2017-01-21
The Duel offered 10k, 13.1 miles, and 26.2 miles and runners could choose either paved or trail. Many areas of Texas got a lot of rain this week so the trail course was impacted and they had to do some re-routing mid-week or cancel the race. The Duel sent out an email saying that the 10k route would be closer to 6.4 miles, the 1/2 marathon would be 13.8 miles, and the marathon distance would be close to 26.2 miles. It also explained that the 10kwould turn around at one point and the 1/2 would run one full loop + one partial loop, and the marathon would run 3 full loops. The course was well marked with orange tape (to keep on the right) but the instructions on where to turn around and where loops started and stopped were bad. They had volunteers placed at transitions on the course but they were useless. They were pretty involved in themselves and if they did look up and acknowledge you, it was just to mumble a "good job." For the record, the aid station volunteers were fantastic, but many of the teen volunteers seemed a little more like they were "voluntold" to be there and they would rather be anywhere else.
Sorry for all the backstory, but necessary for the next bit.
I wanted to try the "set a target" feature on my watch so I chose the 10k distance and a 1:15 finish time. I had a good pace going for about 2.5 miles but then I started tripping, three times in about .25 miles, so I decided it was time for some GU and a walk. I did my usual .2 mile walk and then decided I would do that at the beginning of every mile for the rest of the course, when I got to mile 4 though, one of my jams came on and I postponed my walk by .5 miles. When I got close to the finish line, my watch said I had only gone 5.88 miles, that's nearly .5 miles shorter than what the email said the course would be. So, I asked one of the non-helpful teens about it and she said she thought I was ok because "it's just supposed to be like 6 miles or something." I opted to run back across the bridge and down to the gate and back up before crossing the finish line. That put me at 6.37 miles. When it came time for awards it looked like I would have had 3rd place in my age group if I wouldn't have turned around, but I wasn't out there to win anything, I just needed to get my trail miles in. Sometimes it's difficult to keep my sights on the big picture instead of the competition. Today I had to tell myself "you have many more miles to run and bigger goals than this 10k, so just get through it, there's nothing to prove."
I am so glad tomorrow is a rest day, my lower calves/Achilles area is tight on my left leg and I need some R & R after 17.6 miles in 3 days.
The Duel offered 10k, 13.1 miles, and 26.2 miles and runners could choose either paved or trail. Many areas of Texas got a lot of rain this week so the trail course was impacted and they had to do some re-routing mid-week or cancel the race. The Duel sent out an email saying that the 10k route would be closer to 6.4 miles, the 1/2 marathon would be 13.8 miles, and the marathon distance would be close to 26.2 miles. It also explained that the 10kwould turn around at one point and the 1/2 would run one full loop + one partial loop, and the marathon would run 3 full loops. The course was well marked with orange tape (to keep on the right) but the instructions on where to turn around and where loops started and stopped were bad. They had volunteers placed at transitions on the course but they were useless. They were pretty involved in themselves and if they did look up and acknowledge you, it was just to mumble a "good job." For the record, the aid station volunteers were fantastic, but many of the teen volunteers seemed a little more like they were "voluntold" to be there and they would rather be anywhere else.
Sorry for all the backstory, but necessary for the next bit. I wanted to try the "set a target" feature on my watch so I chose the 10k distance and a 1:15 finish time. I had a good pace going for about 2.5 miles but then I started tripping, three times in about .25 miles, so I decided it was time for some GU and a walk. I did my usual .2 mile walk and then decided I would do that at the beginning of every mile for the rest of the course, when I got to mile 4 though, one of my jams came on and I postponed my walk by .5 miles. When I got close to the finish line, my watch said I had only gone 5.88 miles, that's nearly .5 miles shorter than what the email said the course would be. So, I asked one of the non-helpful teens about it and she said she thought I was ok because "it's just supposed to be like 6 miles or something." I opted to run back across the bridge and down to the gate and back up before crossing the finish line. That put me at 6.37 miles. When it came time for awards it looked like I would have had 3rd place in my age group if I wouldn't have turned around, but I wasn't out there to win anything, I just needed to get my trail miles in. Sometimes it's difficult to keep my sights on the big picture instead of the competition. Today I had to tell myself "you have many more miles to run and bigger goals than this 10k, so just get through it, there's nothing to prove."
I am so glad tomorrow is a rest day, my lower calves/Achilles area is tight on my left leg and I need some R & R after 17.6 miles in 3 days.
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