Race Report: Frostbite Running Series #5, 15K (9.3 Miles)
February 11, 2006, Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri
On the Thursday two days prior to the Frostbite Series finale, I met Jason and Devin for nine miles of tempo running after work. I arrived late and it was cold. I hardly stretched or warmed up. That night and the next day my left calf hurt. By Friday evening I was pretty sure I would have to skip the race, which meant that if the other guys in my age group showed up and ran their normal pace, I would fall from 3rd place to 6th in the standings. Oh well, I thought to myself. I had four pretty good races and shouldn't risk injury, especially this early in the year. When I finally called it a night I decided to set the alarm, just in case.
I woke up once in the night and felt my calf muscle. Still a little tender. Very little chance of racing, go back to sleep. But when I woke up and stretched a little, it actually felt pretty good and so I decided to give it a shot, promising myself I'd bail if it started to hurt.
As a race official gave inaudbile instructions through the obligatory megaphone, he stated "we've found a key to a nice car." Gulp. I couldn't believe it. I had left my key at the number pick-up table. As I got my key and wondered where my head was, several of the 375 runners gave me a cheer as I raised the key as if I had just won the ultimate attendance prize.
Soon we were on our way in the cool, but not frigid, temps. I settled into a good pace and pulled up next to Roger as we started to chat. I finally asked him a question I had been meaning to ask him for a long time. As I spoke Flemish and he respounded in South Afrikaans, my question was answered. Cool! After about three miles, I dropped off the pace slightly.
Around mile five, Sam joined me after having won the three-mile race! He stayed with me for a few miles and then peeled off to run with another friend. Miles five through seven were probably the toughest and I could feel my calf whenever I really tried to push off with any extra effort. So, I just tried to keep my turnover and get to the finish. The last mile-and-a-half were a little better, and I gave a good push in the last 400 meters, finishing just behind two guys.
As I walked to the water cooler, I had to shake my head in disbelief that my leg had felt good enough to compete and turn in a reasonable time. I couldn't have asked for it to turn out any better given the circumstances. This feeling was verified as Todd (2nd place!) and I waited around for the awards and my name was mispronounced for 4th place in my age group for the series and realized I had held off the two guys breathing down my neck in the standings by a minute or so in the final race. Yes!
On the Thursday two days prior to the Frostbite Series finale, I met Jason and Devin for nine miles of tempo running after work. I arrived late and it was cold. I hardly stretched or warmed up. That night and the next day my left calf hurt. By Friday evening I was pretty sure I would have to skip the race, which meant that if the other guys in my age group showed up and ran their normal pace, I would fall from 3rd place to 6th in the standings. Oh well, I thought to myself. I had four pretty good races and shouldn't risk injury, especially this early in the year. When I finally called it a night I decided to set the alarm, just in case.
I woke up once in the night and felt my calf muscle. Still a little tender. Very little chance of racing, go back to sleep. But when I woke up and stretched a little, it actually felt pretty good and so I decided to give it a shot, promising myself I'd bail if it started to hurt.
As a race official gave inaudbile instructions through the obligatory megaphone, he stated "we've found a key to a nice car." Gulp. I couldn't believe it. I had left my key at the number pick-up table. As I got my key and wondered where my head was, several of the 375 runners gave me a cheer as I raised the key as if I had just won the ultimate attendance prize.
Soon we were on our way in the cool, but not frigid, temps. I settled into a good pace and pulled up next to Roger as we started to chat. I finally asked him a question I had been meaning to ask him for a long time. As I spoke Flemish and he respounded in South Afrikaans, my question was answered. Cool! After about three miles, I dropped off the pace slightly.
Around mile five, Sam joined me after having won the three-mile race! He stayed with me for a few miles and then peeled off to run with another friend. Miles five through seven were probably the toughest and I could feel my calf whenever I really tried to push off with any extra effort. So, I just tried to keep my turnover and get to the finish. The last mile-and-a-half were a little better, and I gave a good push in the last 400 meters, finishing just behind two guys.
As I walked to the water cooler, I had to shake my head in disbelief that my leg had felt good enough to compete and turn in a reasonable time. I couldn't have asked for it to turn out any better given the circumstances. This feeling was verified as Todd (2nd place!) and I waited around for the awards and my name was mispronounced for 4th place in my age group for the series and realized I had held off the two guys breathing down my neck in the standings by a minute or so in the final race. Yes!
posted by JPD at Monday, February 20, 2006
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