Ed Prochak wrote:
> Anyone else in the group running this race? I'll be there for the
> weekend and I'm mailing my registration today.
>
> Enjoy the run,
> ed
Okay, it is report time.
I'll dispense with the highlights sections.
I begin the day before the race. Everything is packed we load the van,
drop off my car for service at the dealer and head to the air port. I'm
looking at the AAA book trying to figure out where the race is exactly,
this place called Desert View Park.
At the air port, we arrive in plenty of time, get thru security and
wait. And sit and wait.They call for boarding and people get in line.
And we wait standing up. Altogether, the take off is over an hour late.
No sooner are we in the air than the pilot announces we will be
fighting a headwind all the way to Vegas. That was also about the time
I remembered the race flyer and AAA book are back in the car. We end up
in the air for nearly 6 hours. That was a lot of sitting.
Thankfully no real problems getting to the hotel. My son and wife want
to check things out, since it is still early, local time. After a bite
to eat, we walk along the stip, checking out some of the casinos.
Finally back in the room, my legs are aching. I put some flexall on
them before turning in.
The flexall helped my legs, but I'm nervous all night about missing the
alarm. I wake up neary every hour checking the clocking before trying
to sleep. Don't know why I was so nervous, I wasn't prepared for a PR ,
was just planning for a fun race.
Time to leave and I feel like I can vaguely remember the map location
for the race. I get close to what I think is the area and see no
runners, no signs for the park.. Nothing that looks like a park to me
(but I expect trees and grass, silly me). Worried I went to far, I pull
in a gas station to ask directions. The line is a little long so I look
and see the maps. I pick up a map and but it. I quickly see I've gone
just a few blocks too far east an south. A couple turns and I'm there.
now it's about 6:30. I check in and get my sweat shirt. I'm wearing the
one from last year and I'm glad, since it is COLD. There's a steady
wind too. Knit hat, knit cotton gloves, sweat shirt, tights are the
extra layers to help keep me warm. Based on training runs, I take a
good 15minutes of easy jogging to warn up. The sun is just high enough
to shine right in your eyes.
I get back just in time for the start. The course from the flyer
looked like it might be a loop, but the actual course ended up like a
combined out-and-back and a loop. But I don't know this as I approach
the first mile. A young woman runner strikes up a conversation, asking
what pace we are going. Hearing I plan on 10-11minutes, she sounds
concerned. I ask her how she's doing, and she says her training pace
has been 14minute miles. But she is keeping up with me and talking
without much trouble. Mile one at 10:34. cool.
there are a couple young girls ahead of us (turs out they are about
10YO). They are following the Galloway style, running some then walking
some. Turning a corner, suddenly the leaders are going the other way.
For some reason this makes me think I'm going very slow. But after
another turn, we see the turnaround is not that far ahead.
My new found running partner and I keep up a steady pace. somewhere
after mile 2 my new friend says she needs to walk a bit. Before she
does I remind her that her goal is to pass the those two young girls.
So she drops back and I keep up.
after passing those girls I'm just too hot finally and take off my
sweatshirt. (it must have been than that I lost my hat) I want to drop
the sweatshirt off the side to pick up later, but my race number is on
it!. So I carry it, awkwardly in my hands.
the finish finally comes, and I put on what kick I have left. I must
have looked okay then because another racer complimented me later on my
finish. But the finish cannot make up for slower miles. I took some
water at the finish and looked for the young woman to cheer her on, but
she was already in the finishing shoot.
She was overjoyed at her finish. "I never thought I could run that
fast".
Good for her!
I finished 139 of 172. Top finisher was at 16:02 (5:09 pace)
I was 9th of 13 Clydesdales.
I might have done better to register for my age group. I might have
placed third. Of the three listed in the division results for 50-54,
third place was taken with a time of 1:04:08. But hardware isn't why I
run or race. I had fun, even with a finsh of 33:57
here's the division results page:
http://lasvegasrunningteam.com/results/2006/presdiv.htm#50-54
here's the overall results page:
http://lasvegasrunningteam.com/results/2006/presover.htm
Well, I have my work cut out for me. Inconsistancy of training has been
the killer of my hoped for improvements. I don't think even a prerace
cup of coffee would have given me much more speed this day.
Post race notes: LOTS of food and drink. Beside the usual fruit,
muffins and bagels, there was eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, pie, and
cake, all in abundance except for the hot drinks. Coffee ran out so my
second cup I had just hot water. (Yes it was still cold and windy.) If
you like post race eats, this is one you should try it.
The other reason to try it is the good price, a sweatshirt for a early
registration price of $25!
Back at the hotel, I took a long hot shower. the highlight of the
morning.
Nice race. Check out the other races they run, bound to be good.
Ed