Race Report – Alingsåsloppet 2017/06/11
Top3 – Happy and not tired 🙂
Planned: a bit unsure actually, mostly because of the heavy rain indicated in the weather forecast as well as the rolling hills of the second half…
Actual: 42:51 – 2nd place (women). Place from start to end 🙂
BEFORE THE RACE
Good night’s sleep. Alarm ringing around 8:30am, which I totally ignored. Took all the time needed to wake up, prepare a bit my gear and bag for the race and change for leg shaking. All fine. Ready around 10:30am. Easy choice: whit MIK singlet (in case it would be cold…), SOC sport bra MIK and SOC shorts thunder. Boston boost on the feet. Better grip than the Adios I feel. Then a bit of steadying at home.
11:30am – headed to the train station and got off at Alingsås. Colleague Lotta was very kind and picked me up under drizzling skies 1h15 later and drove me to the tent distributing the BIB.
1:00pm – Had found the locker rooms, got to the loo, and lay down on a bench for approximately 40minutes. Not too good choice as my back was hurting very much after that. Took probably 5-6 minutes before it got kind-of better.
2:05pm – Warm-up time. Looked at the arrival of the kids’ 2km race and dropped my bag in the information tent. Kept my rain jacket and pants for running the final 5km of the race. Quite ok…for 500m! Thereafter it was running in the forest, rolling hills, wet, then wind, and more forest… OMG! That was worse than expected… and the expectations were not very high… Anyway. Had taken a gel during the last km of the warmup. Felt ok. Met with David G-MIK when dropping my rain outfit. He is heading for the 5K. Unfortunately for me as it would have been nice to follow a bit… if only I could at his pace!
2:50pm – Final stop at the loo and easy run to the start. Placed myself right in the front. Only two gals around as I could see. My prognosis was that the one in black/red would win and the other one would get second. So I just (!) had to hand along for the third place.
1 minute to start… Felt like forever. Saw the largest smile from Lotta and her girls on the side. Always good with this silent cheering before a race. Prepared my music. All ready.
10 seconds to start… Left my sunglasses to the guy holding the start gun. It had started to rain a little…
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THE RACE
3:00pm – BAM! Start was on! No “release the beasts”-feeling. Despite of the little narrow few meters for the start, it went smoothly. Light drizzle still. After 100m or so, the larger road allowed to have us spreading around. Got passed by the black/red singlet lady. Just have to hang along I thought. Passing the first km in 3:56. That was ok. Did have that in mind and then the nice feeling was gone. The gal had gone ahead with a group of guys and this pace I was not ready to follow. The problem was that no one was having the pace I had… Running under the trees on gravel and then continuing on wet cobblestones…not my favorites… but I knew that was arriving. So that was ok. Had a “deja-vu” feeling from Kungsbackamilen, where 4 years ago the race was as well in the middle of a city, wet with the rain, cobblestones and little me without anyone holding the same pace (is there a problem with me or with all the other runners??!? I wonder…). A bit of turning right, right, left right? Or something like that. Passing km2 and that was not looking good. Could not see the first gal. Had an average pace above 4 and honestly was counting down the km without much happiness (Strange, because I love counting down in a marathon from 42, 41, 40…to go…). Go passed by a couple of guys during those 3 first km, but after that it was quite stable. Had set my mp3 from the start but missed the button and the first song started a bit after 500m or so… Lost my spots which were “finish the first km before the end of the first song, get to km5 at the end of song number 3…” Tried to set the music better from km4, but it felt a bit odd. Anyway. Just too slow was the thought running along. Did not really feel like pressing more. Seeing ahead of me runners…running…on.a.bridge?!?!? Ayyyyy! I missed this one. Dropped a bit the snail-pace I had while climbing the bridge, but got a nice flow on the downhill…especially as I notice it was where the road was joining the second loop and meaning I had 700m to km5…Yooohooo! OK, did not feel THAT “Yooohooo”, but felt nice. Not much of an acceleration getting and passing km5. Beeping from the watch indicated 20:55. 1 minute slower than I had planned. Meaning I was definitely not making this up during the second half. Nice smiles from Lotta and the girls and cheering from people around. Did something I really do NOT do in race… I looked behind me to see whether some gals was close-by. Noted one a bit behind, 100m? 60? no idea… because I heard the voice of Johan P saying “ a runner who turns back and check is a scared runner”… Sharpening was needed!!! Passing the firefighters again but this time we turned left along the forest towards the km6. OMG, it felt like crazy climbing. Had they increased the inclination since I ran this part earlier?!?! Reaching a little bridge-like part… I WALKED!!! Counted 10 seconds, turned once more. No gal. WHY ON EARTH was I walking?!? Tried to get back to the back of the guy with the orange tshirt. Passing km6 and did not want to know the pace I got for this one. Running in the forest was wet, clumpsy and definitely far from a race-pace. Turning right with the cheering of people on the side and finally back on the asphalt. Yeaaaaahhhhaaaa! Reaching the second water station (had totally ignored the first one at km2.5 or alike). Got two small water paper cup. One went on the head and the second one I tried to drink from, without much success. Could not care less. Counted down that 3km to go @5km/min meant 15 more minutes of rubbish running. OMG! What I really not like this wind. And that I am totally alone running. Passed two guys. And then tried to hang along a white tshirt guy. Passing km8 little above 34 minutes. Tried to press a bit the white tshirt guy. Cheered a bit saying it was looking good. Got a “same to you” a bit tired. Passed him in the downhill under the little bridge and then he passed me in the stretch towards km9. Wind. Again. Of course. Tried to set myself right behind him, but honestly it did not help an inch. Apart from me feeling I was running slower. So the final 200m before km9 we were running side by side again. Final right turn into the woods. 1Km to go. Piece of whatever cake it maybe. Downhill. Feeling like running in the mud. Slippery. Seeing the mark on the right which I calculated during warmup that it was 800m to go. Told that to the guy but he drifted a bit behind me. Seeing the asphalt again. The 5K-runners coming from the right and joining the 10K (ie “us”) coming from the left. What a feeling to get shy cheering from the kids running. ALL the way to the end. Cheered on the left, cheered on the right. Accelerated all I could. The white tshirt guy came back to my side, passing the previous “5km”-sign. But that was not it. More strengths in those stupid legs of mine. Acceleration and final left turn. On the wet grass. Run like h*ll. Just don’t fall. Hearing the speaker telling the second lady was coming. And my name. Yoooohooooo! Largest smile ever. Passing the finish line. I am done!
