Notes
Great Plains 10K in Des Moines
Garmin Time:
1:17:24.48 for 6.28mi (12:20 pace)
So... I actually enjoyed this race. I've been so burnt out since Dam to Dam that I seriously considered not running this race at all. However, we happened to be staying overnight in Des Moines, which meant I'd easily be able to do the packet pickup and the race. I knew it would be a small race (~200 entrants), so I was worried about being dead last and/or getting off-course. The race started and ended at Principal Park and was mostly on roads and trails that I did my long runs on (ie, MLK and Gray's Lake), so I wasn't too worried about getting lost or anything. And lining up before the race, I realized that there were definitely some people who would be walking it, so I didn't need to worry about being last.
The whole thing was pretty low key, which I liked. We all kind of meandered over to the start line, someone shouted Go!, and we started. Towards the beginning of the race, there was a short out-and-back, and I was able to confirm that I was not going to be last. I felt better knowing that, so I just focused on enjoying the race. I didn't have any time goals, or even a goal to run the whole thing. The goal was to not be miserable.
I walked through both water stops, and took a very short walk break at one other point. I started pretty far back in the pack, so I passed more than I got passed. Once we got onto the trails, it was a bit hard to tell who was part of the race and who was just there to run, but I realized they had spray painted arrows at all intersections. So yay, no worries about getting off course!
I kept a pretty even effort and was honestly faster than I thought I'd be, considering the past few weeks. There were no spectators outside of the start/finish area, but some non-racing runners and cyclists yelled out encouragement, which was nice. I was able to give a little final kick coming into the finish back at Principal Park and felt really good. Garrett and Heather watched me finish.
So, no PR, obviously, but my goal of not being miserable was achieved. I actually had a good time. Also, I wore my new sunglasses and they worked out great. I totally forgot I had them on.