That hurt. That sucked. Especially when I was slightly hungover and hadn't trained for this fast running crap in months!
Slightly Longer Version:
Not sure why I thought this would be a good idea. To run a 5K followed by a 10K 45 minutes later. But I signed up and suffered.
My initial goal was to go under 60 minutes for both races combined. As far as I was concerned, I didn't think I had a chance in hell. Last time I focused on any leg turnover need for a 5K (much less 10K) was way back in January as I prepared for the Red Hot Moab 55K. The race outcome was as follows:
5K - 18:58 (6:07 pace). 4th in my age group. 26th out of 2060 finishers.
10K - 40:04 (6:27 pace). 4th in my age group. 30th out of 1008 finishers. (20:17 1st 5K & 19:47 2nd 5K)
Total Time of 59 minutes and 2 seconds. 0 Pumpkin Pie Slices consumed. Though my daughter ate 1/4 of a slice for me.
My game plan for the first race. To not crash and burn during the 5K race. A one loop course. I worked it pretty good but left some in the tank. The easy warm up and cool down before this race helped tremendously.
Game plan for the second race. Try and run a first lap 5K pace that I could hold for 3 straight laps. No way in hell I could have ran 3 straight 20 minute 5Ks but thankfully I knew I had one more in me. Not sure how I carved of 30 seconds on my second lap.
Not training for these types of races was extremely evident during that last lap of the 10K. I simply didn't have the muscle focus to turn my legs over. My breathing wasn't labored and my running form pretty relaxed but I simply couldn't run faster. At the same time, the fact that I was able to run at under a 6 minute pace for anything longer then a few strides kind of blew me away. I'm pretty sure the last 1/2 mile of the 10K came close to a 5:40 pace. I felt it though. Afterwards I was pretty sore and tight.
Thankfully for me there were a few folks who had the perfect recovery plan and drink for the efforts exerted that morning.
(Photo courtesy of JT....surprise surprise)
Someone asked me afterwards if I was going to focus any of my running attention to these shorter distances. HA! First of all I love the trails way to much. Second, running these road races are for losers who like to put 13.1 bumper stickers on their cars. Lastly, these races are tough as hell and would destroy me within a few months!