=> official time: 42:51 – place 2.
Weather: 16.1ºC, cloudy, feels like 16.1ºC, 23kph S wind, 88% humidity. Drizzle at start and in the middle. Rubbish-annoying wind almost throughout
Food: Aptonia Salted butter caramel during final km of the warmup. 1banan, 1little juice straberry/passion fruits and 1 glass water right after arrival
> during (!): 1 little jellysquare around km5 and 1 dextrosol around km8.
Gear: SOC shorts thunder, SOC sports bra MIK. Shoes all good for the job. Very good grip.
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Boston Boost 5 TSF- Pink/Black (Snappy)
16/ A bit concerned about whether this level means anything. Unsure the breathing was correct. I know it may sound heavy, but that I can continue for a while despite the sound 😛 Did not press much and I know it. What it is that can make me push more and cross a bloody 10K-finish line on the knees crawling??? (and if possible in a fast fast time too…)
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AFTER THE RACE:
Changing hipster, shorts and sports bra to dry ones…in the information tent. Got a nice pic taken by a kind lady there. A bit of chat with Lotta and her girls. And then happily hearing my name once again to get on the podium. Second place. 3 minutes behind the first one. More pics and got driven to the train station again. A bit of food and watching rubbish on tv after a well-deserved hot shower at home. Not tired. Went out for a recovery run of 13km to get the 30km of the day… Body still not feeling tired.
NOTE: nice race. Weather was not really a problem (apart from the wind…as usual). But the rolling hills of the second half were not fun to have. Couldn’t they make us run AROUND the little hill instead on on it?!?!
NOTE: My GPS recorded 9.98km… Once again. A bit surprised to have shorter than 10K. By 20m this time.
NOTE: What to think about this second 10K of the week? Not much. A good tempo-run. Definitely getting in the legs the hilly race 5 days ago and the fast interval workout on treadmill 3 days ago. Should probably have skipped at least the intervals. Top 3 still is making one happy. A nice present card to Mio for buy stuff. Had no chance to get under 40 on this route, but 1 minute too slow in the first half, a km with walking during the second half… Definitely some time to gain on this route. Will see if easier training helps before next 10K…
Race Report – Fiskebäcksloppet 2017/06/06
Happy and not tired…
Planned: 42min or less…but at least faster than last year
Actual: 43:44 – 9th (women) Amazing enough this is the place I have had from start to end via all check-points.
BEFORE THE RACE
Awaken by the light despite the “light-won’t-go-through” curtain. But at least it was not around 4ish am… Took an easy leg shaking to wake up body and mind. Spent morning steadying at home, cleaning, fixing and packing my race bag. And fix my legs. Cannot really go to a race without having them aerodynamically fixed… In race gear around 9:40am… Just had to kill time before getting the bus to the start. Chose to take my MIK outfit and run in my Boston. They are fast during training, so they would do for a training race…
1:20pm – Met Helen-MIK and chatted a bit. Got my BIB. Met Jenny-MIK and Anna-MIK.. Cool to see them…and here went 2 places… Nothing to do but chat.
2:15pm – Time to warm-up. Dropped my bag at Måns-MIK and went for a run to get the body and mind ready. Unfortunately it made me only MORE aware about the wind that would bother me during the race… Ran the first 3km of the race and then turned back seeing it was getting short on time. Headed towards the woods and could not find my way back 😦 Eventually found an exit. Got my bag back, dropped it at the baggage drop and that was it. Took a powergel apple as it felt that breakfast was a while ago…
2:56pm – Got to the sub40 corral. It was empty almost. A few gal came in and then guys joined. None of them getting to the front line. Why would they use gals as wind-shield?!?!? Anyway, sun was finally shining and the wind was on. Countdown had started…
15 seconds to start… Final check to my laces. Thought I should have taken my mp3 with me…
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THE RACE
3:00pm – START was given! Saw the fast gals leaving the area ilke crazy, followed by fastest guys. Nothing for me. Had decided to go easy during the first 2km to have strengths to accelerate after that… Sure! 5 gals ahead of me, one passing me on the side… felt like déjà-vu from last year (apart from the fast that I was 3rd last year…). The evil first hill got taken heavily, but not being the only one suffering. Some guys were already heavily breathing… Quick check at my watch to ensure it had started… 3:56-tempo?!?!? at the top of the hill… The only thought that came to mind apart from smiling was that I would pay for this later… Slowed down a bit in the downhill, turn right, nice side wind and right again towards the second slope of the race. Passed the first km in 4:07…4seconds slower than last year…. Matters not. There were 9km to catch those seconds up. Downhill and annoying blaster telling me to stop for a short while. Nope. I don’t think so. Had been doing toilets-stops all morning due to drinking properly before the race and then 2 extra stops close to the start. Not a chance the blaster was full of anything! Running back to Sjöbacka and on gravel…. Yeaaaahhh…NOT! Side wind and then tailwind. First cheering from Magnus and Berndt and Måns from MIK. Highly appreciated. Was running alone. All before me were too far away already and I had no plan to check behind me. Got passed by a couple of guys and tried to hang along. Km2 was passed. No idea of the pace as I decided NOT to check. Full headwind during this part. And of course, no wind-shield… Just once more on this part and this will be the final stretch. Less than 8km to go… Turning left and more gravel… Longing for the asphalt!!! Got passed by a couple of guys again, but their breathing indicated they were already close to their max. My breathing? Unsure, but I was not close to my max. Passing km3 at the roundabout and the first change… turning right and a crazy headwind welcomed us. Not happy. Still no clue about the pace. No check on the clock and could barely feel the buzz from it at each km-mark. Focus on the running. Crossing the road and feeling they left cars passing after me. Good! That meant that not many runners were close to me at this part. Passing Fiskebäcks Church and the cheering on both side was well appreciated! Third uphill of the race and second worse. Took it nicely. Three guys had slowed down and stopped ahead of me. And they did not feel that it was bothering to have them walking in the middle of the little gravel path in the forest… Was ready to yell “hold your right!” when 2 aligned behind each other on the left and the 3rd one ran a bit ahead and stopped on the side. Thanks guys! Passing a couple of guys there. Feeling strong. OK, not THAT strong. But OK-strong. Until getting to the left turn which made me run so slowly it felt that I was walking. Not a chance! Not now. The asphalt was so close! And turn right and steep downhill. Yoooohoooo! Taking the cheering that the guy with a white Volvo-tshirt is receiving for me too. The world is better when sharing (and cheering), right? 