Race Recap: Sundre Snakehills

By:
On:
In: Running
This was my first race since my 50k ultra on May 26. Between June and this race, I  haven’t spent much time in my sneakers. I gave my body the much needed rest from the long runs. Not to mention, I jumped back into crossfit.

I was super pumped to run some trails with Melea, Catherine, Laura and Megan (Becky had to bail because of an injury). Besides, who doesn’t love a roadtrip?

Pre-Race


I picked up Laura, Megan and Catherine before hitting the highway to Sundre. I ate oatmeal and drank coffee for breakfast. I didn’t go crazy with food because a 6.8 kilometre distance is not too bad. I knew if I was hungry I would just have to run faster to the food table.

                           
I gave all the girls one of my performance enhancing kokopelli or PEK for short. I instructed them to draw on the little running creature for support. Nice legs, right? 
The Race

Catherine lined up at the front with the rest of the elite runners while the rest of us mere mortals lined up behind. I wasn’t nervous to start, more anxious.

Let’s just say my legs were in no way or shape prepared for these hills. This race was aptly named – snake hills. Windy & steep hills all the way. I don’t think there was a flat spot that I ran for longer than 400 metres. Crazy but I loved it. I set off at a decent pace. I wasn’t sure when or whether I should go for it. I had to leave enough in the tank to run 21 kms on pavement the next day.

Midway I decided to save my legs by power walking up every other tough hill and kill it on the downhills. I’m so over my fear of running downhill. Training for the death race got that out of my system. My strategy worked. I felt great on the downhills. 

I lost sight of Catherine after about a kilometre. Megan passed me right after the first hill but I kept her in my vision for a few kilometres. Then I lost her on one of the steep hilly sections. I was feeling pretty good save for my legs. I saw Megan again when at about the 4 km mark. After I passed her, I just kept on going until I had to tie my shoelaces (3 times in total). 

                    
I finished relatively strong. I tried to race this woman to the finish line but that didn’t happen. Catherine was waiting with her parents. Shortly after came Laura, Megan and Melea. Everyone did super well. 
                                    

Catherine and I both ran our way to 1st in our AGs. Not a big deal for Catherine but for me it was this. This was my first race in this AG (the ultra does not count). I kinda like being the youngest in the age group. My final time was 37:17 for a pace of 5:29. I was the 11th woman and 35th overall. Good enough.

Post Race


We stripped down and jumped into the Red Deer River. Amazing! We ate lunch at Boston Pizza in Olds (Horrible service by the way).

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge