Rock Cut 5K

fostever Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:36 am

Rock Cut Survivor Trail Series 5K

This is the first of 4 races one each month that progress by 5K distance and difficulty.

This is my second year at doing the complete series. I found these races in February 2010 only doing the final 2 races that year to help prepare for Boston. Last year was 15F degrees and abount 4 inches of snow on the trail. I got out slow and got boxed in last year. This year I was determined to get a good start and ride with it. Last year I decided to buy spikes after the second race because much of these races cover ice and all kinds of trail obstacles. So I got out fast and stuck to a solid pace and tried to hang on to it. One thing about these shorter races you feel like everything is burning. Yesterday my lungs and chest is what felt the worst. The course was very much rolling hills in and out of woods and fields, a true cross county course. The race director always throws in a log jump and a branch to go under. I just held the pace and when we got out to the final little loop before heading to the finish I decided to do a final push passing this guy who was in front of me the whole race. As soon as I passed him he sprinted to pass me back. That's when I noticed he was in my age group by his AG tag that we all have pinned to our backs. I decided at that point to tailgate until the final 50 yards or so and then see if I could out kick him. It work as he must have used up all his energy passing me back. As I sprinted through the chute I noticed the clock ticking just past 20 minutes so unofficial time was 20:02 or 03 (6:28 pace.) I assumed 2nd AG as this very fast guy (1:22 half marathoner) usually takes first in the 50-54 AG here. However after getting through the shoot he walked up from behind me apparently finishing second. So ended up 1st AG 20th overall and picking up the $25 prize. Should make for a fun and interesting competition for rest of the series. This was a 3:45 or so improvement over last year, of course conditions were much better this year with temps in the mid 30'sF and only a dusting of snow. santa