🙂 And at the end of the downhill, abrupt left turn. Taking a little jelly square. Not necessary not required, but it keeps me awaken and focus. Tricky with the guys ahead of me as they are three running all over the place. Trying to get a little passage but tricky. Passing one finally when running under the bridge and over to the bike path. OK, it was probably not very nice to cut the path, but he could have kept his right, right? And first water-station. The guy before me is just stopping (!) while grabbing his water paper-cup. I ran along and get two water cup. One for the head and one thrown on my legs. SOOOOO Nice! Takes probably 3minutes before the legs are dried again and the hair left free and now wet and helping very much to keep my neck refreshed. Another uphill after the school turn. Nothing steep, but looooong. The Volvo guy is receiving still cheering. And people are out for supporting. Really nice and helpful! Some have their water-hose on and watering us. Yelling (kindly) to do it lower as I do not want my sunglasses wet. This message goes in for two of them. But the third one understand the contrary and I get a full shower instead of only the legs… At least I still smile! And this is when I first hear the cheering for “Melker”…. Seeing a little (not THAT little) boy passing me. Strong and smiling. I tell him “Good work” and he is kindly half-turning and answering “Same to you”. Trying to keep up with him is not even in my plans. I just want to get some of hi cheerings. His friends are running on the side for having some high-fives, and then on the left side as well. Very polite friends cheering for me when I pass… Feeling like a heavy wet elephant on the way up the Mount Everest that would have been under 25ºC sunshine and wind… And finally getting to the top. One more hill vanquished… 2 to go! The downhill and I feel strong. Passing the Volvo-guy and keeping the blue-tshirt guy right before me. Little up and then right turn. I pass the blue guy in the forest and then it is asphalt again. Yiiiihooo! Downhill… Where was this 5km-mark? And is the 6km-mark coming soon??? Turning left along the little harbour… expecting the wind, but nothing ahead. Yiiiiihooo again? Unsure about my place. Except that I could not see any gal ahead of me any longer and was not going to check behind me. 7Km-water station was there. Getting two water paper cup. One for the hair which had had the time to dry out since km4 (!) and one for the leg. Too late I realized that I should have drank a little of the water… And right after the water station… the wind arrived. Aaaaaaah! Not a chance I can accelerate to catch up with the guys ahead of me. 5 of them and they all set themselves behind each other like a line. But even then, they are too far ahead with this wind. Getting to the gravel/small-stones-which-make-it-impossible-to-run part and the dreadful stairs are arriving. WOW! Logs of steel. I had prepared myself so well for NOT walking up. I kind-of run the first two steps and that was it. I walk miserably the rest, holding the ramp (!) and not even start running when reaching the asphalt… I am done! Lightning McQueen? Yeaaaah…sure! In slow motion and backwards probably! I turn and see only guys behind me. Which at least make me happy. And then I feel a kind hand on my back and gentle push. SOOOOOO NICE! The guy in blue tshirt is helping me up the hill! OMG! So kind. Like starting the engine again and I was on. Km8 was within short distance. The gentle push from the guy had given me enough strength for at least NOT stopping in this last uphill in the forest. Passed one guy there. My legs felt tired, my thighs were starting to burn. Did not want anything else/more but getting a cold shower on the burning muscles that were my body at this moment. And the steep downhill arrived. Took it carefully. Thanks for the cheering of the boy at the end of the slope, I got a bit more strength. Change of the course this year with running around the parking lot. Which felt a little better…until we had to “climb” the little baby-slope towards the bus-stop. Felt like heavy. And the wind was not helping. One of the guys before me listened to music and breathed heavily and had no clue he was running a bit all-over as well 😦 OK, I’ll get him at the turn… Right turn and he cut me badly…Headwind and left turn and I pass him 😛 And along Fiskebäcks harbour. Nice with many people out today. And then up again, tried to place myself behind a tall guy, but it did nothing to stop the wind. So I stop hiding. Passing km9-mark. Yiiiiihooo! Only one more km of misery! And then this little running down a 1.5m (?) steep stuff…Beware of not falling. And the final stretch. Headwind (what else?!?!) but this was less than a km to the end. Encouraging the guys by my side. I just want to have this done. Final right turn on the gravel. One of the guys is cheering and passing me. Final left turn. Did I say I hate gravel?!?! Headwind. Did I say what I feel about headwind? Thanks for the cheering of MIKs on the side, I try to keep myself straight and focused. But not a chance I am running fast. I hope I am still running though… So fearing that a gal will pass me right there. But whoever is behind me is ALSO having this headwind. Cannot be THAT easy to run… (or maybe I am the only one feeling this wind….) Got passed by a tall guy 100m from the end. And then we run on the right on the grass… Did I say I hate running on grass??? And then passing the Finish-line. H.A.P.P.Y!
