I just decided at the last minute to run this race. I just needed a race! It has been so long since I've raced, and unfortunately, it has been way too long since I did any speed work. But, I've been doing strides pain free for a week now, and I just decided to take this one nice and easy, focus on form, and be chill and relaxed about it. It was my perfect running weather: 32 degrees, and dryish cold air. No rain, no wind. The course begins and ends at a park. All the elevation gain is in the first 1.25 miles, beginning with a 1/2 mile gentle uphill along Chuckanut Drive, then, at the 1 mile mark, a series of steep switchbacks taking the course onto the interurban trail. Luckily, the switchback section happened early in the race when I still had some adrenaline. From there, the course cruises slightly downhill for about a mile and ends with 3/4 of a mile of flat, back to the park. Mile one I just focused on relaxing and breathing evenly (7:24). Mile two began with the switchbacks, and they felt pretty easy, but slowed me a bit (7:38). Mile three was just a cruise on to the finish line. I still felt pretty relaxed, with good form, and might have pushed it a bit harder if I had been looking at my watch (7:17). I am very happy that this last mile was my fastest! This race was so relaxed that I actually had conversations with people during the race! That's a first for me. My friend Dan came up behind me at the top of the switchbacks, we chatted a few minutes, and then he sort of loped on ahead, looking very casual indeed. For a moment, I thought we were all just out jogging, then I realized that he just made it LOOK like jogging. I didn't try to catch up.
No pain whatsoever! There is really no doubt that my hamstring healed while I was not noticing too much; I think the swimming helped. Now I am ready to get some speedwork under my belt again and get some better times. I am SO HAPPY to be racing again! Since I can't get up to the mountain to ski this afternoon, I am going to do tomorrow's swimming workout this afternoon, and ski all day Sunday.
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