Rock Cut 20K

OK, the last in the series today out on the horse trail paths at Rock Cut State Park. As usual the course is brutal with all the hills on the single track technical trails and the fields in between. Add to that the unseasonably mild (hot) high 70F's and sunshine. This was the rubber game, if you will, of the series in my age group(50-54) for the coveted $50 grand prize by scoring tops in the overall points total. I was leading going in by 5 points over my friend/rival who just ran a 1:24 half in san diego last week (whew!) Well he went out fast and I resigned to 2nd due to struggling all week with my left foot/ankle swelling up for some reason. It was better at race time, but my strategy with it was to maintain around my marathon target pace of 7:15 -7:30, all the while watching my footing. I did turn it slightly between mile 2 or 3, but not enough to cause pain. Besides the heat and long stretches of ankle deep mud and water was causing plenty of that, so as not to notice if there was any. I was able to stay with the game plan until about half way when I decided I definitely had to stop for water and downed a hammer gel also that they were providing. This is self serve unlike more sophisticated races, so I lost pace there. I noticed my rival was quite a ways ahead at this point, so judging by the way I felt it was going to be a long day since I was really feeling the heat. Long story short I felt lousy and really wanted to bag it somewhere on the 7th mile, you know those negative thought monsters. i really slowed the pace at that point along with everyone around me. To my suprise at the mile nine water stop I spotted my struggling rival in striking distance. At mile ten I passed him and he told me he was cramping up. At this point it was time to just maintain and jog it in knowing i had the series won as well as 1st for the day. On the 11th mile there is a steep incline up a spillway. I got to the top and had to stop completely for a minute or two. Another runner collapsed here and was taken to the hospital. Anyhoo, happy to have taken the series. average pace around 8:00.

Summary	1:38:35.2	12.32	8:00
1	7:49.9	1.00	7:50
2	7:16.7	1.00	7:17
3	7:19.1	1.00	7:19
4	7:12.3	1.00	7:12
5	7:29.0	1.00	7:29
6	7:20.2	1.00	7:20
7	7:47.3	1.00	7:47
8	8:22.6	1.00	8:23
9	8:02.9	1.00	8:03
10	9:01.6	1.00	9:02
11	8:58.6	1.00	8:59
12	8:56.9	1.00	8:57
13	2:58.3	0.32	9:11

Laps13

Cool! Sounds like you planned it perfectly and great job . In spite of the late hill, doesn't look like you slowed down at all. What's next?

John Kilpatrick wrote:Cool! Sounds like you planned it perfectly and great job . In spite of the late hill, doesn't look like you slowed down at all. What's next?

If you don't count the last 5 miles haha! That little race in Boston in April.

Congrats on the series win! Sounds like a tough course.

What can you tell me about the Amy Johnson 10 miler on April 7?

Dave-O wrote:Congrats on the series win! Sounds like a tough course.

What can you tell me about the Amy Johnson 10 miler on April 7?

Arny Johson 10miler is a tribute race to Mr. Johnson who was well known in the area and killed while riding his bike. It benefits Habitat for Humanity. Most of the friends in the Rockford Roadrunners that I've made running this winter series usually run this. It is a road race that starts at the high school in rockford and is run through the Rock Cut state park roads (not trails) and back. I'm considering it as a MP run for boston, but not comitted quite yet as it is close to spring break for my kids. Looks like a nice race and the scenary is great in the park.

fostever wrote:

Dave-O wrote:Congrats on the series win! Sounds like a tough course.

What can you tell me about the Amy Johnson 10 miler on April 7?

Arny Johson 10miler is a tribute race to Mr. Johnson who was well known in the area and killed while riding his bike. It benefits Habitat for Humanity. Most of the friends in the Rockford Roadrunners that I've made running this winter series usually run this. It is a road race that starts at the high school in rockford and is run through the Rock Cut state park roads (not trails) and back. I'm considering it as a MP run for boston, but not comitted quite yet as it is close to spring break for my kids. Looks like a nice race and the scenary is great in the park.

Oops. Arny, my bad.

I'm considering it as a hard workout, not necessarily an all out effort. Is it on roads or some trails?

Dave-O wrote:

fostever wrote:

Dave-O wrote:Congrats on the series win! Sounds like a tough course.

What can you tell me about the Amy Johnson 10 miler on April 7?

Arny Johson 10miler is a tribute race to Mr. Johnson who was well known in the area and killed while riding his bike. It benefits Habitat for Humanity. Most of the friends in the Rockford Roadrunners that I've made running this winter series usually run this. It is a road race that starts at the high school in rockford and is run through the Rock Cut state park roads (not trails) and back. I'm considering it as a MP run for boston, but not comitted quite yet as it is close to spring break for my kids. Looks like a nice race and the scenary is great in the park.

Oops. Arny, my bad.

I'm considering it as a hard workout, not necessarily an all out effort. Is it on roads or some trails?

All roads, slightly hilly. FUN race and cheap too!
Just may do it again this year.

Congrats on the race and the AG win!!!!

$50 is serious cool!

Btw, I have been there.

Winner! A good lesson on grinding away with it even on a day where those "negative thought monsters" (I like that) are taking over for a time. You just never know what will happen out there and while its bad luck for him that the guy ended up cramping up, you kept yourself in a position to take advantage and that's great sticktuitiveness! Scary that someone collapsed. Sounds like a rough course to run on an unseaonably warm day.

Great job on the AG and series win. Nice to pocket a little cash from a win.

So did you spend the $50 on beer? Drown out those negative monsters!