning woman, but could never really get it. With about a half mile to go, the other woman passed me. It turns out that she caught the woman who was leading to win. I can't say that I am particulary happy with the time, but I have to accept it. I ran 19:37, I know that I can run much, much faster, but given how I felt it was as good as I could give.
I don't want to start making excuses, because that is a bad habit. I do think that I ran harder than I should have on Thursday night. I didn't really back off on that course until about the three mile point. The fact that I ran only six seconds slower on such a difficult course makes me believe that I put too much into that race.
I did the course again as a warm-down, giving me a grand total of almost 9.5 miles for the day. I hung out at the awards ceremony and collected my $50 gift certificate to this trendy boutique. Fifty bucks will not really go anywhere there, so I can splurge some when they have their clearance sale. The overall winners won teeth-whitening, something I would have liked since I think my teeth could be a bit whiter.
I was going to go and lift, but I feel tired. I'll have to settle for only lifting once this week, unless I can talk my mom into going to the gym with me tomorrow. My brother is on his way home right now, so we might not be able to go because we have to entertain him.
Posted by Blondie at June 18, 2005 12:24 PM
Comments
Strong race report. And congrats on completing another race so close to the last. It really does sound like it was a fun week workout wise. Enjoy your weekend!
Posted by: Audrey at June 18, 2005 03:08 PM