AKA, how to return from a hamstring tear and get to the front.
The seed for this race was planted after we ran Jacksonville Marathon in December by my college roomie and former All-American runner/Olympic Trials competitor/home stay/BFF, Cathy. I knew about this race and was intrigued for sure. I've never really raced the distance but wanted to try it out. We started out, if you follow this boring blog at all, doing a 10K race 4 weeks out from Jax Marathon, it wasn't pretty. We had 7 weeks to train from this point which wasn't much to build any speed. I was fully aware of last year's results and had an idea what an AG win might take (which was the dream goal), time-wise. I got in most of the training plus we ran 2 x 5K races, one duathlon, and another 10K race - clearly, I like to use races as training! I was nursing an achilles niggle all along but the Dane was really getting hobbled with a hammy strain he accrued along the way. Anyway, the race date doesn't move when you want to push it back so we head in full beans!
Got to Jacksonville the Thursday before, driving thru Deliverance country along the way! Get to our "homestay" which was better than any posh hotel ever! We got to spend fun times with Cath and her energetic two-year old twins which was so fun! Race check-in went super smooth, top shelf organization here!
On to race morning. We caravan with Cath's running friends/tailgate party participants which worked out perfectly! Parking here can be quite stresso if you don't know where to go, we had local tour guides! The Dane and I finally found our way to the start area (sounds easy, not here) and our "seeded" corral which was nice. In a race of nearly 20,000 competitors, you want to be in front (especially if you're me and a bit claustrophobic in crowds)! The race starts and we're on our way. I haven't mentioned the weather yet, lets just say cloudy, coolish and windy! The wind was a factor for everyone today. I got out good, knew the pace I had planned to run and went with it. I didn't feel particularly good in the opening miles but I was committed to this pace and stuck with it early on. The wind was a factor for sure. I tried to make sure I had some guys around me the whole time to block the wind; great thing about running with some ego-guys, they ALWAYS want to be in front! Fine with me! I was moving up among the AG women as the race went on and, mentally, committed to running this pace until the green monster (Hart Bridge) even though I didn't feel very good. Got to the bottom of the climb of the green monster and got totally isolated.....with dead legs. Suboptimal! I had an echelon of guys about 10 meters in front (to block the wind for me) but I couldn't for the life of me catch up to them. Cooked. I did catch up to and pass eventual 3rd place woman in overall Masters (Sue O'Malley) going up the the Monster but I was really dying. Crest the bridge and I know, from what I've heard, there is 1500meters downhill to the finish. Says easy, does hard. I'm not known for my speedy downhill running! I try and charge down even though my stupid hamstring is actually screaming at me (first time since injuring it)! Sue gets back to me, looks at me and blasts down this decent of the Monster. I made a huge mistake in thinking she started with the Elite women 7 minutes ahead of us so I did not go with her.......rookie mistake. Getting down the bridge onto the finishing straight was really cool! So many people cheering it felt like you were winning the race! Such a cool experience!
I did end up winning the 40-44 AG which was my ultimate huge goal for this US Championship race. I didn't feel I was in the shape I needed to be in to run the time necessary to win but I knew I was in pretty good shape. I am supremely happy to have this win. I am also pretty disappointed to lose the Masters by 4 seconds with a rookie mistake. Live and learn. I ran my heart out for the conditions given and cannot be disappointed with the results. I am super motivated to do more USATF road races and put myself up against the best. I'm mostly happy that my hammy tear in 2009 didn't ruin my running career as I seem to be transforming a bit back to my roots of running, and loving it! I have committed to Escape from Fort Desoto tri and St Anthony's tri for the remainder of the Spring so triathlon is still looming large in the future! Gotta get on the bike!
The Dane ended up having to jog Gate River Run but finished in the top 10% still! Cath ran as well and enjoyed her day. I have a ton of respect for a former All-American and top 5 placer in this race who can go in as just one of us and have no excuses. I've learned a bit on this trip.....all good!
So, onto tri season which will be a challenge for sure! I want to do another US Championship road race later in the year just not sure where. Stay tuned!
Cheers.