=> official time: 43:44 – place 9.
Weather: 21.1° Mostly Clear, Feels like 21.1°, 21 kph SE wind, 46% humidity – of course the sun got out right before our warm-up and race. Otherwise it was nicely hiding behind the clouds… But this wind… Keep it locked at home next year!
Food: Powergel apple right before start of the race. 2 kex-chocolate + 2 glass water right after arrival
> during (!): 1 little jellysquare around km5 and 2 dextrosol around km7.
Gear: SOC shorts small trapezes, Casall Iconic sports bra black MIK. Shoes all good for the job 🙂
> warmup done with GV-black wind jacket. Took it off after 3km. Too hot!
> perfect outfit to have skipped the singlet!
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Boston Boost 5TSF – Pink/Black (Snappy)
15/ Not sure for setting the effort, honestly. Far from max and as usual with headwind, it feels like you are pressing, running like in porridge and still having a decent pace. OK…skip the “decent pace”-part for this year’s race 🙂 But seeing how it felt after the race, I cannot have pressed much the body today. But the wind does make one tired.
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AFTER THE RACE:
Changing hipster and shorts to dry ones…behind a car. Taking a nice pic with other gals from the club. Taking an easy km or so with one of them as cooldown and then easy jogging to the bus-stop. Would have gladly run back home and add some volume for today, but there are other plans for the week. Cannot really make the body tired today.
NOTE: still liking this little race. Lots of fast chicks this year. Cannot understand HOW they ran with this wind…making me think that I could be extra sensitive to the wind or lazy for not pushing the body more when the wind is out and play. Have to work on this.
NOTE: My GPS recorded 9.88km… Not often it registers shorter on race… Have I really cut the race course by 120m???
NOTE: Not disappointed really. Of course, sub42 was the plan, and without the wind, I still do think that it was feasible without aiming for the stars. Good top10 place. If there had been less wind, the other gals would have probably run slightly faster and my placing would have probably been the same anyway 🙂 At least I was the coolest mum on the race according to GET. And they weren’t even there…
Race Report – Midnattsloppet 2016/08/20
Not tired after a 10K…something wrong with me?
Planned: training-race. Not really thinking of a sub40 here, but close to 40 was in the plan
Actual: 42:29.
place: 12th women, 1st age category, 187 total.
In brief? Safe start. Way too slow kms to the 1st church. Way too slow and careful on the way down. Way too slow km to the 2nd church. Well, yap. A bit too many “way-too-slow” km in this race. But at least I was not tired at the end… My theory? 10K-races SUCK! (or maybe it is me that suck at 10K-races…or both…)
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BEFORE THE RACE
Night all ok. Woke up and waited a bit for a leg-shaking morning jog. Bought bagels for breakfast and then back home. This time the “bagel-hunt” was started later to ensure the place to actually find freshly baked bagels would be opened. Shower, breakfast. And…nothing. Just had to wait. A bit less than 12 hours! Hesitated in going back to bed, but turned into the tv on and watch the next episodes of Prison break season 2. After 2 DVDs I felt a bit tired, so a bit of walking around and then really bored. Hot bath and reading about marathon training “the French way”. Still too many hours before start… Lunch around 2:30pm – leftover from yesterday (Indian chicken with rice). Felt all fine afterwards. Still too much time to kill. More of Prison Break. And then it rained… Wonderful! 6:30pm was the time to get the BIB for the elite group, so I biked to the start and there had to wait 15 minutes as they had not received the BIB yet. Waited in a pretty empty VIP-tent. Back home, there was still so much time to kill. Discovered unfortunately that the lamps of all our bikes had been stolen. Wonderful! One thing I really did not want to think about before a race. Even a training-race 😦 Got myself ready. Fixed the hair, attached the BIB, hesitated for the shorts though. But I wanted a pocket for my home key so I chose my army blue shorts together with my club sports bra. And of course my superfast running shoes (Swifty). Hmmm… OK. One hour before start, time to get warmed up. Had drunk sport drink all day until 6:30pm. Took an Aptonia gel before leaving home. Attached a little red LED-lamp on the back of my sports bra (so people would see me in the dark…) and one on each hip (red and green). Better be seen than sorry! Started to run with the rain-poncho on. The preparations were going on, but honestly during my morning run it was just empty of everything! Got to the start. Quick pitstop in the woods. Drizzle had started and turned into rain short after.
8:25pm – 35 minutes to start and I was finished with the warmup. Additional pitstop under the rain. Jogged to the start. Group 1b & 1C started to fill in. No elite yet in 1a. Waited until 10minutes before start to get in. By then the lights had switched off and on at least twice… Wonderful! Met Tricky right before the start: Great with a warm hug as I was really freezing by then.
9:23pm – waiting as usual for the start and hearing as usual that it will be delayed by five minutes. Getting a high-five from Y Tregaro 🙂 Smiles from other runners. A hug from Maria B. OK. Music in the ears is ready. When will this stupid start be given?
