Notes
What can I say..did not make my goal. HOWEVER..this course was nothing like we thought it was going to be.First off I lost a good solid 20 seconds from bottlenecking in the first mile ( I wanted to do the first in 8:10 or so). The rollers were really tough in the 2nd half and some of them I just could not recover from especially the one in the 11th mile (up a dirt road that crested..flattened, went down a hair and then climbed up again) I couldnt pull it together, my calves were crying by the time I crested the last hill from running and pushing off the balls of my feet to climb. I slowly watched my goal time drift away, what could I do? I had to forge ahead and run through some real uncomfortable shit. I kept telling myself you trained for this keep going. By the 12th mile I really began to wonder if I'd even make it in ok..I just had to keep going.
The constant up and downs in the 2nd half were to my detriment, my quads/hams and calfs were beaten up pretty damn badly, Ive never felt this kind of discomfort before in a race AND after. I run around rollers here, but not quite so many in succession and not lately, Ive stayed in town (NOTE TO SELF..get your ASS back out there and do those rollers)..I know some people prefer rollers over flat because you work your different muscle groups, but after awhile it gets to your legs and they begin to take a beating. Mine certainly did.
I still managed to pr (over 2 minutes I think I need to check) so I have got to be happy about that and top 10 in my division. If this course was even a little more even keeled I truly believe I could have made my goal..I just couldnt figure the course out and going in thinking it was relatively flat (I knew there were SOME rollers, but not like this) I just couldnt figure out a good game plan and I really think the steep incline early on may have messed me up as well( 5th mile entirely too fast but felt like I was flying and I felt fantastic).
Got done and my legs were one big cramp (charlie horse variety) and my calves where just throbbing. Been laying in bed as Im definately dealing with a stomach bug of sorts as well..the stomach did not factor in my race as I was too preoccupied with the run to deal with it.
What would I do differently? Im not sure.. I do believe I trained properly, I definately need to get those hilly miles back in as I was not all the prepared or maybe I was and the constant up and down just got to me. I dont know. Am I happy? Sure. Why not. I pr'd again and I believe I worked hard today.
Will put in official once they are up.