My training runs after the Edmonton Marathon weekend had gone well. I was stiff for a few days, as was expected, but my knee didn't seize up like it had previously. I considered this a good step in the right direction. To ease the impact my body was under while pushing to get my long runs back into the 20-30km range, I decided I would once again tackle a Galloway running technique.
Galloway's method is an extremely popular running method in the United States. I do know a number of Canadian's that swear by it but I have to admit, I wasn't a huge fan in the beginning. I didn't like running a race to have someone in front of me stop dead in their tracks for their slow interval. It drove me nuts. I was of the mentality that if you could run a distance solid, don't run it at all because it is obviously too much for you to handle.
When I tested out a few different run/walk intervals earlier this spring I found I would cramp instantly after the walk interval which would make me struggle for that entire interval and kill my time and technique. Three different time intervals later....well... I wasn't enjoying myself and went back to my solid runs at a consistent speed.
Having done more reading and research while out injured I decided I would give the sucker a try again. Ha. Go figure. It worked!
After Edmonton, I adopted a 4:1 run:walk ratio in my training. I decided to test it out with a quick 5km to see what would happen - if anything. I was fine. Not only was I fine, but I was also running my run intervals at my usual race pace of 5:10min/km. With a quick walk I had an average pace just over 6mins/km. Thinking it was a fluke, I tried it again on my next training run, 8km, thinking that the slightly longer distance would have me winded as I neared the end while running the run intervals at a fairly quick pace. Sure enough, I ran at 5mins/km, even faster than the last time and I finished the 8km feeling comfortable and only slightly tired. My next mid-week 8km run was the same, and again it was slightly faster than the previous.... so maybe this thing really was worth a try after all!
Race morning my mom, dog and I left for Drumheller at 3am. A quick stop at the local addiction centre (a.k.a. Tim Hortons) for coffee and we were set. We arrived in the Ditch (it's nick name) shortly before 6am and settled in at the race venue. Impressively we had another vehicle pull up shortly after we arrived. If you know me at all, you know I like to arrive for things... really early. If you know my mom at all, you know she likes to arrive for everything really, REALLY early! Seeing another vehicle pull up shortly after us was pretty darn impressive! I must say I was a little bit surprised! Okay, I was really surprised!
I checked in at packet pick up around 6:30, collected my swag and awesome running shirt. The fact that it was blue AND had a dinosaur on it meant that I absolutely had to wear it for the race. I don't usually wear a race shirt on race day because it isn't something I have trained in or with. Usually the fabric isn't the same as what I run in and you can never really tell what is going to happen with it until you try it out or have a similar shirt. The last thing I'd want to do was to discover that the shirt wasn't as breathable as I thought and to then overheat as a result. WELL, this shirt also happened to be a material very similar to my typical run shirt, it was a match made in heaven! I HAD to wear it! Dinosaurs... I still love my dinosaurs even though I haven't worked on them in a few years!
*the swag and bag were also awesome by the way - best one yet this year for me*
The half marathon slow start was small and uneventful. There were probably about 15 or so runners that took advantage of the start an hour before the official race time. The race director counted down to the start of their race and the dozen or so individuals made their way out of the starting gates and around the corner of the first city block and out of sight. As the 'slow pokes' (no disrespect meant, I started my first race with slow start and made some pretty awesome friends there too) began their official races, the crowds of runners preparing for the half, 10k and 5k races were growing exponentially.
The parking lot for the Community Facility was now overflowing with vehicles and bodies and the lines for the toilets were goring by the minute. As every runner knows and knows very well - there can never be enough bathrooms at the start line of a race! Well, I would just like to say the race organizers for this race know that REALLY well! We had the indoor facilities and probably 2 dozen portable bathrooms for our use. Line ups were actually quite short given the number of runners! It was quite impressive to be honest! I was extremely pleased with this aspect after standing in line for 15 minutes prior to the race in Edmonton only a few weeks earlier.
Just before 8am all 10k and half marathon runners were called to the race area for a pre-run warm aerobic warm-up. I don't do these kinds of things because I don't change anything on race day. I had a good time chasing the guys running in a pack around the Community Facility building in their Boston Marathon shirts and compression socks and sleeves. With my sleeves on, I fit right in! Hahaha, this was probably the only time I'd be able to keep up with these guys. After the gun went off I'd be miles behind them! After our jog, I then did my usual warm up and bounced up and down behind all of the people doing their aerobics.
Just before the aerobics finished I made my way to the front of the starting gates. I knew, having looked at the placements and times for the previous few years this race had run, that I stood a really good chance of placing in my age division and the race overall. Even being in less than peak shape, I knew that my times would still put me in a really good position for a top notch finish.