9:28pm – off with the rain poncho. No more rain, but still a few minutes to start. Still freezing…
10 seconds to start… OK, don’t panic… Why are the guys from the race holding us still? Are they going to vanish in less than 10seconds?!?! I will probably not push, but the fast beasts before me will probably do…
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The RACE
PANG! Finally! Start is given. Getting a little push from a guy trying to pass me already on the right side (where there was actually NO place at all). And we are in the (close-to-complete) dark already a few meters after the start. Impossible to see where we are running and I know that this area is full with holes in the soil… Turning right and getting to jump a bit for skipping the first large water pool on the asphalt. Keeping a safe place on the right side. Letting all the fast guys of group 1a & 1b passing by. All fine. I am having an eye on the gals. Maria B has made it under 40minutes when I ran two years ago. So my “plan” is basically to shorten as much as possible the difference this time 😛 The plan is easy-fast-comfortable to km4. Hopefully close to 4min-tempo. Then probably drop of the pace to 4:20-30 or more for the next km to get to the Church and then win back this time with a superfast downhill km, then easy to the next church (and probably slow too on the way up) and then it is only 2km left 🙂 Plan sounding good in my ears at least! The first left turn is taken very carefully as the crazy guys all around are just running like…well…crazy guys! And in the dark I definitely do not want to jeopardize my feet and legs and all the rest. So easy. Maybe too easy for the first km, but ok. (definitely not feeling on “race-mode” by then). Then getting passed by a gal which has a race-tshirt. Meaning she did not start in the elite group (where all had their club outfit), which also means that she started quite behind me. Not good. Keeping an eye on her. Could not see Maria B any longer…. on the other side, it is pretty dark and everyone is having the same tshirt… Just try to find one in a million! Ok, one in ten thousand… Down towards Mariaplan. All fine. Breathing is nice and easy. Turning all around and then getting the right turn. Here it is so dark, cannot see the guy holding a flag and getting it right into my face. Wonderful! Turn right…seeing the first fast runners already on the other street a bit forward. We still have to turn left and then right to get to km2. OK. Back on good track. All looking fine. The gal is quite ahead of me, but that’s fine. I’ll pass her shortly I thought. Taking little longer steps, enjoying passing guys along the way. Getting strange looks btw when passing them. Passing Mariaplan again and the gal is slowing down. Easy passing by and then all fine up to km3. Slightly above 4min. Then up the hill and down and up again. Legs are strong and feeling good. Very tight to pass people here. My “hold right, please” do not have much effect on the guys before me. So I chose to run on the right of all of them. Had decided to take a gel by km4. Not needed, but feeling that it could help as the last “real food” was lunch at 2:30pm… Wonderful experience again…dropping my gel and swearing out loud (I did not notice it, but a child shouted to her mum: “She just said “F…”!!!”). OMG how annoying. Back on the race. I know I don’t need it, but still annoyed. Hoping that my home keys did not fall at the same time though… Reaching km4 in a decent 4:05. OK. Still good. Turning right and getting the screams of Klara’s parents 🙂 THANKS! (always tricky to recognize people in the dark!). Then further on, I actually recognize Magnus B from MIK 🙂 Smile again! And already turning right and up. Feeling fine. Probably too fine. Quick check at the watch and indeed…it IS too fine! And then turn left (already?) and straight slightly up and forward. High-five to half of the kids dressed in KEX-choklad tshirt. And turn left to a darker place (sorry…darker road 🙂 ). OK, km5 is clocked at 4:21 on my watch and it IS way slower than I planned. Halfway done, Halfway to go! The great there is that the fast guys and gals have not yet gone down the church hill 🙂 I am not THAT slow 🙂 Seeing them going down at a devil’s fast pace. Guy, guy, more guys, then a short group of gal, guy, guy…OK, by then I generally see Maria B. Feeling the uphill is going fine, i.e. too slow for being in the race. Taking it very careful as the road had no light. Did they do that on purpose? Switching off all the street lights? It is wet and slippery. Sliding a bit on leaves on the wet asphalt. Wonderful…make me fall now… Strong up to the Church. Feeling that I am reaaaally slow there. But then accelerating after turning around it. Taking the road instead of the pavement like most of the guys. And then it is just a downhill. Yooooohooo! Although the downhill is still in the dark and the “careful” side of me is definitely controlling the running down. Km6 is passed in crazy slow 4:54min. Which was NOT in the plan 😦 Definitely not happy. Could also feel that my wonderful downhill pace is not even starting as I cannot see where my feet are going. Running on the water, having to pass guys on the right and then on the left and then turn right with short stretch before another stiff downhill stretch. This one went in 3:35 a couple of days ago and it felt well-controlled…km7 is timed today slightly under 4min. What is going on?!?!? Not even having fun. Smiling right and left when hearing “nice lamps” (had forgotten that my hips are wearing my LED-lamps 🙂 ) And another right turn. Straight to the church. And there once again it felt heavy. Seeing Hanna O at the bottom of the slope. Big smile! And easy up on the top of the toes. Hearing in my head “You Shaaaall Not Stoooop”. OK, probably needing sugar soon! Making it fine to Nordostpassagen. Feeling that it went quite well actually. Passing the km8-sign, which is placed way before the “real” km8. Which is clocked in crazy slow 5min!!! REALLY?!?!? Where did this come from? Continuing without much of motivation for accelerating. Not tired, but why should I even try “kind of”. Running under the light bridges felt a bit strange (and the music was NOT adapted to sub40-pace!). Passing Plikta and now it is downhill for a while. Accelerating. Passing guys there. Feeling that I should really stop for a pitstop but that would not work really… Reaching the “sprint” area, trying to accelerate passing three guys, and then it is already km9…Good with those big light-stuff indicating the km. Less than one to go. Have more strength than it looks probably. Accelerating as much as I can. Turning right. In the dark. And a water pool… Seeing that we are not running towards Preem-station but taking almost the path of Göteborgsvarvet. (Good I trained on this one too…). Passing a few guys still. And then it is 600m left. 500m. Too dark really to run with full confidence and feeling safe from not falling. Now on the gravel. 300M to go. Gravel is awful to run on, but in the dark and after the rain, it feels even worth. Hoping really loud in my head that there is no hole in the soil until we reach the track. And finally the track! IN THE DARK?!?!? What are they thinking. Turning a sharp left and getting all what I can for this final 200m. That’s the end. Trying to get to the guy in front of me and shortening the distance but not making it before him. Seeing the clock ticking… 42:23..24..25… And yes! Making it to the finish line. Stopping the watch on 42:27. Not tired nor really happy, but training is training.
