How Much Discomfort Can I Tolerate?!

Mountain Goat Hill Runs

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Location:

Eugene,OR,USA

Member Since:

Nov 09, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

  • 5k PR - 18:48 (7/04/08)
  • 8K PR - 33:46 (5/19/07, on trails)
  • 10k PR - I have not run a competitive 10K yet.
  • 12K PR - 50:10 (8/09/08)
  • 15K PR - 1:04:52 (3/22/08)
  • Marathon - Have run 1 trail marathon, (Grand Island) 3:55 (July 2007)
  • Ultra Marathons -
  • Farmdale 33.5 miles, 10/08 - 6:08
  • Riddle Run 28 Miles, 01/09 - 5:35 (run in 2-3 inches of snow)
  • Devil's Lake 50k, 07/09 - 6:22
  • Howl at the Moon 8 hour, 08/09 - 39.98 miles
  • North Country Trail Run 50 miles, 09/09 - 9:44
  • Farmdale 32 miles, 10/09 - 5:45
  • McNotAgain 30 Miles, 10/09 - 5:50
  • Red Rock Canyon Half, Las Vegas, 06/12 - 2:15


Short-Term Running Goals:

Keep running in the winter - 1st year in Eugene - fun!

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep on Keeping on..

Personal:

Moved to Eugene in Autumn, 2012 - Track city USA!

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Mountain Goat Hill Runs (9.3 Miles) 01:04:49, Place overall: 15
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
3.000.009.300.0012.30

Weather - 32 degrees, clouds, windy.

Arrived at the race site at 9:20am, race time was 10:30. After registering I ran an easy 2 mile warm-up, I decided to skip doing accelerations because the 9 mile race distance would give my legs sufficient time in the early miles to find the proper speed tension. The course was a bit windy, there was light snow falling, but I found it to be not uncomfortable. I decided to wear shorts, 3 shirts, hat and gloves. When the race started I could not get my watch started, so I peeled off a glove and finally got it going, so I had to remember throughout the race that it was about 20 seconds off race time. The course is a 5k loop with 3 steep hills. My strategy was to run the first loop moderately, hoping to hit the first 5k in 22:00. One person passed me in the first 400M, and I reminded myself that the 10k runners were mixed with the 15k, so not to be surprised if I got passed during the 2nd loop. I felt strong and loose, I felt the pace was sufficient to hit 22:00, and it felt like an easy run. I did not want to push harder because I knew I would need a lot of energy for the third loop. Hit the first 5k in 21:30, and considering how easy it felt I was not worried that I was going too fast. During the 2nd loop I passed a number of people, but reminded myself to keep the pace consistent, so as to have something left for the final 5k. At the 9k mark I knew I was going to be able to hold a good pace for the remainder of the 2nd loop, and two thoughts occurred to me - "if I don't drop a 26:00 5k in the final loop I'm going to be fine", and "monitor how I feel at the start of the final loop". I was paranoid about the final 5K because last year I died at the end of the race, running a final 5k in 26:00. Just before reaching the steepest hill at the end of the second loop I saw Ken Welle flying down the hill, already having started his 3rd loop. He waved to me, and I shouted "Go Ken!". He was about 400M ahead of me, so I knew I would not be able to catch him. He is in monster shape for Boston, and is obviously at the peak of his training, so I knew it was wise not to try to run his pace. At the turn around I checked my watch and was at 43:00, so I had run the 2nd loop in the same time as the first, 21:30. I was starting to feel a bit tired, and my quads were becoming fatigued, but I had a lot of running energy left, and my lungs and heart were in good shape. I felt I had a chance to maintain the same pace for the 3rd loop. I was running up the hills moderately slow, but flying the downhills, I think I have a talent for downhill running, I can go full force with no breaking, while other people around me can't seem to pull the trigger. I passed a number of people on the downhills, and surprisingly I had still not been passed since the first 400m. With 1.5 miles to go I felt I was going to make it, my stride was not breaking, I was tired, but maintaining my composure. There was nothing much to the end of the race, I ran evenly paced, and there was nobody ahead or behind me to challenge, so I cruised home in 1:04:52, meaning I ran the last 5K in 21:52, a slight drop in pace, but still better than the 22:00 split I had planned for. They handed me a trophy as I stumbled out of the finish chute, which said I was in 15th place. There were 214 15k runners, so I was at 7%, which is better than my usual 15-20% finishing place.

My overall impression for this race is that it is one of my best efforts at a distance greater than 5k. I ran the 7.5 mile Lake Run last year, which was a flat road course, averaging 7:00 pace . Todays race was a more difficult course, in moderately difficult weather conditions, with a longer distance by almost 2 miles, and my average pace was 6:57. The race was peculiar because I felt I never opened up my pace, every mile was run in moderation, yet I still ran a quick pace when compared to last year's races. I can't deny I am getting into good shape, but I feel I am not even close to my top racing form. I have done only 3 or 4 hard sessions so far this year, once I get in 12-15 speed sessions, I should be able to run faster.

Last year I ran this race in 1:10:57, so I PR'ed the course by over 6 minutes. This gives me confidence for upcoming races.

#127

z.m. - #41

Comments
From Lybi on Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 20:48:41

GREAT JOB! PR by over 6 minutes...whew! I am impressed at how well you kept your pace in this long of a race. You are definitely in for a good racing year, with this kind of start.

From Tom on Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 21:11:06

Good job on the race! Congrats on the PR, looks like you have some great races coming throughout the year.

From will on Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 16:53:53

Thanks for the comments, Lybi and Tom.

Tom, congratulations on your recent PR's, very impressive. With all of the hard training you have been doing, it makes sense you are running and racing so well.

Lybi, good luck with the barefoot experiment, it sounds like a great way to run!

From MichelleL on Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 20:00:21

That sounds like a fun race. You sure ran it great! It sounds like you are right, that you have some great races ahead of you. Congrats!

From will on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 18:33:50

Michelle - I hope you feel better soon! Your job sounds tough, 3:30am start time is heroic - stay strong and remember to have fun...

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