Summit Rock 10k - AG 5 - Short RR For A Short Race
Hooked up with EN Ultra God, Mike Hedman, yesterday for an event in Saratoga in the San Francisco South Bay. Mike ran the half marathon and after much debate I opted for the 10k. Glad I did.
The 10k was on a single-track trail in the Santa Cruz mountains. It had rained several days this week and I was expecting a mud fest. But the trail wasn't all that bad. Wet? Yes. Slippery? A bit. Muddy? Only in a couple of sections. But that was the least of my worries. I was more focused on the email's Mike sent to me of his recon runs at the venue and what we talked about on the drive over. That the 10k had over 1,500 feet of climbing in just the first half of the race. And since I haven't run hills in a long time . . . . . .
So, in short, it was 1,747 up and then 1,747 back down with almost no flat areas and a ton of switchbacks.
Bottom line . . . I shelled myself (in a good way) going up simply focusing on RPE and trying to get around people on the way up. The trail was narrow much of the way.
Coming back down I wanted to let my legs go but I was concerned with twisting my ankle or falling. On the way up I did have a moment of terror when I slipped on a root and did twist my ankle. But I was fine. For those that know my history, I have twisted ankles in the past on trails that either DNS'd me from an event (Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run) or broken my foot that limited my ability at an event (IM CdA 2006 - did the event in a walking boot). But I just did the best I could and had fun.
Here is the elevation chart from yesterday. Total climbing was 1,747.
Overall, the going up sucked but the coming down was a blast. Ate pumpkin pie at an aid station and apple pie at another. Also, really focused on my RPE and I thoroughly believe that the Daniel's running I have done the past couple of months helped me with that.
Ended up with a 1:26:41 and a AG 5!
Mike got an AG 2 at a 2:10:47
*********************************************************************
A couple of pics and vids for your viewing pleasure:
About mile 1 heading up. I commented I was doing the "half." My bad.
A video coming down for Mr. Ambrose. Note the gal at about :55 into the video. I have heard of cramping, bonking, etc. in a race. But have NEVER heard this before.
Mike Hedman coming in. He was done. Put a fork in him.
How to tell an ultra-runner from a road runner who runs trails. . . . Hedman's black trail shoes, dark socks (Injinji's) and his sexy "Dirty Girl" gaiters!
Comments
As always, you are the cheerleader extraodinaire; did you see in the first vid how your call to arms got the slogging throngs moving? No one can resist the Stark!
John, it was so great to have you out there. You did great. Who else stops to take a video, cheer the other competitors, and still come home with a 5th in his age group!?!?
Mike
Karen Smyers finished 2nd at Kona in '99, about year after her C-Section. Which was preceded by a severed hamstring, and an encounter with an 18 wheeler, and followed by surgery and Chemo for thyroid cancer. After all THAT, she was still finishing top five in Kona and winning shorter races. At age 40+. (I'm sort of a collecter of these stories nowadays.)
Great job John! Can't believe you were doin the video while running down hill! getting 5th in AG even when stopping to video! Awesome!
Al- I heart Karen Smyers.
That is just awesome video! Looks tough for sure. Congrats!!!