11/10/12: Dirt Cheap Stage Race #1 and #2
Saturday morning dawned damp and a bit foggy, around 39F at 7AM. Christine and I struggled to get ready. I wanted to leave at 8AM but we didn't get going until 8:15AM. We didn't forget anything but probably brought too much! We got to the intersection of Douglas Rd and Pond Rd in Mendon Ponds Park around 8:35AM and then walked up to the race site on Pond Rd.
Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before DCSR #1
I had enough time for a 0.7 mile warmup at 8:15 pace on the road. Just a nice and easy warmup.
The DCSR #1 at 9AM was a time trial race with runners going off every 5 seconds. My bib was 117 so I had a bit of time to get in line, loosen up and get ready. I was off! I said "Hi" to most runners that I passed and the runners who passed me. The trail was a bit muddy and wet with dew. The start and the first 1/2 mile was uphill ... in fact most of the course seemed uphill.
I think I went out too hot in the first mile and paid for it. I didn't get lost at the one tricky right turn like I did a couple of years ago. I walked the major hills like most runners and survived in 30:01. I finished 71st out of 155, link here. I was 8th out of 20 in my M50-59 age group, link here.
Christine and I headed back to the apartment between #1 and #2. We put KT tape on. I put mine on my right achilles. Christine put hers on her left ankle. Exciting stuff! We drove back in plenty of time to snag an excellent close parking spot for DCSR #2 up in Devil's Bathtub. We relaxed until about 20 minutes before the race before I geared up to get ready for the next race.
Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before DCSR #2
I headed out for a 0.8 mile warmup at 9:06 pace to warm up my cold and soon to be aching muscles.
I barely got ready for the start but managed to get to my usual starting location just under a minute before the 1PM start. The weather had become overcast and a little bit warmer but was still damp and dreary. I started out well and found my running groove. I did find my share of mud in the bog at mile 1. I tried to go straight through instead of going around on the rooty trail to the right. I went in up to my left ankle at one point. Other runners went in thigh or knee high trying the same thing so I felt unliked by the mud ... until later! I saw some runners off course around mile 1.7 so I was passed by some runners twice. I flirted with more mud in other muddy sections until I got sucked right out of my right shoe at mile 3.9! My shoe didn't want to go back on ... so I got my white light running gloves all dirty (which didn't come out in the wash) twisting and turning my muddy sneaker back on. I wasted about a minute and several places before I got running again. I guess I didn't lace up tight enough! I kept on running and finally climbed up the infamous stairs to the finish in 44:27 by my Garmin, 45:18 officially. I finished 76th out of 178, link here. I finished 12th out of 24 in my M50-59 age group, link here.
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| Just after the start |
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| I didn't splash Laura when I passed by ... unlike a couple of other runners! |
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| Notice that my white gloves aren't so white anymore ... |
Thursday, 11/15/12, UPDATE: Michael Shortley is home mending. I wish him a speedy recovery.
I know full well how dangerous trail running can be. I fell and cracked a rib when I attempted Seghahunda I in 2010... I still have the scars on my right arm. A hospital stay after I attempted Sehgahunda II in 2011 was an adventure too. But crossing the finish line at Sehgahunda III this year was sweet! I fully credit the Sehgahunda Training program through Fleet Feet for giving me the strength and confidence to finish Sehgahunda!
Later, Bill Beyerbach invited Christine and I out to Starbucks at the Twelve Corners in Brighton for a post race coffee. We enjoyed catching up with him. Back home I just lazed around for a long while catching up on Facebook before I took my shower. I wanted to go to bed early but didn't ... like usual.
Sunday, 11/11/12: Dirt Cheap Stage Race #3
Christine and I awoke around 7AM. I got ready for another day of trail racing fun down in Mendon Ponds Park. It was a bit warmer, 55F, so I thought about wearing my Brooks Racing Team tank instead of the short sleeve shirt but decided it was a bit too cool. We got down to the Beach parking lot around 8:30AM in plenty of time for the 9AM start.
Garmin Connect Activity for Warmup before DCSR #3
I got out for a really nice and easy warmup run to try to get my stiff muscles loose ... not so much.
My philosophy for this race was to finish. So I started out nice and easy without water and only 1 Gu and some Chomps (more of this later). I did run pretty well the first two miles at 9:15 pace along familiar trails.
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| The start along the beach ... just nice and easy! |
Christine was also at the mile 7 and mile 9 water stops. Thank you, darling! The last waterstop was at the top of Devil's Bathtub. I found out here that I hated Chomps ... too chewy like Gummy Bears for my taste. I headed down the infamous stairs and then made a wrong turn at a leaning arrow marker, turned left and did this loop again. This time when I got back to the Devil's Bathtub Christine had already gone to the finish. I headed back down the infamous stairs again and made the correct right turn. I was running on fumes now ... my stomach was empty, I needed nutrition and it was a struggle to maintain a slow run. But I just walked when I had to ... even on the flats. I willed myself forward, and up the uphill finish. Christine and fellow runners were there to yell encouragement as I finished ... always sweet!
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| Trying to sprint to the finish ... my new Facebook profile pic! |
Here are some photos of finishers that I knew ...
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| Beth |
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| Boots at rest .... |
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| Carl |
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| Chuck |
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| Courtney |
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| Dave |
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| Frank |
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| Jim R |
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| Joe |
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| John |
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| Kathy |
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| He wanted to finish ... even with one shoe! |
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| Patrick |
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| Sandy |
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| Sean |
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| Tina with a 1:06 PR! |
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| Wendy |
Anyway ... my Devil's Bathtub excursion cost me 0.9 miles and about 12 minutes according to my Garmin. But it was what it was ... getting lost during a trail race sometimes happens. I did OK, 11.29 miles, 2:10:54, 118 out of 158, link here. I was 22nd out of 27 in my M50-59 age group, link here. I was 84th out of 128 in the overall DCSR standings, link here. I earned my Dirt Cheap Stage Race hoodie, though my Large is on backorder ... a bit of a bummer that I didn't get to don it right away.
Christine drove home. I managed to get up the stairs to the apartment and then just plopped down on the couch ready for some coffee and Facebook. I watched the Buffalo Bills lose a heartbreaker to the New England Patriots, 31-37, link here, to fall to 3-6. It did seem that the Pats had the refs in their back pocket with several dubious calls. But the Bills did have a chance to win it at the end ... another costly interception by Fitzpatrick ended their chance.
