Owl's Roost Rumble 3.5 Mile Trail Race Report
tappae
Posts: 568 Member
The Good:
The course wasn't muddy like I had feared after yesterday's storm. It was nice and cool at the start and altogether a beautiful day to be out in nature!
The Bad:
I was in no way physically or mentally prepared for this race.
The Ugly:
I got passed by someone that was apparently suffering from an asthma attack and was out-sprinted by a 12-year-old at the end.
Arriving earlier than I usually do for morning races, I still only had time for about 1 mile warm-up (with some strides). The pace seemed reasonable to me at the start and I quickly moved to the rear of the lead pack. I was feeling comfortable in this position when, about 1/2 mile in, I noticed my shoe was untied. This is the only problem I've had with my Altras. They come untied more than any shoe I've ever had. I think I need new laces. While tying my shoe, I was surprised that no one passed me and I was back up just in time to follow the first chaser. The lead pack was almost out of sight, though.
My fellow chaser and I were within striking distance of some stragglers when we hit the first trail. I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were going to enter the "exit" of the loop trail instead of heading up the hill that made me walk last weekend. I passed the first mile marker at around 7 minutes, but I don't think it was right. I was probably around 8:00 for that first mile. Based on the permanent (and accurate) 1/4 mile trail signs, I averaged around 10:00 pace for this trail. It was plenty rooty, rocky and hilly and I was passed by at least a dozen people by the end.
For the ~0.6 mile paved section that led to the next trail I was able to maintain my position and even gain a little on the people in front of me. One missed a turn, though, and walked up into the parking lot. I'm guessing he dropped out. Another missed the turn onto the next trail and just kept running down the greenway. I shouted at the volunteers and I hope someone chased him down to tell him.
I did have one minor mishap during this section: Most of the other runners were staying to the right side of the greenway. Had this been a work-out, I would have done the same. As it was a race, I was running the tangents. An older couple was walking facing me and wasn't moving. As I got closer, I motioned for them to move aside. The gentleman angrily shouted, "Why don't you move to your side? You don't own the world!" As I passed, I tried to summon the energy to explain that I was in a race and running the tangents, but I'm afraid they (and anyone else around) left with the impression that I was an @$$.
When we turned up into the last trail, I was really starting to struggle. Just short of 1/4 mile in, there is a terrible little hill, and that is where I walked for the first time. I've never walked during a 5K before. Maybe I was just exhausted, or maybe it was my ultra training kicking in. It was probably the former, since I walked it a lot slower than I walked the same hill during my 40. I actually had to walk twice more before the end. Well, I did walk; "had to" might be a cop-out.
Maybe another dozen people passed me on this trail, but I still managed around 10:00 pace (except one 1/4 mile when I walked was closer to 12:00 pace). I saw more evidence of mile marker error, too: the "mile 3" sign came very close after the "mile 12" sign for the half (same ending trail). The photographer near the end apparently decided I wasn't photo-worthy as he did not raise his camera. I must have looked at him quizzically, because he said, "good job" as I passed.
My wife and son were waiting for me at the finish. I wasn't sure they would make it since she had some preparations to do for a baby shower this afternoon, so it was great to see them. While I was trying very hard not to throw up and pass out, my son staged a little meltdown because we did not immediately walk to the nearby playground. Since it was just 10 AM, I abstained from the beer and burgers at the finish. I did stop to talk to the chiropractor, though. He confirmed my (undiagnosed) scoliosis and gave me some posture tips.
This year, for awards, they were giving out some type of professional bags (maybe for a small laptop or files) with their logo instead of the cute little owl carvings I had seen a couple of years ago. I was well out of that range, though. A man who ran my "I would be thrilled" goal ended up 3rd in our age group. I was 9th or 10th, 36th overall.
To put this in perspective: I ran 6 miles at 9:07 on Thursday. This was just a little faster than "easy" for me. Today, I only managed 9:46 pace, in a race setting, for 3.5 miles. This should tell you how demanding these trails are. One year ago, I ran the half marathon (the main event) at an 8:55 pace. I don't think I've lost much (if any) fitness since then, but I was 20 to 30 pounds lighter at that race. Two years ago, I ran a similar 5K (sharing 1 trail) at 8:41 pace. I was definitely less fit then (that was my second race as an "adult" and before I drank the "high volume" kool-aid), but around 30 pounds lighter.
It certainly didn't help that I am a little sick (sore throat and mild cough). I took something with breakfast that helped my symptoms, but I haven't been sleeping that great for the last two nights.
Now, I've got two weeks until my next race (road 5K) and I need to figure out if there's anyway I can add some fitness (beyond losing a few pounds).
The course wasn't muddy like I had feared after yesterday's storm. It was nice and cool at the start and altogether a beautiful day to be out in nature!
