Saturday morning was the final race in the Winter Trail Run Series. It was a 21K (approximately). There was quite a strong turn out and it was a gorgeous morning for a race. I was feeling ready and was eager to go. I started the race with Michelle Barton's dad, Doug. A "few" years older than me and apparently he can kick my butt in a race :)
The first mile was relatively easy and a very mild incline. Somewhere between miles 1 and 2 it was time to walk. I stuck with Doug and a few others in his age group all the up this hill. I made a joke that I was certain at least some of them were going to kick my butt before the day was done. At the top of the steep hill, around mile 3, was out first aid station. I didn't stop long as I wanted to keep going and make up some time on the downhill section before the big climb. My goal was sub 3 hours. My previous recent 21K had been done in 3:10 so I thought I had a shot.
Doug was just ahead of me for the entire downhill section. That guy can run technical downhills! At about mile 6 my stomach starting acting up on me again (I spent some time in the bathroom before the race with the same issue). I had to go and I had to go bad. There was nowhere to go on the nasty climb up Horsethief except for right in the middle of the trails. That was NOT an option. I dealt with this issue for the next 1.5 miles and it was not fun. Definitely slowed me down. I found a great spot to take care of my issue at the top of Horsethief and felt pretty good after that. Until about mile 11.5. I worked my way through the last section of the course but had to walk a couple times in the last half mile. Running was not helping my situation.
I finished in 3:12. The elevation change was slightly more than my previous 21K so I think I did a pretty good job considering my stomach issues. I'm not sure what was wrong there but it took me that day and part of the next day to start feeling better again.
It was a gorgeous day to run and great training race for my longer races that are coming up!
Happy Running & Dirty Feet
Jessica
P.S. Thanks to all you who left me very positive comments and emails about my race and the current situation. I greatly appreciate it!!
Good job.
Posted by: Juls | 12 March 2008 at 08:08 PM