Not every race can be above average--this one was really sucked. My calf had been bugging me going into the race but I hoped it would be a non-issue on race day. Took Tues, Wed, and Friday off before SGM off and got a couple of massages to hopefully work out the kinks. BYU game the night before was obviously a bad omen......Taysom and I will just go over in the corner and cry.
Slept in Pine Valley and got up at 5. Ate a bannana and granola bar and got everything ready. Headed over to the race about 6:10 which turned out to be plenty of time as they started late.
Mile 1 6:46--Even thought I was near fairly close to the front of the elite corral there were still a ton of people to deal with. (7:06 last year).
Mile 2 6:59--Just settling in and relaxing on the uphill. (7:30 last year).
Mile 3 6:42--Things are fine though I am getting passed by a lot of people. (6:54 last year)
Mile 4 6:42--Still just going nice and controlled. My calves were tight, but what else is new? (6:49)
Mile 5 6:45--Grabbed my first drink I had set up on this mile. (6:51)
Mile 6 6:30--Faster than I would have expected. (6:33)
Mile 7 6:36--Down into Veyo. (6:40)
Mile 8 7:41--Up the Veyo Hill. Focused on just keeping my heart rate flat. No need to push things. Just kept telling myself that everyone who passed me would come back to me in the 2nd half. (7:51)
Right at the top of the Veyo Hill my left calf went out. Hard to describe, but I knew it was bad as soon as I felt it. It didn't cramp or spasm, just very quickly tightened up to the point where I was altering my stride. I eased up for a bit hoping it would release, but it wouldn't. Tried streching it--nothing. So then I just started running again easy thinking I would alter my plan and just finish. Run 8 or 9 minute miles. That thought lasted for about a mile, it kept getting worse and I could tell slow was still going to do some real damage. Mile 9 was a 8:51. Soon there after I peeled off the road and found a spectator with a phone. Called my wife and told here how to get to Dammeron Valley from Gunlock. Had to walk back along the side of the highway for a mile or so to the dirt road to Gunlock--which just sucked as I got comment after comment. Walked a couple miles down the dirt road to Gunlock by myself before my wife and kids made it. Just lost in my thoughts and dissapointed.........
Total I was 1:30 ahead of last year and the effort felt the same.
Need to figure out why my calves are chronically tight.
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