the maze 30k
races come in all shapes, sizes and varieties. some are good, some are great. some aren't so hot.
the maze 2007 one of the 'do i actually know how to run long distance' ilk.
[...]
18.6 mile trail run in north austin comprising of three laps of a fast, flatish 6.2 mile course. minor shin-high water hazards, but nothing terribly noteworthy. i'm a big fan of the rogue trail series, and was very much looking forward to the first race of the year.
the scene was a fine one as always: several friends at the start (nora, michael'n'mich, dwayne, kim, etc.), steve barking out frank, cuss-laden instructions regarding course marking and litter management. the weather was as good as it gets for may: 60s with clouds and a slight breeze.
i intended to negative split the run. the result was something a touch different:
2:56:16 -- 36th overall
46:24 (7:29/mi)
49:35 (8:00/mi)
1:20:17 (12:57/mi)
i really felt loose on the second lap--so much so that i thought i was at-or-below my first lap pace. a touch displeased with the reality, i still felt relatively loose with the start of the third lap. about 20 minutes in, however, my left calf had other thoughts: it sent out shots of pain that force me to back off my pace. the pain is relieved for another mile before it picks up again, forcing me to eventually stop and walk the final two miles in on very stiff legs. with the allergy rashes broken out over my chest, and my nose draining from the sinusitis that i suffered last week, i suspect that i looked worse than what the cat dragged in when i quietly crossed the finish.
i didn't have much of a choice but to hang it up, lest i risk long-term injury to my calf. maybe it was the hustle-and-bustle of the week that made me lose focus. maybe i need to rest a bit from boston still. it kinda hurt, however, to have to soft-foot the crossings, climbs, and drops that just 50 minutes ago i was bounding over, diving down, flying through. the rush of pressing one's luck with the rock and the footing, now reduced to trepidation and impatience.
is this what turning old is like? looking down a treacherous cliff and wondering how? why?
the one crossing i just stopped in the middle of and rinsed down in the cool water of walnut creek. it felt good across my itchy body. hopefully it won't be too long before i take cracks at walking on it again.
for now, rest.
the maze 2007 one of the 'do i actually know how to run long distance' ilk.
[...]
18.6 mile trail run in north austin comprising of three laps of a fast, flatish 6.2 mile course. minor shin-high water hazards, but nothing terribly noteworthy. i'm a big fan of the rogue trail series, and was very much looking forward to the first race of the year.
the scene was a fine one as always: several friends at the start (nora, michael'n'mich, dwayne, kim, etc.), steve barking out frank, cuss-laden instructions regarding course marking and litter management. the weather was as good as it gets for may: 60s with clouds and a slight breeze.
i intended to negative split the run. the result was something a touch different:
2:56:16 -- 36th overall
46:24 (7:29/mi)
49:35 (8:00/mi)
1:20:17 (12:57/mi)
i really felt loose on the second lap--so much so that i thought i was at-or-below my first lap pace. a touch displeased with the reality, i still felt relatively loose with the start of the third lap. about 20 minutes in, however, my left calf had other thoughts: it sent out shots of pain that force me to back off my pace. the pain is relieved for another mile before it picks up again, forcing me to eventually stop and walk the final two miles in on very stiff legs. with the allergy rashes broken out over my chest, and my nose draining from the sinusitis that i suffered last week, i suspect that i looked worse than what the cat dragged in when i quietly crossed the finish.
i didn't have much of a choice but to hang it up, lest i risk long-term injury to my calf. maybe it was the hustle-and-bustle of the week that made me lose focus. maybe i need to rest a bit from boston still. it kinda hurt, however, to have to soft-foot the crossings, climbs, and drops that just 50 minutes ago i was bounding over, diving down, flying through. the rush of pressing one's luck with the rock and the footing, now reduced to trepidation and impatience.
is this what turning old is like? looking down a treacherous cliff and wondering how? why?
the one crossing i just stopped in the middle of and rinsed down in the cool water of walnut creek. it felt good across my itchy body. hopefully it won't be too long before i take cracks at walking on it again.
for now, rest.
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