L
Lorne
Guest
Perfect running weather - 3 degrees, overcast skies, no wind. The first race of spring in these
parts, but not at all a traditional road race. About 4k is on trails, 4k on paved paths and 2k on
road. The trail part of the race starts out with a novelty - a drop down 65 stairs to get into a
ravine. The ravine, then, is another novelty. Here in these parts of Canada, the snow is gone
everywhere except in treed and shaded areas (such as ravines). So what we ran on for the first 1k
was a dirt trail covered in (a) mud (b) snow and (c) ice. This ravine is also the means by which
we get into the river valley, a 30m drop. So some of the last steep hills were treacherous to say
the least.
Roughly 200 runners in the 10k and a companion 5k. A lot of new runners, grads of the winter
learn-to-run Running Room programs. And a lot of runners still figuring out how to dress for a race
- lots of winter tights, wind pants, fleece, etc. In fact, gloves, shorts and a long sleeve shirt
were just perfect once I was warmed up.
I had an approximate goal for the race, but ultimately I threw it out once I saw the conditions of
the course and the course profile.
I mentioned the first 1k above. Once we exited a long slippery sheer ice hill (you take little baby
stutter steps to avoid coasting down on your ass), we were onto the clear paved bike paths that form
part of a 160km network in the Edmonton river valley. It's flat and comfortable and I was easily
settled into my 6:45 goal pace.
After about 2.5k it was back onto trails, this time squishy and muddy - too soft, giving several
inches with every step. We hit a portion of road for the turnaround, then a water station, then back
to the start. We didn't go back up the icy hills we came down, though. We used a goat path of some
sort to get back up - narrow, pock-marked, muddy, several ups and downs including 3 that were so
steep I walked them because they were ridiculously straight up.
And then back onto to the roads to the finish, with mud up my legs and backside. I came in at 41:56
and 8th overall. I am certain the course was short - that certainty comes from understanding that my
pace on the flats was 42:00-ish and my pace on the trails at the start and end was nowhere near that
fast. So the course had to be short by at least 500m. Ah well, no one was too worked up about it.
Any course that starts on a stairway isn't likely to be taken seriously anways. So although the sub-
42 result lops more than 2-1/2 minutes off my PR I'm not counting it.
Post-race refreshments included the usual suspects - muffins, fruit and yogurt. Post race massage
for 2 bucks. There were 20 draw prizes but I was not lucky this time. The finishing prizes were for
the top 3 overall
- the men's winner was in at 36:00.
Next race is two weeks from now - a 10 miler which is held on the streets of the bedroom community I
live in - the 8 mile mark is about 400m out my door. This is a hugely competitive race, one of
several you can count on the best coming from all over the province. Over 800 runners, and I won't
get close to the top 100, even. I'm thinking 70 minutes. If I can get close to that, then it helps
confirm the 93:00-ish target for my spring goal race - the Red Deer Half in mid-May. At least I
think it does.
Thanks for reading.
--
Lorne Sundby
parts, but not at all a traditional road race. About 4k is on trails, 4k on paved paths and 2k on
road. The trail part of the race starts out with a novelty - a drop down 65 stairs to get into a
ravine. The ravine, then, is another novelty. Here in these parts of Canada, the snow is gone
everywhere except in treed and shaded areas (such as ravines). So what we ran on for the first 1k
was a dirt trail covered in (a) mud (b) snow and (c) ice. This ravine is also the means by which
we get into the river valley, a 30m drop. So some of the last steep hills were treacherous to say
the least.
Roughly 200 runners in the 10k and a companion 5k. A lot of new runners, grads of the winter
learn-to-run Running Room programs. And a lot of runners still figuring out how to dress for a race
- lots of winter tights, wind pants, fleece, etc. In fact, gloves, shorts and a long sleeve shirt
were just perfect once I was warmed up.
I had an approximate goal for the race, but ultimately I threw it out once I saw the conditions of
the course and the course profile.
I mentioned the first 1k above. Once we exited a long slippery sheer ice hill (you take little baby
stutter steps to avoid coasting down on your ass), we were onto the clear paved bike paths that form
part of a 160km network in the Edmonton river valley. It's flat and comfortable and I was easily
settled into my 6:45 goal pace.
After about 2.5k it was back onto trails, this time squishy and muddy - too soft, giving several
inches with every step. We hit a portion of road for the turnaround, then a water station, then back
to the start. We didn't go back up the icy hills we came down, though. We used a goat path of some
sort to get back up - narrow, pock-marked, muddy, several ups and downs including 3 that were so
steep I walked them because they were ridiculously straight up.
And then back onto to the roads to the finish, with mud up my legs and backside. I came in at 41:56
and 8th overall. I am certain the course was short - that certainty comes from understanding that my
pace on the flats was 42:00-ish and my pace on the trails at the start and end was nowhere near that
fast. So the course had to be short by at least 500m. Ah well, no one was too worked up about it.
Any course that starts on a stairway isn't likely to be taken seriously anways. So although the sub-
42 result lops more than 2-1/2 minutes off my PR I'm not counting it.
Post-race refreshments included the usual suspects - muffins, fruit and yogurt. Post race massage
for 2 bucks. There were 20 draw prizes but I was not lucky this time. The finishing prizes were for
the top 3 overall
- the men's winner was in at 36:00.
Next race is two weeks from now - a 10 miler which is held on the streets of the bedroom community I
live in - the 8 mile mark is about 400m out my door. This is a hugely competitive race, one of
several you can count on the best coming from all over the province. Over 800 runners, and I won't
get close to the top 100, even. I'm thinking 70 minutes. If I can get close to that, then it helps
confirm the 93:00-ish target for my spring goal race - the Red Deer Half in mid-May. At least I
think it does.
Thanks for reading.
--
Lorne Sundby