=> official time: 42:29 – place 12 (K40 – place 1)
AFTER FINISH LINE:
Stopped the watch. Hmmm… OK. What do you do when you just finish a race, see people having difficulty to breath, some sitting or laying down and you are just there…10seconds after the finish, breathing is back to normal and you feel…well,…like you have done enough warm-up? Not being cocky here. The final sprint DOES take on everyone, but a few steps and it is gone. Walking easy to get my medal, a banana, a chocolate bar and a sport drink. Meeting Maria B who made it a bit above 40minutes this time. Getting a large smile from Tricky who has completed this hilly race as probable “cooldown” after his morning marathon… A bit of chat and then it is time to get back home…running 🙂
*****
Weather: 15.0° Drizzle, Feels like 15.0°, 8 kph SSE wind, 94% humidity – rainy before the race, drizzle a bit during, nice in the air. No wind 🙂 Humid? Definitely!
Food: chicken+rice & mint tea + bagel w/honey +banana (@3:30am) / banana @7pm / Aptonia salted butter/caramel @8:20pm / banana+ kex cholad+water right after. Bagel w/honey + mint tea after the shower back home
during: nothing.
Gear: SOC army blue shorts, Casal Iconic black MIK sports bra, rain poncho. Shoes were exactly what they should be 🙂
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Adios Boost – Purple (Swifty)
=> still with a hole in the net of the right shoe…
13/ let’s make it an average 13. Effort level was not high. The first 4km were in a good strong 12 low 13. Nice and comfortable effort. Good breathing. Then 2 km up not fully high on the effort scale as I slowed down so extremely much. Felt comfortable on the way up anyway. Not easy, but comfortable. 13 -effort level is generally set to the average training. It should feel something without being too hard. You know you have been sweating, basically. Mentally it felt strong all the way, although from time to time I seriously considered that the pace was not careful enough as it was very dark. Not liking this way of running at all. Fine with the rain, fine with running late, but please make some light next time!!!
NOTE: Once again this was a hilly race…(Yeaaah…what’s wrong with me to choose this type of races, really?…). But the route is well-known. Very good training but should have absolutely gone faster that it did. Can pinpoint almost all the places where I knew I was slower than planned and actually did not do anything about it. This is a 10K, not a half-marathon or a marathon… Just getting in on the record and that was good for an evening training. Would have probably run this better if done early in the morning…
AFTER THE RACE:
Left Tricky to get his car and ran easy back home with a bottle of sport-drink in each hand. Good for the balance 🙂 Back at home, it turned into shower, little food and more of Prison break. Unable to sleep for a while. Considered a short while to go for an easy run, but ate instead a bit for having enough energy in store for the Sunday long run 🙂
NOTE: The HR band was very annoying with all this rain. It kept stopping the connection with the watch on a regular basis during the warmup. The HR during the race is well as usual. Straight to the top and then flat up there 🙂
NOTE: the organization of the race could be improved in lots of ways. For sure they made a huge work for changing the start/finish area due to unforeseen problems with the grass in the park where it was originally planned to wait/start/finish. But as usual, and for all the Midnattsloppet I have run, the start was once again delayed. The lights along the race were once again NOT enough. It is one thing to run on your own in the dark under the city lights, it is another one when 10.000 runners are passing the streets and you can barely see where you are going. Some places were extremely dark – close to pitch black. The cheering all around was a bit light this year, but cannot blame them due to the rain falling right before and being as well one of the night of Kulturkalaset in the city…
NOTE: once again the ranking at the end is done on net time, not gun time. 5 gals got a faster net time but arrived with a longer gun time… Hopefully there are no guy in the top 12-gal this year…(hope they are checking this…)
Still considering this (fake) tatoo on the calve saying on the left one “10Ks suck!” and on the right one “Marathon rules”…
Race Report – Falkenbergsloppet 2016/07/30
Finish Line…F.I.N.A.L.L.Y!