I was the furthest runner to the left and had the shortest tangent line out of the start gate to the first corner. I really couldn't have planned it better in all honesty. I was also next to one of the fastest runners in the race (anyone shooting for a 40 minute 10k is a good one to be next to in my books), I definitely couldn't complain. We sang the anthem, the radio station dude said a few words and then our race count down began. I had 800 people behind me fighting for my spot, I knew my start was destined to be a good one and a fast one.
5.... 4.... 3.... 2.... 1.... GO
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| 5...4...3...2...1...GO! And we're off! |
Ha! Fast was an understatement! I made it through the first kilometer in under four minutes! I have NEVER done that before, not even in training. I was happy but knew I'd never sustain it. After my Garmin 310XT beeped at me to tell me I reached the 1km marker I decided to go with what I had done in training. Run and walk. So here we are crossing main street and about 100 people pass me as I'm speed walking and waving to the cars and saying thank you to the police officer holding traffic. I'm more than certain all of these people running with me must have wondered what in the name of wahoo I was on to be walking so early...!
My minute was up and then it was time to go again. That is how my race went. Run for four like you've never run before and walk for one. Run for four, walk for one. It was simple really. I had my eyes glued to my iPhone's RunKeeper app and on my Garmin. I could hardly believe what either device was telling me outside of the time. I just ran.... and then walked.... and then ran and walked some more!
The rest of the race in a nut shell. The course was awesome! One small downhill that allowed me to fly past a few people. Three great water stations and cheering sections in the residential areas west of down town. I got to wave to my friends and their cat watching from their living room - twice! I passed almost everyone in my race.... oh yeah... that hundred that passed me early on.... pay back... well, at least to those that were running the 10k race, the 10k race and the half marathon race courses split around the 4km mark. But anyone that was doing the ten kilometer race and passed me, I made up for it by kilometer 5 and 6. Easily!
By kilometer seven I was running pretty much alone with one other person in my sights. The fastest runners were around a bend in the road but I had my sights set on the girl in front of me. At first she was about 400m away, then 200m... and then I passed her. My walk interval allowed her to catch up every now and then and going into the final kilometer we were almost shoulder to shoulder.
Looking at the girl next to me as we leap-frogged one another, I could tell she was undoubtedly in my age group. There was no way she was over 30 and she was definitely not younger than me. Anyways, whatever possessed me to do the math to determine her age in my head also said 'when you hit the underpass for main street, book it.' Long story short, I booked it!
My last kilometer was my fastest. I managed to catch up with another runner who also looked like they were in my age division in the last 300m of the course. We turned the final corner shoulder to shoulder, she had the inside and subsequently tighter turn. I could hear her foot falls getting quicker but she hadn't yet put a gap between us. Without even glancing to the side my feet kicked into high gear. I ran the previous 9700m with my typical forefoot stride, landing square on the balls of my feet and my toes. I finished the last 300m of the race pounding it out like I had in my spring sprint training. Holy heel strike, but it paid off. I left the girl in my dust and finished a good 10m ahead of her.
I should also mention I am more than certain I didn't breath on the home stretch until I hit the finish line. It is definitely safe to say I was winded to the max and more than thankful for the water that was tossed my direction after what was, quite probably, my strongest race and best race finish EVER!
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| I was not about to let anyone get in front of me. Zoom Zoom! |
I was pretty much on a high just from the final few hundred meters alone... you should have heard the screams when I got my race time!
So, when most people run a personal best they do it by a few second here or a few second there in a fast race. In the big picture, a 10k is considered a fast race! I smashed my personal best by a solid 5 minutes and some change. I was elated. Not only did I have a great finish, I had a new personal record and quite probably placed in the race!
Results were posted about thirty minutes after I finished my race. I got my race metal (also amazingly awesome with a dinosaur :D :D :D), some munchies and changed into some warmer clothes as the sun had yet to break through the clouds.
My mom and I strolled through the outdoor expo - which was impressively large for such a small race! It was bigger than the expo in Edmonton! By the time we made it through all the booths and by the time our dog said 'hi' to all of the other dogs out for race day, the race results were being posted.
I finished one out of the money. Darn! BUT, I had a top 5 finish in my age division and placed 17th overall. Heck, no complaints there! My first top 10 and top 20 finish respectively. I was THRILLED! I couldn't have asked for a better day! I was also really happy my mom and dog were able to come out for the race! This was the first race I have done where I have had someone there to cheer me on at the start/finish line. It was pretty awesome and was made even more awesome because I was able to share a really great racing accomplishment with them.
My mom and I stuck around for the awards as some of the people I had met before the race had placed. Runners are an awesome group like that - really supportive and happy to share in the fun and festivities of a race... they are also really quick to make friends! Of the 4 other women I started with at the front of the start line, we all placed and placed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 respectively. What a special moment to share with some really great people!
Race Recap: awesome course(s). I will definitely be back to this one! Extremely well organized down to every last detail. I wouldn't hesitate in the least in recommending this race to anyone of any ability for any of the distances being run. The organizers and volunteers should all be extremely proud. I don't think they could have done anything better!
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