XC #2 - Run

I didn't have a super solid race plan. I wanted to run well. I wanted to learn some things. And I knew there were a few girls that are notoriously faster than me, and if I could, I wanted to keep them in sight but stick to my own race.

We lined up in the starters box. There were 7 of us and our top two girls were at the front of the box. There was room for a 3rd but one one wanted to step up. I asked T if she wanted to but she declined so I did. The started asked us to quit moving around so much hahaha. He said, "I'm not going to start this thing until you are all still." Finally, BANG!

We were off. The start of XC races are so nuts. I love it. We were funneled into the course and settled into a pace. The first portion of this course was pretty "flat" but the path was very uneven with it slanting down towards the left. I felt as though I could fall at any moment. It was also on grass which was quite slick. We made a slight left and I ALMOST lost it. Knowing there were 50+ women wearing spikes that would run my azz over was a good motivator to stay on my feet. We hit the packed gravel path and 2 teammates T and K passed me (meaning I was in position #4) This part of the course was incredibly difficult for me. I didn't feel like I went out too fast or anything, it just felt hard. I kept T and K in sight but just barely. They were probably 20 seconds ahead. We got our halfway split just as we went into the woods. I think I was at like 13 minutes. YIKES! I didn't panic though. I know that I run well on hills and we were just getting into them. I made my move, powering up the first of several rolling hills in the woods. I passed just a TON of girls. Still, my teammates were pretty far ahead.

A pack of girls were running really well together and making it hard to get around. We went up another hill and it thinned them out. They sort of went single file and I was able to pass them on the right. I used my momentum to carry me past K and I now had T in my sights. I just kept the rhythm, powering up the hills and recovering on the downhills. I didn't have quite enough confidence to get to reckless on the downs as my shoes don't have a ton of traction.

Finally, just before mile 3ish I was able to pass T and told her to stick with me. We broke out of the woods and shyte got HARD! We had to pass the finish line and do another 400 M loop. I kind of wanted to cry. Or to puke. Or both. Honestly, I REALLY thought I was going to puke. I let up, just a little. But then I was thinking, man, this is my change to just HTFU and finish 3rd on our team. So I went for it and gave it my all to the finish. I got a 20+ second PR on a course that was MUCH more difficult than the first.

*HTFU in that last bit of the race. I can't be giving myself "outs"
*T and I talked about working together. Her leading through the flats and me the hills. I think this could really work. But we'll see. Committing to something like that means compromising "racing your own race" but it would probably be a good thing
*Just more experience in XC. This is my second race and I am quite pleased

i'm in the orange, far right in the photo. GO ORANGE!

Cooled down with the team, watched the mens race then had a team BBQ. BEER!


*HTFU in that last bit of the race. I can't be giving myself "outs"
*T and I talked about working together. Her leading through the flats and me the hills. I think this could really work. But we'll see. Committing to something like that means compromising "racing your own race" but it would probably be a good thing
*Just more experience in XC. This is my second race and I am quite pleased