Planned: under 40
Actual: 42:08
place: 18 – 6th age category – (1st whining category)
BEFORE THE RACE
Quite ok night. Early up anyway. Got up and change for an easy leg shaking and hunt for bagel. No bagel apparently, so had to settle for a breakfast of white bun with honey and mint tea at 8:30am. Always tricky to get this food-stuff right with races in the afternoon. Would rather start at 5am and get it done! Slight feeling in the right calf. Not liking it, but nothing really to do about it. Finished to pack my bag and got myself ready. Picked up by Micke and his kind cousin C to drove us down to Falkenberg. Easy and calm drive. Arrived there, got to the place to register myself. Went smoothly. Micke went to another place to take his BIB as he had registered before. Well. After that, we had still 2 hours to kill before the start of the race. Walked to the start. Changed to running gear and got ourselves a nice spot under the sun. Laying down on the grass took most of the wait-time. Saw Musse and his family arriving. And it was time to get ready. Rewinding the plan in my head: Slightly under 4 during the first 4km and then drop of the pace until 2km to the arrival. That would work 😛
1:15pm – As usual, a bit unsure how to warm up, but at least 3km are necessary to get the whole machinery in place! Dropped our bags. I took my green apple gel (approx.45min to start). Got some sun cream on my burn mark on the back from a kind lady functionary. And we started to run. Took the first 1.5km of the race. Recognition is always good! Then back to start and that was it. 3km of nervous running. Sun was quite warm by then. Left Micke for a final visit to the ladies room. Hug to Annette K who would be running as well. And finally back to the start. A bit stressed as I could not see Micke…at all! Was looking for a yellow back…but he had a white singlet today. Met fast Susanne B. Cool! Finally found my pacemaker. Large smile on. Just 10km to go! Saw Robban A a few feet ahead, but honestly, 2 minutes from start, I won’t go and say hi. OK. Shoes? Check! Pacesetter by my side? Check! Ready to get under 40? Nope, but better setting check on this one anyway…
1:59pm – what is it with me? WHY am I looking at my shoes all the time?!?! A little less noise prior to the start. There is something with those shorter race…where people are talking WAY too long and too close to the start… 🙂
15 seconds to start… OK, don’t feel really like running now…
The RACE
PANG! Start is given and we are…walking easily a few steps towards the start mat (Good that Micke said not to rush as the time is anyway starting when we pass the matt…). And we start running. And all the other runner apparently want to go out as well :-): The short short stretch before the first right turn is a little tricky. Having Micke on my left. Good. But having guys in front of me not really wishing to take on the next gear apparently. Despite the start being given. So I run a bit with my hands in front of me for not falling and not hitting someone. Turn right. Getting against my will on the pavement. Quick check to see that Micke is onboard too. Good. Now cobblestones… here we come! Down to the bridge goes fast. Too fast. But does not feel THAT fast. Stupid check at my watch indicate a stupid 3:36-pace. OK. WAY too fast. Taking the right side with large stones instead of the small ones. Another turn right into another cobblestone-street. Here we can see the arrival… from the other side…and new turn right and down and turn left… Good we have checked this a bit before the race! Have seen the fast chicks disappearing already before the second right turn. So now just have to keep along with the ones right before me. And up and left and once again seeing the finish line…Sooooo close! Passing the first km in 3:51 or so. Got a nice approval from Micke. All looking fine. And that would be it actually! The next 9km won’t feel ever this good! Back to the asphalt. And turn right towards km2. What is happening there I don’t understand. Breathing is already heavy like I am finishing a race or so. Micke must have noticed it and he gave short but direct cheering that everything looks good. Well, the stupid little voice in my head does not agree, but I will keep on listening the smart(er) little voice outside my head (i.e. Micke…). Downhill which I was not expecting. Two chicks quite close and who will remain close throughout the race. Downhill for sure, but feeling that… I need to pee! WHAT? I went already 125 times before the race. And do not need it now! Feeling like I should stop, but this is a downhill, so much for the glamour of running. Got cut in the right curve by a not too gentlemen-ish guy. OMG! This is heavy! Does not feel this way during a marathon. Not even the last 2km (well, those ones are so close to the finish line that they are the best). And STOP thinking of other distances! The head is definitely not willing to help on this one. Have taken already a little paper cup of water and (un)smartly thrown all on me. NOW I have wet shorts! The long stretch towards km4 does not feel easy as I expected it to be. And this was the “easy and fast” part of the race… Quick stupid check at the watch while passing km4. Shoot! Missing the time I planned. Should have passed under 16minutes. In order to have enough to loose afterwards. Micke noticed probably all this, because he kindly give words of encouragements now and then. Staying right where I want, right in front of me, looking back or on the side regularly. And we see the bridge again. Km4. Yoooohoooo! And eeeeeeh what? We are not taking it? Not only we run a little slope up (and down) but we are continuing along the water. OK, so much for my great preparation on checking the course of the race. How will we cross…the..water?!? and I see it then! Another bridge! And the separation :10K on the left and 5K on the right…extremely tempting to take the right and get this done. Indicating a bit late to fellow runners behind me that I am in it for the 10K… following Micke. Don’t have any other choice, right? And turn right…and WHAT? Another “mountain” to climb on this stupid bridge? And gravel? OK, getting in a better mood after having Micke turning back and saying to hang in there. Passed by a gal on the right and taking this stupid slope to the bridge on the top of the toes. Screw the time, I think. It ain’t worth it. On the bridge it feel fine. Actually better. Then continuing to run run and more run. Passing the 5km in 20:25, quite ok, but had hope to be slightly faster…for the next km to go are NO piece of cake. Micke must hear and see it ain’t going well. I actually want to just slow down…SOOOOO BADLY! Checking what time is left. What distance is left. “Screw the watch and the time” I hear Micke saying. Yeah yeah I know. And I do. It feels warm. At every water station, I take one or two paper cups of water and throw them on the head and the thighs. It feels that there is no air. It feels warm. I want to stop a short short time just to get the body to sweat as it should and then continuing. Please? Lots of people on the side. That is good! Getting to km6 feels like a simple nightmare. And it is less than half to go. But still. Don’t feeling that the body is crazy tired, but something