Race #156
Timed Race #1
2018 Race #17
2018 Timed Race #1
Resolution Run #1
I almost forgot to recap this race!
I signed up for The Resolution Run put on by Upstate Ultras as a way to get in my long run for the week since we would be driving back from Hilton Head in the morning and I would be flying out to Chicago in the early morning on Sunday.
It was my first timed race but I planned just to run it to make sure that I would get my long run in. Matt put on the plan that I was going to try for about 19 miles which would be 12 laps of the 1.5 mile loop. I thought that that was doable I decided to try for it and at the very least just have a strong long run. I thought I remembered everything but ended up forgetting my headlamp which would be necessary since it gets dark around 5:30pm. Mom dropped me off and went back home planning to return in about an hour with my headlamp. I put my bib on and waited for the start. I had also placed my mug on the table wondering about the rocks that were on the table. I thought perhaps runners did not bring a cup and we’re just stacking their rocks on the table. I also thought it very odd that we would be expected to pick up rocks by hand each lap to mark how many laps we completed. Of course those rocks on the table by the cups were the rocks that we were indeed to use. We didn’t have to pick up rocks along the way.
At 4 we started off and I immediately found myself towards the back of the pack but did not care at all since this was just a long run. The first lap I thought most about when I would pick up the rock because I didn’t want to carry it the whole way but then I realized when I got back to the station what I mentioned earlier. Each loop, at one and a half miles was long enough that it didn’t seem overly repetitive but short enough to give landmarks to keep my mind occupied.
I kept up a pretty good pace for the first three or four laps. The hill on the back half was not fun but also was not terrible. I had a feeling that I would like it less and less with each lap. I was maintaining a pace that it would have been easy to get in a full 12 laps.
When I got to the hill on lap 5, I did not like it at all and started bribing myself on when I would give myself permission to walk it. I always said that I would let myself walk a lap or two in the future and actually ended up never walking on that hill which I am quite pleased with.
After lap six, when I was at the aid station it was starting to get dark. I knew that I could get in one more lap and then I would have to have my headlamp. I pulled out my phone to see where Mom was; she had just pulled up in the parking lot so I texted her about the location of my Orangemud vest – I had taken it off because it started to chafe my left shoulder right at the neck neck – also said that I would be back to the start in about 15 minutes to grab my headlamp.
When I came around the corner, she waited at the top of the hill, gave me my headlamp here and asked where my Orangemud vest was. I told her and then kept going. I did walk during this point but I did not put the headlamp on until I got to the station where I drank some walk some of my Gatorade.
My pace I started to slow enough so that it looked like I might just be able to get in 12 laps without having any wiggle room. I felt my left glute around the next lap or two and wondered if it would be better just to call it a day. Instead I focused on form, and ran through it as I did so the sensation went away I did. However, after making some calculations, decide to go ahead and stop at 11 loops.
When I stopped I had 15 minutes remaining of the three hours so if I pushed it, which I could have probably, I would have been able to complete 12 laps. However, I haven’t run that long in quite a while. Stopping at 11 laps put me at 16.5 miles which is a good increase on my almost 15 from the week prior.
I really enjoyed this race. I enjoyed the loop I enjoyed this. And I’m contemplating – but not sure at all – doing the 6 hour version next year.