It has probably been a couple years since I did this race. And my no mean was I ever “racing” it. In the last 5 years or so I haven’t missed a local race. But this year, the Frostbite was only my third running race. (I did the the CU Half Marathon and the Scholastic Challenge 5k.)
I was actually kind of excited about doing this race. I showed up just in time to get my packed and head back out to the jeep. I was seconded guessing my clothes.
I showed up to the start line just in time. Alex, lifted the tape and let me in the corral. I spent a couple of seconds checking the pace with the guys around me. My plan was to go out around an 8-8:30 pace and pick it up by the turn around. But like every novice runner, the gun when off and so did I. I looked down and my garmin. I was doing a sub 7. Not at all where I wanted to be. Dungan and Leah Hulcher we just in front of me. I figured I could hang just behind them for a while until they slowed down.
At mile 2, there was no change in pace. Dungan actually started pulling away from me. I kept thinking he was due to slow down, but it never happened. I stayed on on pace, hovering around 7. The hills on the way were not all that bad, but I knew I would think differently on the way back. I made it to the final stretch before the turn around. There wasn’t too many people ahead of me, just the usual. A bunch of young kids, Wild Hare Jacob Klug, Alex Taft, some more young kids, Nile Robinson, Emily Zimmerman, Dan Dungan, and Tracy Dowell.
I hit the turn around. This always seems to be one of the hardest parts of the race. The minute I flip I am never sure if I will be able to get back up to pace. Catching any of the people ahead of me was going to be tough. I really think I was just going to keep up the same pace and see what I had left for the last two miles. (This is not the way to race.)
By the last two mile I was closing in on Tracy. She was running way too fast for being on the injured list. With one mile to go, I tried to pick it up but the last two hills really cut into me. I did what I could to get up it, recover and take as much free speed on the downhill. The last couple of turns I knew I was there. I gave it all I had crossing the finish in 1:11:20 with a 7:08 average. I finished 19th overall and 1st in my age group.
What a great way to finish off the year!
[My Garmin Connect] [Photos] [Results]
