I decided at the last minute to run the Cave Creek Thriller 50K. I needed to get in a long run and decided this was a good way to run the miles. My original goal was to try to stay with the up front boys and run hard and fast the whole way.
On Saturday morning I woke up feeling like crap. I felt really hot and my throat was killing me. I took my temperature and no fever. I actually took it twice because I am never hot. Since I didn’t have a fever and this was just a training run I decided to go ahead and race. I just changed the race plan. On October 29th I am running the USATF 15K Masters Championships race. Because of this, I decided to run the first half of the race as fast as possible and then back off the pace for the last half of the race.
As we started racing I was a little concerned that maybe I wasn’t as recovered from the Flagstaff Sky Race as I thought. But I also know that it takes me about 4 or 5 miles before my legs cooperate and I enjoy running fast. For a short race I would warm up, but at an ultra I just build it in to the race. So I did my best, but the race starts with some up and down and my legs felt dead. I let the boys go and told myself that there was still a lot of race left.
As we entered the flat portions of the race I was able to drop my pace. I passed my friend Jeremy and someone he was running with and the I heard Jeremy say “there goes the marathoner doing what she does best.” It struck me as funny. I started out a road racer, but I haven't really focused on road racing or marathons in years. It’s funny to think that is how people think of me. I do still run road races sometimes and I enjoy all types of racing. And to be honest, my talent does lie in being speedy while technical downhill is my nemesis.
I forced myself to push the pace until the 2nd aid station at around mile 16. This was good practice for the upcoming 15K race. At this time, it was also getting hot. I told the people I was talking to at the aid station that I was going to back off the pace because of the heat. I was thinking 9:30 pace, but that didn't last long.
As I started to run low on water I started to worry. I started walking all the climbs. Then when I ran completely out of water, I started walking all of the course. In about a mile I came to the aid station and refilled my bottle. Unfortunately I find myself in the same position again sooner than I would have liked. Running low on water I walked the climbs until I was totally out and then I walked the whole course. I would like to say I handled it like a champ, but that is not true. I cried a few times, I was so frustrated with the situation. I was lucky to come upon someone with lots of water who was willing to share when I was 2 miles from the final aid station.
All of this was totally my fault. I should have carried 2 bottles. I just had no idea that I would need so much water. I don't run during the day very often. I just did not anticipate how hot it would feel. But, it’s such a runnable course. Next year I will take two bottles and run faster.
I managed a win and broke the course record (barely). Not so bad for a training day gone south. Next up is the USATF 15K Master’s Championships in Tulsa, OK. I’m looking forward to racing, but I am also looking forward to going to Oklahoma to see my family.
On Saturday morning I woke up feeling like crap. I felt really hot and my throat was killing me. I took my temperature and no fever. I actually took it twice because I am never hot. Since I didn’t have a fever and this was just a training run I decided to go ahead and race. I just changed the race plan. On October 29th I am running the USATF 15K Masters Championships race. Because of this, I decided to run the first half of the race as fast as possible and then back off the pace for the last half of the race.
As we started racing I was a little concerned that maybe I wasn’t as recovered from the Flagstaff Sky Race as I thought. But I also know that it takes me about 4 or 5 miles before my legs cooperate and I enjoy running fast. For a short race I would warm up, but at an ultra I just build it in to the race. So I did my best, but the race starts with some up and down and my legs felt dead. I let the boys go and told myself that there was still a lot of race left.
As we entered the flat portions of the race I was able to drop my pace. I passed my friend Jeremy and someone he was running with and the I heard Jeremy say “there goes the marathoner doing what she does best.” It struck me as funny. I started out a road racer, but I haven't really focused on road racing or marathons in years. It’s funny to think that is how people think of me. I do still run road races sometimes and I enjoy all types of racing. And to be honest, my talent does lie in being speedy while technical downhill is my nemesis.
I forced myself to push the pace until the 2nd aid station at around mile 16. This was good practice for the upcoming 15K race. At this time, it was also getting hot. I told the people I was talking to at the aid station that I was going to back off the pace because of the heat. I was thinking 9:30 pace, but that didn't last long.
As I started to run low on water I started to worry. I started walking all the climbs. Then when I ran completely out of water, I started walking all of the course. In about a mile I came to the aid station and refilled my bottle. Unfortunately I find myself in the same position again sooner than I would have liked. Running low on water I walked the climbs until I was totally out and then I walked the whole course. I would like to say I handled it like a champ, but that is not true. I cried a few times, I was so frustrated with the situation. I was lucky to come upon someone with lots of water who was willing to share when I was 2 miles from the final aid station.
All of this was totally my fault. I should have carried 2 bottles. I just had no idea that I would need so much water. I don't run during the day very often. I just did not anticipate how hot it would feel. But, it’s such a runnable course. Next year I will take two bottles and run faster.
I managed a win and broke the course record (barely). Not so bad for a training day gone south. Next up is the USATF 15K Master’s Championships in Tulsa, OK. I’m looking forward to racing, but I am also looking forward to going to Oklahoma to see my family.
The Aravaipa awards are always so fun!
