Lake Wyola race -- Sun. June 13

First time for this race for me, so taking it carefully--decided to take two days off (Fri. and Sat.) as I'd hit my 40 mile minimum for last week, and to try this course fresh. As it happens, I felt that two days off in a row is not necessarily good: my body gets the "relax" response and feels ready to catch a cold or similar. Noted for future ref.

Rain yesterday, and damp/muggy and cool today, but fortunately no rain as during the race. Headed out right after lectoring, solo, and arrived in time to register okay ($20, w/ T-shirt), but then the usual queue for a loo (body not quite adjusted to lower temps? or perhaps it's 風邪気味, or the coffee I had on the way up? Hm) and only just time to get back to the car, change shoes and head out briefly. Tracked back up the course, but only 0.8 miles before time to line up. Bruce B was there--apparently Jeane ran it, though I couldn't see her; also a few other familiar faces, but no potential running targets I knew.

Course was simple: uphill for two miles (road), downhill for two (dirt road), plus some flat at the start. Went out quite fast, sub-6:00, but from the get-go there were two good-sized groups and some singles ahead, so (a) a faster set than last years times suggested and (b) placing even top 20 would be tough. As we started up the hill I was relieved I had taken mental notes when driving down -- there's a serious but short steep bit just past the two mile mark, and then it's flat and downhill. I started to make a few places as we went into mile 2; didn't stop for water (needed pitstop again, in fact) and by the top of the hill I was feeling okay and wondering if any of those I'd passed would catch up on the downhill. I could imagine Bill muttering about how downhill is more painful than up, and for once I really agreed. I wanted to go fast, but it was just sore-making and pounding. Ouf. Managed to close on one guy, but Greenshorts in front of me was matching everything I tried; after more than a mile down steeply, there were some blessedly flat and uphill bits. I couldn't tell if anyone was closing on me, so I just kept pushing on; GPS conked out so I didn't know how far there was, apart from the stopwatch function; finally the last curve appeared, and I pushed one more bit to get in under 31 minutes, thus:

Time: 30:50
Distance: 4.8 miles
Pace: 6:25s

Comment: sore ankles and lower calf/shin area from the downhill; after a pitstop, grabbed a banana and headed out, aiming for another several miles (wanted double digits. . .). Managed 4.98 miles @ 7:26s in 37:03. This was probably a bit hard for a cooldown, but meh, serves me right for taking two days off. It was part trail loops and part road, and I ended up back at the start for some eats and a chat with a colleague I introduced myself to (he invited me to join a campus "noontime runners" group--very sociable). Turns out I came in 14th, and earned a prize as third in class. Grabbed book on running in NE and headed home for a nap. Definitely try again next year.