Thursday: Race Day 4 - Lamar, Colorado

SHORT VERSION - 104.8 miles completed in 4 days. Oh yeah, baby!


Final Time: Their Clock - 3:48:??, My Watch - 3:49:07
Average Pace 8:44, HR 136
Course was a 3.4 Mile Out & Back on mostly gravel/dirt, some pavement

Watch Laps, Pace per Mile-Heart Rate

8:19-135, 8:37-137, 8:47-134, 8:16-138, 8:24-138, 8:15-138, 9:22-135, 8:01-138, 8:15-137, 10:08-132, 8:32-136, 8:00-136, 8:13-137, 10:35-131, 8:15-138, 10:07-130, 8:34-138, 8:22-141, 8:20-139, 9:04-137, 8:54-137, 8:34-138, 10:17-131, 8:34-138, 8:44-135, 8:05-141, last .21 @ 6:51-152

LONG VERSION

I was so exhausted last night I opted for a cheap motel. This turned out to be a really smart move. I was able to get everything organized, take a hot shower, and most importantly get dressed warm and show up to the race warm (unlike yesterday).  So I showed up feeling great and my biggest concern was if my achilles was going to stop me from running well.  I brought an ankle brace on the trip and put it on my right ankle to hinder the motion that was causing the achilles pains.

For gear, I wore injinji compression socks (with toes) and 2 layers on top. Race morning was 10 degrees warmer than yesterday.

When we started running, I felt normal soreness from running the previous days. My achilles felt well supported in the brace and after about 2 mile, it really wasn't bothering me anymore. Mentally I felt that as long as I didn't push it fast or uphills, then I should be able to keep the problems at bay. So naturally I was rigorous about using the 4/1 run/walk method to keep me going at a steady faster pace.  It turned out to be a great strategy because I was able to stop those oncoming little twinges I get in various parts of my legs while I run.  

Since it was a 3.3-ish mile out and back, I was able to get back to my drop bag about every 27 minutes. Every time I passed the aid station or restrooms, I stopped so I had about 10-12 minutes of total stop-time there. The 1st race I probably had 4 minutes, 2nd race - 6 minutes, & 3rd - 6 minutes.

I had my 1st quarter in just over 55 minutes and 1st half around 1:55.  I was nervous because I didn't know if that was a big enough buffer to hold me through the 2nd half?  Since this was a out-and-back, I saw everybody's face multiple times and said high a lot. My neck was getting sore from lifting my hand for greeting the passing runners.  On the other 2 looped coursed, I saw their backs and they saw mine. So when we would chat afterward, we often stated, "so that was you that..."  So today was different. Tomorrow is also and out-and-back.

My 2nd half was consistent and I attribute the mostly dirt course for heeling my injuries. I think the last two days on pavement were too much for my legs to handle. I also wanted to get a total time under 4 because if I got back to the hotel before 11:00, I could shower and ice bath. Which I did!

Jeremy mentioned he took an ice bath the night before and felt great so he ran similar to his first two days. A couple of new newbies joined us who were ahead of me, but I was more focused on getting a sub-4 for the 4th time rather than how I placed. Later tonight Jeremy and I were talking at the hotel and calculated that our total times were within a minute or two given that his 3rd race was slower (closer to 4:00).

I still wanted to ice my injuries, so I looked for something at WalMart. The best I could do was freezer zip lock bags and ice. Which I tucked into my socks while I drove the 2hours to the next race.

Entered the fifth and final state: New Mexico and drove to the town of Clayton.

There may be rain tomorrow, we shall see.

I went to check out the next race course and apparently it is famous for dinosaur tracks.

If you look carefully, you can see the T-Rex shadow (above).

Tomorrows course is in the background (above).

Went to the pre-race dinner event.

Then went to hotel to bizz-bazz with the other runners. No McDonalds in this town, so I needed a hotel to blog from. It's a fun hotel, lots of character.

Tomorrows event is 15 miles NW of town so there is no service. I am going to camp at the race start and fortunately there are flush toilets and hot showers!  I think tomorrow race is at a lake that we can actually swim in....let's hope!

My legs feel tons better after the ice bath. So I think starting the race tomorrow will be easier. I make just take off like a rabbit and fall back to the 4/1 run/walk method when my legs tell me to do so.  I'm fairly confident that I can get another sub-four but it will still take considerable effort to do so.