Saturday June 22, 2013
Bear Creek Park East
This run is all trail with a few hill climbs. I started off good and liked my stride, I had forgotten that this was a down hill start and the pack too hold of me and I let it lead me out to fast. As soon as we rounded out of the trees and into the open dirt hills, I felt like I was baking, even at 8am in the morning. One thing I don't like about this run is that you can see all the faster runners way out yonder and it lets you know how far you need to go. I don't like to see that far a head.
I came back to defend my third place age group title, and I honestly didn't think I could do it, so I focused on my stride and technique. I focused on picking up my legs and keeping my arms relaxed. I was really slow and when the first hill came up I remembered what I had been reading about hill training. Look up, keep posture upright, keep arms relaxed, stay on your forefront of the foot and take smaller steps. When you get to the top push thru your steps harder to crest the hill and then ride it down. I haven't figured out what "lean into the hill" means, If your supposed to keep your posture upright, how do you "lean into the hill"?
Then, after that hill you loop around and do it again. I hadn't been thru a water stop yet so I was glad I carried my own water, it was bloody hot! The second time around that hill was tougher and I walked up it. Honestly walking was tougher than running it.
The final hill really kicks your ars! It has an incline of 200 feet in a quarter mile. Lets just say I really don't like Beacon Hill.
I started to get really hot and I did not have much juice left in my body, but I pushed out what I had left. I kept telling myself that I can do it and I need to push and try as had as I can.
I finished third place....out of three in my are group. I don't feel that proud of my time or finish because I know I could have done better, I over worked myself up for this run.
I ran this race last year and was the last "real" run I had, so for me this felt slightly disappointing. I remember where I was and where I am. I am really disappointed that my body will not do what my mind tells it to do. I have to remind myself I went thru life changing events and I am finding my way back to a better and smarter runner. I only gained 1 minute on my time from last year, but I just remember feeling so much better than I did this year.
I have another run scheduled for Saturday the 29th. I am thinking of giving my toes shoes a spin if my legs will have it.
"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"
