New Years Day Run 2008 Race Report

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!