XC #5 PDX - Run

Post warm up we headed over to the start as a team. Kara was looking for someone to pace off of and I kindly bowed out of that one (LOL!) It was hilarious, I never thought I would be talking race strategy with an Olympic marathoner while I was taking off my pants (warm-ups.) One of the guys on our team came around and put orange war paint on our faces right before the start.

I was so effing cold. I was wearing my long sleeve under my singlet (which I NEVER DO.) Last minute I decided I couldn't stand it and was going to take it off but they were doing last call to the start box so I had to suck it up.

I lined up and they blew the starting horn, kind of unexpectedly. We all took off like a herd of horses. Wait, are horses grouped it herds? Gaggles? Shyte I don't know.

Anyway, we were off. The course was flat which is not really my strong suit. I was really hoping to be able to attack the course despite that. My plan was to take the first loop a little conservative and then progressively apply pressure. A small group of my teammates were about 3-4 seconds ahead. Because I was going to be conservative I decided not to close the gap. Big fucking mistake. The wind was so intense it was VERY difficult to run in. I hit the 1K mark and there was a girl slightly ahead of me. My coach yelled for me to close the gap and tuck in behind her. I did. We continued on but her pace seemed a touch slow so I waited to get out of the headwind when we rounded the corner (the wind turned to a cross wind at this point) and pulled out along side of her and made my move. This was executed well but it catapulted me in between two packs of runners. One pack about 15 seconds ahead of me (where my teammates were) and one about 15 behind me. Being solo in this kind of no-mans land in the wind is like a little frosty slice of hell. I tried to surge and catch the group in front but the headwind made it nearly impossible.

I entered the 3rd loop with a goal of catching the group. It was a long shot. I surged with desperation. I was STILL cold. Wasn't even breaking a sweat it was so cold out. I had no one to work with in the wind and my surges were very tiring. I was gaining some ground but not nearly quickly enough. I was watching my teammates working together, just killin' it in the wind and here I was, all alone. It was awful. We rounded the corner and into the shoot and I put the hammer down, against the wind and crossed the finish.

I might say this every time, but I have never been so happy to be done racing.

Now many of you have congratulated me, and thanks for that, LOL! But this wasn't a great race for me. I am so, SO proud of how my team did. We ended up winning the meet which is HUGE considering we came down to Portland, Nike country, and put up a big W in their backyard. But I am really disappointed in myself and my decision making. I recently got a 5K PR and have been practicing at a higher level so I think I may have come into this a little tired. But, as my coach says, there aren't peaks without valleys! As much as it sucks to feel this way after a race, it's a great opportunity to learn some things and put them into practice for the next races. This season has been a truly incredible learning experience.

Onward we go.


PS One big win for me was that my shoes neither came untied nor did the insole come out. In fact, no shoe issues at all. WIN!






Lots!!!

Hoping an actual taper for Nationals will give me the zip in my legs that I'm lacking. Also, decision making! I won't do THAT again!

More like warm-up description! Just ran the park for a really long time with my teammates.


Poor decision making
Training through the long season of racing
Faster training paces that I'm not totally used to


(The 4th photo is Kara making her move to inevitably win the race. She's in pink)