The cold hard facts can be seen on strava
Orcas Strava data
I didn't originally plan to do this race, but a runner wasn't planned on going, and the opportunity came up to have the entry transferred, and going on the trip with someone else made for a cheap tune up race. As much as I may have talked myself up with the possibility of pushing hard during the race, it was always going to be a test of preparation and gauge of current fitness for the upcoming badger mountain race. I ran 100 km the week prior to the race, 3 temp runs and a 43 km and 25 km run on the weekend. And then race week I ran Monday through Wednesday, definitely was not tapered, and purposely came in tired. I wanted to try and mimic what I might feel like part way through a much longer race.
The race was fantastic, the scenery was beautiful, the trip was wonderful. On orcas island at the top many spots we could see Mt baker on the mainland, so nice. During the first climb, even though I was feeling good and maintaining a steady pace, I could feel that I was very much coming in tired from not tapering. So I settled back into an easy pace and just went out for a nice comfortable day. It was so hard to not push. There were so many uphills, and so steep, so naturally it left equally many awesome downhills to tear up.... which I didnt tear up at all. I held back, looking to finish the race with a feeling that I could comfortably go back and run a similar race again, and I feel like I did that. But it was sooooooo hard to not chase other runners on the downhills, I love tearing the shit out of the downhills, but I kept it at a casual jog instead.
It was so very hot. Coming from seemingly ever present winter, and I think just two weeks ago I ran in -20 temps for most of the week, it felt like spring. I totally overdressed. I felt like I was overheating with a long sleeve base layer and a shirt over top. the second last aid station I tossed the shirt sleeve, and the last aid station (atop Mt constitution with the most amazingest view) I dropped the base layer, leaving me shirtless for the last 5 miles descent to the finish, it felt so great.
Onto some random thoughts that I wrote down after my post race shower
- avg pace: 7:06 min/km
- elev gain 8400 ft for 50 km (160.8 feet gain / km)
- badger mountain elev gain approx (112.5 feet gain / km)
- perhaps try and maintain for badger average pace of 7:30 - 8:00 min /km
- start out slower
- eat more solids
- more salt, regular gatorade. fuck whatever the race has, bring gatorade mixed the way I want it
- pb/j sandwich before race stayed in stomach good, do it again
- re-affirmed today that not tapering is not helpful (BAD) for a race (shock)
- I forgot that I typically get bothered by asthma issues during spring time, so GET ASTHMA MEDICATION before the badger race
- music o.k. for 2nd half of race, but maybe only use it if absolutely in dumps, felt good to not have it
- didn't look at watch once during race, went by feel whole way, I liked that, do it again
That is all I wrote down before we went on to other things. Maybe I will think of more, but I feel good about the race, I got what I was looking for. Need to tweek a few things for badger, but I'm happy with how my training is going towards my goal race. Also, I need to get new running shorts. The ones I wear hold sweat and get wet and cold.
Quote of the day from the race as shouted from some random dude on the side of the road near the end of the first major climb.
"Today is the perfect day for this, tomorrow definitely would be a worse day for it"
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