Ridge Run 5K Race Report

Yesterday was the second annual Ridge Run 5K, benefiting Pine Ridge School in Magalia, CA. 

I got there at 8:30AM to register for the 9:00AM race.  I hadn't preregistered because I wasn't sure if my schedule would allow me to run the race.  There was also a hike to a local waterfall that some folks from church were planning. 

After registering, I said hi to to some acquaintances and then decided to go for a warm-up jog.  At this point, I realize that I have no clue what the race course is going to look like.  It was not published with the race info.  I had assumed that it would just follow the local roads for some sort of out and back.  As I began my warm-up I pass one of the school's P.E. teachers who offered to show me some of the course.  It turns out that there is a whole network of trails behind the school--touring through some really pretty pine forest.  I did about a mile of warm up and decided I had better get to the starting line. 

The other thing I found out from the P.E. guy was that there was no water provided on the course.  No biggie, it's just a 5K.  I'm a water kind of guy on runs, so I decided to bring water along, even though I would only take a few drinks.

At 9:00AM, they walk us down to the start line, briefly explained the course (I sort of quit listening here, because I wasn't familiar with the street names anyway and I figured only the first place runner really needed to know).  They did a quick head count and there were 64 runners toed up.  Away we went. 

I usually check out the runners near me and look for someone that I might aim to pick off during the run.  There was an gentleman about 20 years my senior who looked really ready to go.  He was wearing a bright red shirt and I thought he'd be easy to keep track of.  The course started with a loop around the parking lot and then a left turn on the road.  Red shirt guy took off like a rocket up the steep incline--I guess I'll pace off of someone else. 

The course followed the road for roughly the first mile and then turned onto the forest trail.  While the turn was marked with chalk and a cone, a runner two guys ahead missed it and went about 50 feet out of his way.  I hollered after him as I made the turn.  He caught up and passed me pretty quick.  The trail portion of the run was a pretty, but technical.  Lots of hills and some pretty sharp turns.  I almost rolled my ankle, but saved it just in time. 

The trail portion lasted for a little more than the next mile.  I think my poor GPS was getting poor signal in the dense forest, because the distance seemed to be off.  The course turned back out on the road and somehow meandered back to the same parking lot we started in.  It went through the parking lot and into a back school field and then briefly onto some more trails.  Since my GPS distance wasn't correct, I had no idea we were as close to the end as we were.  A final sprint to the finish!

My official time:  22:42, a new PR by 17 seconds.  I managed to come in 6th out of 64 and grabbed 2nd in my age group.  The guy in fifth place had been at the CareNet race two weeks ago and had been determined to beat me.  He ran a great race. 

After the 5K, they put on a 1/4 mile kids' race.  My son Ben lined up with about 20 kids under 10 years old.  He was about midway through the pack at the start.  When he came into view at the finish, he was in second.  So we ended the day with matching 2nd place medals.  Nice!

Leave Your Ipod in the Car

"NO ipods, dogs, strollers or pacers/pace bikes are allowed on the course."

 

That's what it says in the race reminder email I received from Chico Running Club for tomorrow's Bidwell Classic Half Marathon.  My immediate response is "What!"  As this is my first big race since Ipods have been around, I was a little taken aback.  I ran the Run for Food 5K last Thanksgiving and it seemed like I was the only one NOT wearing earbuds. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I prefer to do most of my running without music--I enjoy the peace and quite and the opportunity to listen to what my body is telling me.  The exception has been my long runs--I bring the Ipod along specifically so that I can't hear what my body is telling me ("Hey big dummy, would you stop running, for crying out loud!") and sometimes just to keep me company on those two plus hour early runs in dark.  On my first over 13 miles long run, my music really saved my bacon those last couple of miles. 

So, for the last few weeks I've been pimping out my running playlist.  It seems like everyone and their brother listens to Eminem and death metal when they run, but I find all the hopeless negativism to be counterproductive.  So, my playlist has quite the ecclectic mix.  The first category is any song that even mentions the idea of running:

• You Can Run to the End of the Highway by Keith Green
• Running by Christ for the Nations
• I Will Run to You by Hillsongs
• Running Out of Pain by 12 Stones
• Jogging by Ray Stevens
• The Distance by Cake

Next into the mix come the high energy songs that just get you pumped:

• Boom by POD
• Jump Around by House of Pain
• Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
• Power of Love by Huey Lewis
• Souljahz Don't Stop by Souljahz
• Rawkfist by Thousand Foot Krutch

Then, there are those songs that are just funny, whimsical and quirky enough to keep it fun:

• They're Coming to Take Me Away by Napoleon XIV
• The Official Hamster Dance Song by (some singing hamsters, apparently)
• DC-10 by Audio Adrenaline
• My Addidas by Run DMC
• The Unicorn by The Irish Rovers
• Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
• The Imperial March (aka Darth Vader's Theme Song) by John Williams

I was really looking to pounding out part of a mile to that last one. 

But, race rules are race rules.  And if it says "NO ipods, dogs, strollers or pacers/pace bikes are allowed on the course.", then I'm gonna leave my dog wearing an ipod in a stroller at home!

Actually, it turns out that this is a now standard rule for any official USATF sanctioned course.  Most race organizers don't really enforce it much.  I expect tomorrow to see plenty of earbuds. Still, the rule is there for two compelling reasons:

1. Runner safety:  If you are "That Guy" that has to run with your music so loud that I can hear when I run next to you, chances are you can't really hear your surroundings, such as a runner coming up from behind.  This is the biggie for race organizers.
2. My own enjoyment of the race experience.  I want to fully take in the sounds of the race--my breathing, feet hitting the path, other runners, the cheers of the crowd. 

I can listen to my Ipod anytime, but the sounds of the race are a unique opportunity.  Even though I'll miss those guys from Cake urging me along with a "Hiyah!", I'll choose to follow the rules and enjoy the race.

California Dreamin'

It was cold this morning. 36 degrees to be exact, with a hefty windchill.

Now this isn't cold to most of you. But we have had an unseasonably warm winter here in northern California. Most of my runs for the last month have been in the upper 30's to lower 40's. The problem with this kind of winter warm spell is that it turns you into a real wimp when it gets slightly colder.

Don't get me wrong, I kind of like it when the temps are more extreme (just for bragging rights). New Year's Day it was 26 and drizzly (is that a word?). A week ago Sunday, I ran most of my long run in the rain. Again, all these things build character.

My biggest concern: that I'll have two months of beautiful training weather and then on my race day (three and a half weeks away) it'll rain, snow, sleet, blow hurricane-force winds, etc.

129.4 miles down, 93.1 to go!

To Caffeinate or Not to Caffeinate, That is the Question

I was at the local running shop today. I needed some shorts and especially wanted to get some energy gel. I've always been a GU guy, just because, it's been around forever and I have always found it to be really palatable.

Onto the rack of GU choices--Lots of yummy flavors, that's the good news. I love choices, just because it keeps things interesting. Very Berry, Vanilla, some wild Lime flavor--it's all good to me. The only one I don't care for is the chocolate flavored GU. Thanks, but I'll get my chocolate in my milk after the run.

One new choice is the various Caffeine levels now offered. No Caffeine, Caffeine, 2X Caffeine. A marathoner friend of mine said that he consumed a series of the caffeinated energy gels during a recent race and that he was flying high. My personal experience is that I like a little caffeine but don't want to be creating an audible buzz after the race.

So how much is helpful and how much is too much? That's gotta be a personal decision. My balance is to alternate caffeinated with non-caffeinated gels in any run or race that require consumption of more than one gel.