tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post597681758324983396..comments2023-04-27T02:45:46.766-05:00Comments on Run. Race. Repeat.: 2011 Superior Trail 25K Race ReportSteveQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16943650844671498074noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-44814056376009947802011-05-23T19:38:03.036-05:002011-05-23T19:38:03.036-05:00Sounds like a day on the trails, they are not all ...Sounds like a day on the trails, they are not all good in terms of how easy the effort felt. Glad you were on the SHT either way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-74823270720144200932011-05-23T10:49:01.969-05:002011-05-23T10:49:01.969-05:00Colin, last year I started easy, mid-pack, intenti...Colin, last year I started easy, mid-pack, intentionally holding myself back as much as possible and this year I ran the same pace in a race half as long. That pace put me up front, as I figured, because of lessened competition and was the right pace for running what I thought was reasonable. Those I ran with early finished where I expected to be. <br /><br />Sure, I misguaged my fitness. But, had I started at an even slower pace, I would've just mentally given up even earlier. Just jogging through the course and picking it up a bit at the end (besides being anathema to me) would've told me nothing - at least now I know.SteveQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943650844671498074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-11973567435648859552011-05-23T10:33:22.828-05:002011-05-23T10:33:22.828-05:00Steve, I agree the first mile is the easiest, and ...Steve, I agree the first mile is the easiest, and I'm not suggesting completely even pacing. But it still seems to me that you killed your chances with an overoptimistic start.<br /><br />According to your DailyMile logs, you'd only run 11 times in the 5 weeks prior to this race. You reported feeling "Alright" for three of these, "Blah" for two, "Tired" for four, and "Good" only twice. Yet still you started out with the lead pack. I'm just suggesting that you'd do much better with a more realistic assessment of your fitness going in, coupled with a more relaxed starting pace.Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08294289051330849635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-88188724615753482412011-05-23T10:14:08.266-05:002011-05-23T10:14:08.266-05:00@Shannon: OOPS! Need to correct the typo. 2:43, no...@Shannon: OOPS! Need to correct the typo. 2:43, not 2:23!<br /><br />@Colin: The first mile is by far the easiest part of the course. There's no way that one can think in terms of even pacing there. Did EVERYONE go out too hard - as at least the first dozen runners were bunched together by the time the gravel road ended? Garmin paces, particularly in trail runs, can't be considered as absolutes; mine measured the course as 7.00 miles out, 7.11 back and it's been wheeled as 15.2.SteveQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943650844671498074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-50286583153897942432011-05-23T09:57:54.678-05:002011-05-23T09:57:54.678-05:00"the first mile is largely a gradual uphill&q..."the first mile is largely a gradual uphill" <br />...<br />"I took a glance at my Garmin and we were running 7:22 pace, which was the same as how I started the 50K last year, so I wasn't going out very hard"<br /><br />7:22 pace would have given you a 15 minute overall victory, how is that not going out too hard?! Sure it wasn't the most technical part of the course, but it was uphill!!<br /><br />I realize this was a disappointing race, and I'm not trying to make you feel worse about it. As an observer, though, it's frustrating to see you kill any chance you might have had at a decent result by cooking yourself in the first few miles (especially when as you admit your buildup had been lacking)!<br /><br />You've got tons of talent, and plenty of time to rebound before the Superior 100 in September. I'm confident that with consistent solid training you can be in great shape by then, and with smart execution you can arrive at the finish line with a satisfying result. Just keep at it, and stop killing yourself with every hard workout ...<br /><br />Good luck; I'm rooting for you!Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08294289051330849635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-19535078458710341942011-05-22T22:38:36.891-05:002011-05-22T22:38:36.891-05:00Congrats on your 2:23:27 finish, that's 1 minu...Congrats on your 2:23:27 finish, that's 1 minute and 33 seconds under your goal time!shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08240335871226653250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-31959810830810532222011-05-22T21:43:50.453-05:002011-05-22T21:43:50.453-05:00Steve! I remember you returning from Oberg mountai...Steve! I remember you returning from Oberg mountain as I was heading up. I think I said, "Great job, Blue!" After the race, I ran into you again in the conference room scooping up chili. You really did look unhappy, and I wanted to cheer you up, I just didn't know what to say. I'm sorry you had a blase day (with or without the accent).<br /><br />I'm sorry to hear about your illness, but you made it back for a race! You're on the mend, and I'm sure you'll bounce back quickly enough! Of course, now that I'm hooked on this trail running, I'll be asking you lots of questions! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16406960621360992793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-3080934411180629802011-05-22T18:24:54.290-05:002011-05-22T18:24:54.290-05:00I was up on the North Shore the entire week and dr...I was up on the North Shore the entire week and drove home Saturday morning. Saturday was the worst weather all week, and every day leading up to that was near perfect. <br /><br />Agree with Wildknits, I hope it was just a bad day mentally. I am really impressed with your time on that course. That is still the hardest race I have run. I wish you much success this season!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17185580660442865724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796785757974247915.post-29094734861992154932011-05-22T18:01:54.162-05:002011-05-22T18:01:54.162-05:00It may not be the end of your racing career it jus...It may not be the end of your racing career it just may be a bad day mentally. Had one of those at Voyageur last year where I just didn't care/wasn't too into the run (my first 50) for 30 odd miles. I can loop back and attribute it to overtraining and the toll Afton took on me (I am not a heat runner).<br /><br />Oh yeah - it has NOT been warmer up here. Maybe about the same temps some of the time, but not warmer - at least near the Lake. Rather we have had a long, cool, wet spring and having the race a week later this year made for a bit more greenery (and finally getting some warmer temps this past week).wildknitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07512372230592596889noreply@blogger.com