mickdog (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mickdog) wrote,@ 2009-06-29 09:24:00 |
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Remember in running, gravity is your friend
So yesterday I got up early drove to the MAX station and took the train to Washington Park for my event. It was a little weird at the start line because it was a reverse timed event, meaning that you could leave when you wanted but you were trying to make it to the Burnside Bridge by 9am. At that time the bridge would raise and you'd be stuck on the other side if you were late.
As a result, people trickled out in little groups. I was going to leave at 8:15am (making it 9 min/miles which I figured I could do) but there were so few of us left I started getting nervous I was overestimating my abilities, even on a downhill course. I left at 8:12am, all alone.
Annoyingly there were no mile markers on the course, despite it being well marked in every other respect. I had a watch on to keep track of my time and I hit the 1.8 mile mark (I knew this from charting the course myself beforehand) in about 14 min, so I knew I was doing 7-8 min/miles. The next two miles were really downhill (steep at some points) and I obviously picked up speed a bit. I passed a few runners and was feeling good.
The other thing that made be smile was there were two middle aged men sitting in lawn chairs in front of their house. They were rating all the male runners that went by. They were holding up scores, a la gymnastics. I got a 9.0 and a 9.5, and gave them a wink and a smile. :)
I came out of the neighborhood and into the city and the next thing I knew I was at the 2K left water station. I was relieved that I had only 25% of the race left and I turned the corner and got onto Burnside - now just a straight shot to the bridge. The first remaining kilometer was easy, but I was slowing a bit. The final kilometer was tough, because it was the only uphill part of the course, on to the bridge and up and over the crest. It was probably only a 100 ft incline, but at this point my body was feeling it. I kept running and finally saw the finish line. I mustered up what energy I had left and "sprinted" to the end. Just before crossing, I spied my wife, son, and dog, off to side cheering me on. That was sweet.
I was pretty in shock at how fast I ran: man, gravity helps! As I mentioned earlier I ran course in 7:13 min miles which blows away my previous record. I grabbed some water, recovered a bit and then sat with my family as the final runners made it across and a drum core played as the bridge went up. It was pretty cool.
As we were leaving, I took off my "In Memory of..." sticker with my father's name on it and placed it on a rememberance wall they had created. That was very special and a fitting end to my morning.
So yesterday I got up early drove to the MAX station and took the train to Washington Park for my event. It was a little weird at the start line because it was a reverse timed event, meaning that you could leave when you wanted but you were trying to make it to the Burnside Bridge by 9am. At that time the bridge would raise and you'd be stuck on the other side if you were late.
As a result, people trickled out in little groups. I was going to leave at 8:15am (making it 9 min/miles which I figured I could do) but there were so few of us left I started getting nervous I was overestimating my abilities, even on a downhill course. I left at 8:12am, all alone.
Annoyingly there were no mile markers on the course, despite it being well marked in every other respect. I had a watch on to keep track of my time and I hit the 1.8 mile mark (I knew this from charting the course myself beforehand) in about 14 min, so I knew I was doing 7-8 min/miles. The next two miles were really downhill (steep at some points) and I obviously picked up speed a bit. I passed a few runners and was feeling good.
The other thing that made be smile was there were two middle aged men sitting in lawn chairs in front of their house. They were rating all the male runners that went by. They were holding up scores, a la gymnastics. I got a 9.0 and a 9.5, and gave them a wink and a smile. :)
I came out of the neighborhood and into the city and the next thing I knew I was at the 2K left water station. I was relieved that I had only 25% of the race left and I turned the corner and got onto Burnside - now just a straight shot to the bridge. The first remaining kilometer was easy, but I was slowing a bit. The final kilometer was tough, because it was the only uphill part of the course, on to the bridge and up and over the crest. It was probably only a 100 ft incline, but at this point my body was feeling it. I kept running and finally saw the finish line. I mustered up what energy I had left and "sprinted" to the end. Just before crossing, I spied my wife, son, and dog, off to side cheering me on. That was sweet.
I was pretty in shock at how fast I ran: man, gravity helps! As I mentioned earlier I ran course in 7:13 min miles which blows away my previous record. I grabbed some water, recovered a bit and then sat with my family as the final runners made it across and a drum core played as the bridge went up. It was pretty cool.
As we were leaving, I took off my "In Memory of..." sticker with my father's name on it and placed it on a rememberance wall they had created. That was very special and a fitting end to my morning.
