Best Damn Ok Race

Saturday, I participated at the Best Damn Race in Safety Harbor competing in both the 10k & 5k distances. It is my favorite run race being in my back yard and it’s extremely well organized. This was my first race of the year after finishing my duathlon season in early December and taking a breather from the intense training schedule. I am in a build phase currently and a good tad over my ideal race weight so my expectations for the race were tempered. I was to race my ass off with in my current fitness and see how big the gaps were at this stage.

Racing both events is great as it closely simulates my duathlons with the absence of the bike in between the two runs. The gap of an hour and 15 minutes between the two races is a challenge in itself but a great practice running on fatigued legs.

First up was the 10k. It’s funny how I raced just under two months ago and the start of the race was filled with so many unknowns going through the head. Where really is my current fitness? How do I attack this 10k? How do I attack the start of the race? When I started out, I went a bit fast for my current fitness and felt winded through 2.75 miles. From mile 1-2.75, it simply sucked from a cardio perspective. Then at 2.75 miles my entire body settled into a rhythm and with just over three miles remaining, it felt similar to getting off the bike for a final 5k in a duathlon.

I worked and worked keeping a steady pace and cut down miles 5, 6, and the final .2 mile paces coming in 15+ seconds under my goal for the race. I felt good about my mental game and ok with the run knowing my current fitness level.

I did a poor job re-fueling between races and didn’t realize it until into the race. When I got to the start line for the 5k, I felt worn but didn’t think I was under fueled. It was a 5k, what could happen?

I began the 5k in my typical fast start fashion before settling in. Mile one wasn’t too bad and then as I entered mile two, I was suffering. Both quads were fatigued, and I felt the under fueling effect. I didn’t have the strong a mental fight as in the 10k. I pressed on and knew I blew my second goal pace for the race. That was disappointing but I’m not surprised with where I am in my training, and I need to be ok with that. It wasn’t a train wreck but not good either.

For where I am in training, I grade my 10k run with a B- and the mental game an A-. The 5k was a C- and the mental game a C. I finished 1st of 38 in my age group for the 10k and 1st of 48 in my age group for the 5k.

Up next:

• Continue with the tempered intensity and maintain volume on the run in February
• Pick up the intensity and volume on the bike where I have built a base in January
• Cut into the fat and weight I added after the early December race. I am waaaaaay to heavy right now. I have started eating more whole foods of late cleaning things up. I gotta watch the portion control and late-night surges of calories…