Race Report: Eyeball on the Wall 30K

I can’t remember the last time I wrote a “race report.” I feel a little silly writing this one now as I used this 30K as a training run. (I don’t ever really “race.”) Still I had a lot of wins on Saturday morning. 

First of all – it was a huge win that I showed up for the race. I seriously contemplated staying in bed when my alarm when off at 5 a.m. But I was picking up Amanda so that really wasn’t an option. (Amanda is running Woody’s marathon so the distance would be good training for her too.)

My goal time was to finish under a reasonable 3:30. I can easily run 10K an hour so I thought I would just throw out the number with some wiggle room in case I was hurting. It was a race so I felt obligated to give a goal time. My biggest non-related time goal was to finish without injury-related hurting. I did not want to undue all the rest and work that I have been doing for months to bring my body back to running form. 

RACE REPORT

We lined up in the middle of the back. We were surrounded by super fit looking athletes with well-coordinated outfits. I wasn’t winning any fashion contests with my trusty old wind jacket and tights. It was a gloomy, cold start to the race. 

1-15 km 

I calmed my nerves by settling in behind a group of runners that seemed to be running the same pace. I tried not to look at my Garmin because then I would start calculating paces and splits etc. Don’t you hate that? It messes with my head. Instead I focused on putting one foot in front of me and taking in the scenery.

At the 5K mark, we hit the first big hill and I tell you it gutted me. The good news is I knew I could fly down it hill on way back. At the 15K mark, I was feeling pretty good. My pace was between 5:15 and 5:46k per kilometre. At one point I thought I should slow down because I wasn’t sure how my legs would respond in the second half. 

15-30 km

I hit stop as opposed to lap on my Garmin at the turnaround spot. I didn’t realize until nearly 2 kms later. Grrrr! It looked like I would have to calculate finish times anyway! We got to see the 15K runners on the way back. It was great to see Peter, Tina, Rachel and Andrea etc. 

I was feeling slightly tuckered out around the 20K mark. I grabbed a banana at the aid stations and Gatorade. I only had water in my pack so it should have come to no surprise that I needed a little more. I was also overheated and hot as hell. My pace began to drop around this time too. I just embraced the run because I had to remind myself – it’s for training. 

Around the 27K mark, I thought to myself, I should just go hard and get this the hell over with. I spent an entire kilometre debating with myself. At the 28K mark, I thought – it’s only 2K more of my life. Get it done. That’s when I ran into a friend from Calgary. He was doing a training run. He said you’re looking strong. I thought, yeah I am then I took off. I finished the 29K in 5:20 and the final kilometre in 4:59. 

THE WINS

My body held up and I didn’t fall completely apart. I was so worried that my right leg/hip would cry out in agony and I would have to throw myself into the reservoir. Talk about an embarrassing comeback. I maintained my pace (somewhat) and held off when I needed to. I finished knowing I could still run another hour or so. Seriously, that’s how you want to feel after a training run. I also shut down the voices in my head that often prevent me from giving it my all for one final kick at the end. 

My official finishing time was 2:53. Good enough for 96 out of 263 runners and 34 out of 142 female racers. 

THE AFTER

I feel good. I feel strong. 

Driving home after the race was no fun. It’s not fun being in a seated position for two hours following a hard effort. I stopped a couple of times to stretch and to untie my shoelaces. (Don’t ask me why). I took an ice bath – my first in a couple of years. I believe the ice bath is the reason I can walk today. I went to hot yoga at 10 a.m. It wasn’t my greatest class but it sure loosened up my legs and upper back. 

Next up on the racing/training front is Woody’s 10K in three weeks. I will introduce one speed workout each week leading up to the race. I am looking forward to it. The organizers always put on a good race. 

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Want more on this race? I will be recounting my race experience in Friday’s Running with Rhyno column in the Advocate.