Sunday, April 17, 2011

Policeman's Half Race report

So as it turns out, a relatively successful day considering the snow storm.
While my time wasn't what I wanted (I was hoping to beat my previous policeman's half time which was 126 a few years ago)... I think I can give myself a few minutes for conditions. It was pretty slippery out there so really hard to get any traction or push.
My personal victory for the day was keeping Danelle Kabush, who placed first female overall, in sight at all times. I'm not sure exactly how far ahead she was timewise but Danelle is an absolutely amazing professional athlete who competes for the XTerra Luna team. We both train with Cal so I've run track workouts with her before.
Another victory, was getting my nutrition totally dialed. I made sure I had Vega electrolytes with my banana and coffee this morning, and actually managed to get two gels in during the run and had no energy crashes! In fact the opposite. As soon as I felt myself slow even the tiniest bit, I pulled out a gel. While at one point the 3d place female who I'm told is quite the triathlete, passed me because of my fiddling around with mitts and gels, the gel gave me enough push to fight her for 2nd again as we dropped in to Weaselhead and treacherous trail conditions. It was great to feel strong and to feel like I actually had some fight in me this morning because I usually give up pretty easily once someone passes me. Not sure why and not something I like about myself but I find it way easier to stay in front of someone than to try to reel them in. I'm way better if I stay out front.
So I guess today was like a trail race in some ways. The time didn't matter but the position did. I'm happy to have won my age group and was just proud of myself for making it to the start line in the snow. There were a lot of runners out there with smiles on their faces. Nice work Calgary!

And... importantly: THANK YOU! to all of the volunteers who stood out in the snow this morning. You guys just make our day. One lady had shoveled an entire bridge off for us! So selfless. We appreciate you so much even if we don't always have the breath to say thank you while we're running!

Happy trails.

Amy
The alarm goes off at 5:40... I look at the screen and vaguely remember typing in "live your life by design" after a new series of podcasts I've been listening to in the car on health, nutrition etc. It's a good thing this message popped up and invaded my thoughts first because as much as I'd like to be that really incredible woman who meditates for an hour every morning and manifests her day, I just haven't gotten there yet. My meditation time is running. And... I run because I race. I know myself well enough and discovered early on as a teenager that if I didn't have a race to train for, I sure as hell was not getting out of bed at 530 to go run around Canmore in the snow. It's just the way I'm programmed. And so had I looked out my window without this thought in mind, I might have just crawled back into bed and slept through the next alarm.

So, with this positive quip having lifted my spirits slightly, I cautiously raise the drapes to see if the relentless snow has stopped. Ha! Not a chance. Still going. And still plenty of it on the ground. Looks like Christmas.

Ignoring it, I stumble to the kitchen to make my green tea and coffee, take my fish oils, and begin the pre-race routine of packing, eating, hydrating, putting gels together, bib numbers, changing outfits as the sky brightens... and decide I need a little inspiration. You tube has gotta have some tough races to watch. Some sort of positive reel to attach my brain to when it starts to hurt at about km 16. Like the one my friend sent me the other day of a woman who falls in an 800m Olympic race and still gets up to win it. Unbelievable strength. I've got a pretty wicked head cold/ sinus infection that developed at the conference I was at yesterday and that I was hoping might be gone by morning - just like the snow, it's still here. Sigh.

But hey, at least my legs work right. I stopped to visit my grandma at the Canmore hospital last night on the way back from the conference and there were so many people in long term care who were in wheelchairs. I bet they would give anything to be able to run. Snow or no snow.

So here I go. Police Half Marathon. Once around the Glenmore Resevoir. Start time: 8am. The glencoe icebreaker two weeks ago was a horrible time, tons of ice all over the road, wore my yak tracks, but still a second place finish. Two weeks before that, St Patty's day also a second place. Today, I'm hoping for a first but it really depends on who shows up.

I have to race smart. Fuel properly. Stay on my feet and off my butt.

More later...

Amy