DATE: March 1, 2008
LOCATION: Des Moines Creek, SeaTac, Oregon
This was my first ever timed race. I was preparing for my first 24 hour race, 
and thought this would be a good preview. I decided to drive up that morning. I woke up at 4am and left about 5am and made the three hour drive to SeaTac. I arrived about 8am and had a chance to get ready for the 9am start. The weather was chilly, but dry. On the way up it had been raining, but once I got there the clouds were starting to lift and it felt great.
and thought this would be a good preview. I decided to drive up that morning. I woke up at 4am and left about 5am and made the three hour drive to SeaTac. I arrived about 8am and had a chance to get ready for the 9am start. The weather was chilly, but dry. On the way up it had been raining, but once I got there the clouds were starting to lift and it felt great. The course was a four mile trail loop that made lots of turns, but the course was very well marked. There was also a short loop of 1.1 miles once you didn't have enough time for a four mile loop. I finished the first loop with a time of 34:11, that was about ten minutes faster then I was hoping for, but if felt great.
In the second loop I again ran a fast 36:07 loop. My goal was to run 32 miles or 8 laps, and at that rate I would be running 45 minute laps, so I was off to a great start. The weather was turning out to be beautiful. There was no rain and sun was even shinning.
In the third and fourth loops I ran a bit slower. These were both still faster then my 45 minute goal. I realized at that point that many of my fellow Maniacs were not running the full six hours, but instead just getting the marathon mark in.
In the third and fourth loops I ran a bit slower. These were both still faster then my 45 minute goal. I realized at that point that many of my fellow Maniacs were not running the full six hours, but instead just getting the marathon mark in.
Heading into the half way point I was running very smooth. At this point I settled into a groove and was feeling great.
So now having met my goal of 32 miles, I had 33 minutes left. So I moved to the short loop. Hoping to get two or three loops in. I ran two short loops in about 22 minutes. Now I had a decision to make, should I go for one more? I had 11 minutes and was wondering how strict they would be about the cut off time. I decided that I was done; I had done 34.14 miles in 5:49:18. That was very fast and fun. I was happy and enjoyed the post race area.
As I think about it more, and think I should have done one more loop. I know I could have and had enough time, but oh well.
No comments:
Post a Comment