One of my best races of the season with probably the "worst" conditions. Cursed myself for not clearing out all of the crap in the garage as I took a look at my frozen car and treacherous driveway. Had to fight hard to not fall on my ass in the racing flats as I worked to scrape the ice from the car. Not just a little frost, but real freezin rain ice. If I did not know the course I would have been worried, but I knew that most of the course was on the Coal Creek Path which would mean that the footing would be fine for the most part.
Got the car running and the ice somewhat removed and headed down to the start by about 8:25am for the 9am start. Having done this race once a few years ago I knew there was no reason to get there early and freeze in the cold. Had plenty of time to sign in, receive my "bib" (a simple tag upon which a race official affixed a laser printed mail-merged label with my name and age) and squeeze in a nice 2 mile warm up with a guy from Lakewood. He is a triathlete and ultra-running master who has done a few trail marathons and mini-ultras in the 30mile range this summer. I guess he also did a 19:50 5K at some point this summer....pretty good for someone clearly over 50.
Throughout this I just focused on simply having "fun" as I have for most of my races this summer. As a result I was certainly more relaxed than I probably could have been in a field such as this one. Saw Lisa Goldsmith there and a number of fast-looking Fleet Feet Runners. I don't know
Justin Mock, but I assumed he was one of the guys lining up front in a FF singlet. I knew from my run with
Brandon last weekend that Justin was going to be there.
The intro from the race director certainly kept things relaxed as he described the ice on the short sections of concrete, the "surging" creek crossing, the barbed wire that we could go over, under or through and finally the field crossing through brush "higher that he has ever seen". Oh yea, he also mentioned that there were a few other "surprises" out there as well. Awesome, all of this was why I was there doing this fun little cheap local race.
Finally it was time to "line" up at the start". As this was the Coal Creek Path there was really only room for about 3 or so people across the path at any given time. This made it somewhat difficult to get around the finish gates so everyone kind of lined up around these barriers and ran through the grass as the gun went off. As I typically do I lined up somewhere near the center of the pack as I love to start somewhat controlled with a few passes early in the race. Running with some slower folks at the start generally allows me to keep things under control. Today was no exception as I felt nice and smooth off of the start and under the two bridges. Took it fairly easy up the Aquarius Hill in a low 8min pace. Came through the first mile in about 7:20 or so, which is kind of slow, but a good place for me to start a controlled race. Near the top of the hill I was feeling kind of constrained by the guys in front of me running 2 abreast so I figured it was time to go around and cruise down the hill onto the road crossing. Once across the road I simply focused on fast turn-over with smooth form. Through this whole section to 287 I was running well and was starting to pass runners here and there. Passed the guy I warmed up with probably about half-way to 287...he definitely went out too hard as he was panting up a storm.
Made it to the 287 underpass feeling strong and well under control. It was just after I went under the bridge and up the small hill that I saw the race leaders. They were moving fast and working hard by the looks of them. I would have to say first 5 or 6 guys were out for blood!
Things were pretty much status quo through the turnaround and to the crossing. The guy in front of me had the piece of mind and the foot placement to leap the whole crossing! The Creek was not "surging" as the Director said, just kind of flowing along, clearing looking cold. Figured it was too risky to jump the whole thing so I just one hopped through without getting more than one foot wet. At this point we had a tiny little steep incline and then moved onto the field crossing. Here is where the Director was correct as the weeds were high and there was no real trail. I just focused on staying with the guys in front of my at this point. Two of the guys were definitely tiring as I was able to pick them off after the barbed wire fence crossing; chose to go through the thing as there was a volunteer there holding the wire up. Fortunately I made it through without ripping my Pearl Izumi shell. Worked hard at keeping the pace in control as it was definitely harder to stay fast through the field. Lots of Prairie Dog wholes to navigate, but fortunately no mud. Mud would have been a real problem with my Lunaracers, so I was certainly grateful for the cold temperatures which kept the ground frozen.
Finally hit the Coal Creek Path again with the hill approaching. And here was the surprise the Director was talking about, a two bale-high hay wall that we had to hop over. Still had enough strength left to hurdle the thing as the creek-leaper in front of my chose to 1 step over it. Stayed running up the hill through the grass which was fine, just one little small, dry creek to cross half-way up the hill. Got to the top and back onto the Coal Creek Path nearing the final mile. Took a bit to get up to speed again though, but I was able to recover in a few seconds. I was still following the creek-leaper and at this point, but I had a little more left and was able to pass him right before the trip down the Aquarius. Unfortunately he chose to leverage gravity a little more on the down so he passed me. I had a feeling that this pass would be short lived so I tried to stay close. I was right as he quickly slowed under tunnel and over the bridge. Passed him again and tried hard to put the hammer down. Kept it going through the curves and then realized that I was closing in on a group of guys in front of me. They were a ways in front and I figured at this point that I was running out of real estate to make the pass. This decision behind me I just tried to get the pace down into the mid 6's.
Finished without passing out or panting, but still feeling happy that it was over. Probably had a little more in me, but felt that I pushed hard throughout. Time came in at 40:39 for an average pace of 7:03. The thing I am happiest about is the average pace. I averaged 7:07 this year and 6:52 last year in the BB. Today's course is definitely slower than the BB with the crossing, the steeper hills and the field crossing. So, the summer of trails and hills seem to be paying dividends!
