Get the first one out of the way…

This weekend I participated in the Barrhaven 10K about 25 minute drive from my place.  Instead of doing 5 x 2K on the treadmill, I decided to try the workout in a race.  I was one of the last participants to sign up (1200 people in the races) going in on Friday night with the race being the next day.

First, I have to talk about the conditions.  This was no ordinary weekend here in Ottawa.  We have had back to back to back 30+ degree days.  The ones where it is almost too hot to try anything.  Basically if you haven’t done your workout by 11am don’t bother going out!  This race was not in the morning;  the start was just after 5pm.  Yes it was hot.  On top of the heat was, of course, the wind. 

Driving to the race course I noticed the trees being pushed down from the heavy winds.  I had driven the course the day before so I knew that the wind would be a problem for about 3K .  This section was flat, open and perfect for a head wind.  I knew that here was going to be the deciding point of the race; if there needed to be one.

I started my day with a light 8K jog with a couple of 400s to loosen up the legs.  I’m not use to running late in the day so I was hoping the workout would help loosen me up.  Also by running early in the morning it meant less warm up, therefore escaping the heat in the night. 

The 400s felt like crap.  I had my 3 worst times of the week.  Instead of feeling loose the legs felt stiff as a board.  Could have been from the 3 x 10 TTs yesterday.

Fast forward now to the race.  I had been given a couple tips that this was not going to be a stacked field.  There looked to be a few people who looked ready for a good race.  After a delayed start we were off, into the heat wave.

Right off the bat I was in the front group, running in a small group of 3.  In the first kilometer the pace felt easy so I decided to move to the front.  After the second kilometer I tried something I had only ever practiced a few times, surging.  The course was well marked with pylons and I picked different ones and practically sprinted to each one.  This caused the other racers some grief ,as it took them some extra time to catch up.  After the 3rd surge I broke free.  I was now on my own.

At the 5K point (course is a 10K loop) I was going through in about 18:10, far off of a PB.  I looked behind me and saw that I had quite a large gap.  As I rounded the corner into the huge headwind I looked back again and didn’t see anyone.  All I thought was, "Don’t screw this one up." 

The 3K drove me near insanity as there was nothing to hide behind to avoid the wind.  Sun.  Wind.  Sun.  Wind.  Nothing else.  No water stations or people; just 4 lanes of road with a few cars going about their own business.

Turning onto the backstretch needless to say I was relieved.  Only 2K to go.  At this point I knew I had the win in the bag and I think it caused me to coast.  I picked it up a little bit when I saw Amanda and another stranger she had met  cheering for me near the 9K mark. 

The last kilometer went by so fast.  One second I was hating Mother Nature for making wind and the next I was tagging kids hands as I walked across the finish line.  First place took the shame of finishing in 37:25.  Chalk it up to the elements!

So what did I win?  A dandy set of  Womans Reebok X-trainers!  Yeah, its a long story but I get to trade them in for a new set (130 bucks!). 

I’ve got a couple videos of the race which I’ll post sometime this week.  Oh, and I also scored a job as well!  Sweeeeet!

Happy (Staying in the sun) Trainin!

Cliff