Jericho Beach, Vancouver
39:36
29/172 Overall 5/16 (M 25 -29)
Not sure if I want to re create the pre race prep around this one but it was a fun day out.
Pre race Night
Met with the boys on Friday Night for their post hockey beers. Rock up to the bar and after ordering my first Guinness find out they are selling Coopers Pale Ale. So instead of a couple quiet beers turned out to be a hald dozen or so on top of the two I had for dinner.
Race Morning
After a few hours sleep dragged myself of the floor grabbed a clif bar and headed down to forerunners for the Saturday morning clinic run. My plan is to use this a sa recovery/easy run but this week they were doing some interval work but the groups pace was still relatively manageable.
Race Planning
3km into the previously mentioned run saw them setting up for a cross country in Jericho. Asked around with the group and they was a cross country on for that day. Finished the workout but as I had wanted to do a cross country race in 2008 decided would tack this onto the day. Grabbed my wallet from the store and headed back down to register for the 25th Gunner Shaw put on by Lions Gate Road Runners
13 Year Flashback
Trail Running is like cross country hey..well not really. Anyway hadn't run a cross country since high school at that was in Oz were rain is something that doesn't happen often. The big downpour over had moistened up the course pretty well and i was wearing my Newton Gravity shoes which are aweosme for road, track and easy trail running but don't offer much grip in sand, grass, mud, slush etc. Once the new Motion AW model comes out might pick up a pair for the Vancouver conditions like this. In the mean time may pick up a pair of cross country spikes if i do any more races.
Gun Goes
So the race goes, unlike a road race where you generally know where you are going this was an adventure for me. left right (making sure to slide on the grass whenever possible), over sand up a muddy hill, down a muddy hill into a bog, up and down again and through a mini lake and all to do it one more time. After the first lap pretty much worked out I would lose time on the technical sections (lack of experience and and grip) so pushed hard on the flats. Lost footing on one corner (at least ground was soft) and face planted into a puddle on another.
Had heaps of fun and got a good core and running workout. Can't complain with the 39:30 considering it is a new adventure for me, had a 11km warm up, was slightly hungover and lacked a little bit of grip. Cool race and will definitely try and do next year although may be in oz for IronmanWA
Recovery
Still did my long run as planned with NC through Vancouver and Pacific Spirit Park and back along seawall to the Cambie area. 32km of recovery and only felt hard work on the uphills .
Lessons Learned
- Planning is overrated and spontaneity can be fun
- Cross country spikes may be a good investment
- Getting muddy can be a lot of fun
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