The Bad:
I was in no way physically or mentally prepared for this race.
The Ugly:
I got passed by someone that was apparently suffering from an asthma attack and was out-sprinted by a 12-year-old at the end.
Arriving earlier than I usually do for morning races, I still only had time for about 1 mile warm-up (with some strides). The pace seemed reasonable to me at the start and I quickly moved to the rear of the lead pack. I was feeling comfortable in this position when, about 1/2 mile in, I noticed my shoe was untied. This is the only problem I've had with my Altras. They come untied more than any shoe I've ever had. I think I need new laces. While tying my shoe, I was surprised that no one passed me and I was back up just in time to follow the first chaser. The lead pack was almost out of sight, though.
My fellow chaser and I were within striking distance of some stragglers when we hit the first trail. I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were going to enter the "exit" of the loop trail instead of heading up the hill that made me walk last weekend. I passed the first mile marker at around 7 minutes, but I don't think it was right. I was probably around 8:00 for that first mile. Based on the permanent (and accurate) 1/4 mile trail signs, I averaged around 10:00 pace for this trail. It was plenty rooty, rocky and hilly and I was passed by at least a dozen people by the end.
For the ~0.6 mile paved section that led to the next trail I was able to maintain my position and even gain a little on the people in front of me. One missed a turn, though, and walked up into the parking lot. I'm guessing he dropped out. Another missed the turn onto the next trail and just kept running down the greenway. I shouted at the volunteers and I hope someone chased him down to tell him.
I did have one minor mishap during this section: Most of the other runners were staying to the right side of the greenway. Had this been a work-out, I would have done the same. As it was a race, I was running the tangents. An older couple was walking facing me and wasn't moving. As I got closer, I motioned for them to move aside. The gentleman angrily shouted, "Why don't you move to your side? You don't own the world!" As I passed, I tried to summon the energy to explain that I was in a race and running the tangents, but I'm afraid they (and anyone else around) left with the impression that I was an @$$.
When we turned up into the last trail, I was really starting to struggle. Just short of 1/4 mile in, there is a terrible little hill, and that is where I walked for the first time. I've never walked during a 5K before. Maybe I was just exhausted, or maybe it was my ultra training kicking in. It was probably the former, since I walked it a lot slower than I walked the same hill during my 40. I actually had to walk twice more before the end. Well, I did walk; "had to" might be a cop-out.
Maybe another dozen people passed me on this trail, but I still managed around 10:00 pace (except one 1/4 mile when I walked was closer to 12:00 pace). I saw more evidence of mile marker error, too: the "mile 3" sign came very close after the "mile 12" sign for the half (same ending trail). The photographer near the end apparently decided I wasn't photo-worthy as he did not raise his camera. I must have looked at him quizzically, because he said, "good job" as I passed.
My wife and son were waiting for me at the finish. I wasn't sure they would make it since she had some preparations to do for a baby shower this afternoon, so it was great to see them. While I was trying very hard not to throw up and pass out, my son staged a little meltdown because we did not immediately walk to the nearby playground. Since it was just 10 AM, I abstained from the beer and burgers at the finish. I did stop to talk to the chiropractor, though. He confirmed my (undiagnosed) scoliosis and gave me some posture tips.
This year, for awards, they were giving out some type of professional bags (maybe for a small laptop or files) with their logo instead of the cute little owl carvings I had seen a couple of years ago. I was well out of that range, though. A man who ran my "I would be thrilled" goal ended up 3rd in our age group. I was 9th or 10th, 36th overall.
To put this in perspective: I ran 6 miles at 9:07 on Thursday. This was just a little faster than "easy" for me. Today, I only managed 9:46 pace, in a race setting, for 3.5 miles. This should tell you how demanding these trails are. One year ago, I ran the half marathon (the main event) at an 8:55 pace. I don't think I've lost much (if any) fitness since then, but I was 20 to 30 pounds lighter at that race. Two years ago, I ran a similar 5K (sharing 1 trail) at 8:41 pace. I was definitely less fit then (that was my second race as an "adult" and before I drank the "high volume" kool-aid), but around 30 pounds lighter.
It certainly didn't help that I am a little sick (sore throat and mild cough). I took something with breakfast that helped my symptoms, but I haven't been sleeping that great for the last two nights.
Now, I've got two weeks until my next race (road 5K) and I need to figure out if there's anyway I can add some fitness (beyond losing a few pounds).
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Replies
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Nice report. I love to race trails and find that it's easier to toss pacing out the window and go strictly on effort. Trails are so unpredictable - even the ones you know can be covered in mud and debris. I wouldn't take it personally. Separate the trails from the road and you'll be better off. I like to think of trails as secondary fun that if anything at least helps with my road work.0
