Saturday April 10, 2010

Trail Race

Up early to head to Avon for the DINO trail race. Smitty and I arrive at 7:30 to set up our tent and offer out goods for sale to the incoming racers.

As for me , I again opt for the 5K , to finish early and  be close to the tent when most of the 5k'ers , and the 15k runners finish after that.

It is a great morning to run, a little cool to start in the woods as the sun cannot get into trail, but after you start no problem.

The start was very narrow , only about 3-4 people wide and the single track trail head was only 200 meters into race. So being up there in years my sprinting a 200 to get to trail was no0t in the cards, so I waited and got into line.

I am sure the first 3/4 mile cost me a couple minutes, as passing was not easy early. The race was on mainly a mountain bike trail so it weaved around alot early , great fun on the bike but a little tougher in a crowd.

As the trail opened after the mile you could start to pass, and my gait lenghtened. I started picking off folks pretty well and on the steep short uphills you could make up more.

Those sections were often thru the race and very challenging, but all good.

At the 2 mile mark I can up on a guy's shoulder. He looked over and asked, How old are you, my reply was old and he said really I need to know if I have to die and race you, are you in my age group.

Don't know I am 56, and he said good , take off old man. I did end up about 2 min ahead of the young 46 year old wipper snapper.

The run was fine , and I wish I would have know who the guy that beat me in my age group was at the start, I would have lined up right behind him , but being out of racing for quit a time you don't realize your competition. I'll remember him at Brown County .

So a second place today and I believe I am leading the series points so far for the year. A win would be nice in Brown County , 7 weeks , then a layoff in the DINO trail series till fall.

I will still need to run trails every couple weeks during NYC marathon training, but thats fine. The dirt helps keep the pounding off the legs , and you know I am planning to win the marathon this year