| Houghton's pond trail run with running friendly cool weather. The rain held off for the most part and none of the trail was slippery at all.
Turns out that our practice on Friday was on the old course, and the new course was slightly longer but basically the same trails.
I started out working towards the front of the pack for the first mile... getting a good position for when the trail got narrower and passing more of an effort. I counted the pack ahead of me at this point, saw that I was in 7th, and decided that most of the guys ahead looked pretty strong on the trail and that I shouldn't get too aggressive.
However, as soon as we hit a real trail, I decided that only the front three were all that strong on trails, and I quickly and easily slipped ahead into 4th spot just behind these leaders. At about this point I decided that I was probably running too fast, but was enjoying it enough that I didn't really let up at all. made another advance on a downhill section and moved into third at about the 2 mile mark. I stayed in third for a couple of miles, but this section was really flat and easy and I was getting tired from having gone out too fast. the leaders started to pull a decent gap on me. I got passed by a youngster next, and then a couple guys that I had passed earlier came back and passed me at mile 4 or so. they didn't ever get out of my range, but I didn't beat them into the finish, I finished 6th, with a strong kick that let me know I should have been running harder at somepoint near the end of the race. I was very happy with my effort, and they even gave me a trophey for 2nd in the M20-29 group.
As to pacing, I like starting fast, and don't know if a steadier effort would give me a faster time. It doesn't matter with a trail race, but it matters a good deal for important orienteering races.... I don't want to get worn out at the end of the highlander for example. |
