I ran the Carolina Godiva Track Club New Years Day 5 mile cross country race today. Here are some quick notes. I’ll write more later when I have more energy…i need a nap right now!
Unofficial time: 43:52.
Average Heart Rate: 169
Max Heart Rate: 180
They haven’t posted the official times yet (link to results page). There was a photographer, so hopefully they’ll post some nice photos on the CGTC site.
I was pleased with my time. Nearly the same time as the Turkey Trot I did in Cleveland last month, which was ALL FLAT!
The trail was not quite a technical single track, but it was very rugged. More rugged than I like, due to risk of injury. I twisted my ankle and tripped during the first 1/2 mile. I hobbled for about 30 seconds then started running again. Someone said “lift your feet higher to go over the roots”. I tried to focus on that, as that’s something I’m supposed to be correcting in my form anyway. My ankle felt sore for about 5 minutes, and then I forgot about it.
The terrain was hilly, similar to the routes I run around my house, but all the roots and rocks made the running more difficult.
At one rugged downhill point, I was focusing hard on maintaining my pace while looking at the ground to avoid tripping. Someone running in the opposite direction toward me said “Hi Carol”. I couldn’t look up to see who it was, so I have no idea. It was a man, and I think he had a white t-shirt on. I didn’t see him after the race either. “Hi” back to whoever you are!
At the 30 minute mark, I was tired, got a stitch in my side, felt myself slow down, and my running form was slipping back into my former slog style. I was going up a long gradual hill. In the past, I would have tried to tell myself to dig in deeper and work harder. This time I told myself to shorten my stride (baby steps), control my arms, and faster feet. That works much better…I was able to pick up my pace.
I hit my lap timer at the last turn. The volunteer said it was 1 more mile from that point, so I started running all out. That lap was 10:44, so it must have been more than one mile. I really was running fast there, and felt in a really good groove. Average HR for that lap was 172.
I saw a teenage boy named Nick, who was a student in my class last year at the high school. I chatted with him a bit before and after the race. He’s a good runner. He’s been sidelined with injuries the past two years, so I told him to check out the Evolution Running DVD.
Hmmm… I wrote more than I thought I would. I’ll refine this later….Happy New Year!
Bob-Thanks for your concern. My ankle was really sore last night, and just a little sore today. I never did ice it or take ibuprofen. I should have, but now I feel like it’s too late to be of much help. Maybe I’ll go take some ibuprofen anyway.
Sorry about the arthritis in your ankle. It’s sure fun to be over the hill, eh? Every time I get an x-ray for something, they say “Oh, and by the way, you have arthritis in such and such joint.”. Makes me not want any more x-rays, aka, ignorance is bliss. -carol
Great. I am worrried about your ankle. Please ice it and take anti-inflamotories. You may have injuried your ankle and need to make sure it has time to heal. Stay away from running for a week to make sure it has time to heal.
Spoken by the man who twisted his ankle running and now has arthitis in it.