is wrong. The head is wrong. The breathing is wrong. The only positive voice is not really in my head but outside. And I thank Micke for it! Passing km7 feels a bit better…until we turn left…and get headwind. AAAAAAAAHHHH! Will this never stop? Having Mick ahead of me, I consider briefly using him as wind-shield. But I am so bad as doing this, so I don’t. Just remaining close enough and right behind on the side. Don’t think it makes any difference, but that’s it. Crossing the road and getting under the trees…and downhill! Yeaaaah! Nice and in the shadows…and in a quite narrow path from time to time. Tricky to get 2 runners side-by-side there, but Micke is taking his pacesetter role to the greatest! Letting two gals passing. Hoping to keep them close enough until the end. Passing a blond gal that seems to be pretty tired. She will pass us back and stop again and pass us again and stop… Running under the trees feels indeed nice…but the wet muddy path does not feel that great. Some parts are a bit slippery and the only focus is then to look down and do-not-fall. Hearing km8 is close-by and that is soon finishedJust have to hang in there. Counting down says Micke. (Well, my head is starting then the count down…41 to go…for quickly reminding itself that it is a 10K and that there are 2 km to go…). Passing somewhere an outdoor theatre. Just want this whole misery to really finish. Then I hear that km9 is short ahead. Passing km9-sign feels great. The legs feels strong and actually accelerate. OK it won’t probably make any difference on the pace, but the feeling is WAY better now. Just keeping Micke in sight and listening to what he is telling me. The little positive voice is back in the head as well. All is fine! And we get to the little up towards the bridge (I should really find places to race where there is NO slope at all…not even a single one. Not even a shadow of one…) and the bridge and the cobblestones again and down on the right this time, along the water. Wow this feels nice. Less than a km. That is looking good. And could probably made this misery under 42 minutes as well… until we turn left and I see the stupid short-and-brutal uphill we have to take. A brief thought came that we must have run wrong. But Micke is already running up, turning and getting me to run up as well. That it is soon finish. That I have to prepare for the final stretch. Turn left and that is it! The finish line is there. No idea how far it is. Hearing to push as much as I can. Getting between two guys and crossing this (stupid) finish line. FINALLY! Getting a banana, a little medal and a rubbish time. 42:08.
=> official time: 42:08 – place 18 (V40 – place 6)
AFTER FINISH LINE:
Stopped the watch. Did not even want to look at it. Best part of race came with a hug from Micke and a smile. I was probably not really receptive at this time but still. Found also the red cap of Robban A. Got a sweaty hug and a check at his watch. Wow. That’s all what I will say! Founding back Micke and went to congratulate Mustafa “Musse” who won the race. Third hug after the finish line 🙂 This should definitely become a habit! And found also the brightest smile from Sara H. And another hug 🙂 At least this 10K ended well!
Weather: 18.9° sunny, Feels like 18.9°, 13 kph W wind, 73% humidity – sunny, windy, hilly… Good weather for running and getting a nice tan! Would have happily run longer and better (and yes, a bit faster too…)
Food: mint tea + french white bun w/honey after (@8:30am) / banana @11:30am / Powergel green apple @1:15pm / banana+ water right after. French hotdog + twix during the trip back home
during: nothing. Tried unsuccessfully to get water in my mouth, but did not really work.
Gear: SOC SWE hotpants and sports bra. Shoes felt great. Nice and fast (kind of) and light. Loving them!
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Adios – Purple (Quicky)
17/ First km was definitely a low effort one. But somewhere around km2 something took over and the effort was greater. Not much physically but mentally. And as usual, when it gets this way, I slow down to a kind-of marathon-pace which feels quite accommodating and comfortable And making the level of effort not that high. So physically, definitely not that high. Especially seeing how it felt after the race and later during the day. Mentally? Yeah, there was definitely a higher effort than expected for such a stupid little short race…
***********
NOTE: Not for being chatty but hills and me ain’t best friends and will probably never will. Cobblestones aren’t my friends neither. And will never be. Heat, warmth and sunshine can definitely be a hinder, but rather this than the two previous hinders! Very good training with this race – I hope. Why is that so the last three races have been shorties and hillies?!?!?! Am I picking the wrong races?!?!
***********
AFTER THE RACE:
Back to the locker rooms. Shower. Cream. Clothes on. And back to meet Micke and found the entrance of the parking place where cousin C was waiting for us. Drive home was as calm as on the way down. Quick stop to buy a French hot-dog and a twix. Drank more water. And we were back home. Thanks to Micke this day was not a complete disappointment. Great experience again with a great pacesetter. More of this kind! Considered taking a short leg shaking in the evening, but turned the thought into eating a bit more in prevision for Sunday’s long run.
NOTE: The HR has apparently not been working from the start of the race. Thought that it had stopped after the water paper cup that reached my stomach rather than my hand, but nope. Nothing. It worked well during the warmup though..
NOTE: Nice and well-organized race. The stupid slow pace I had allowed a real appreciation of the landscape actually. And this was nice! Highly recommended for the landscape! Unsure I would give it another try even after knowing the cobblestones, the hills, the wind and the stupid “mountain-to-climb” right before the final stretch 😛 But surely the people cheering all around made a lot for the race!
NOTE: The water-station part… OK I was not planning to drink. Even though it was a bit warm, the race was quite short. However it is always nice with those showers around the course as well as the numerous water-stations they placed as well. The problem was definitely to catch the paper cup first. Then to get them to the lips was not even in the plan. The huge miss was when a kind lady gave me a paper cup and I received it ALL in the middle of my stomach. So yes, it felt…WET! Passing the finish line with a hotpant soaking wet ain’t the most fun. But hey, this is part of the wonder of the races 😛
NOTE: About the “whining category”? Yeah, this one was created especially for me today. Cannot recall a race I have been complaining (inside) so much! Great with a pacesetter who has this in sight and did not let me down and continue to cheer throughout the race and after the finish line.
NOTE: and a final one: this stupid sub40 was not on the map today: Already knew it after we passed km1 probably and by km2 the thought was just to finish the race and not letting more gals passing me. As told before, I want a nice 10K race with NO hill and NO wind. Sunshine is a plus 🙂
…will probably get a (fake) tatoo on my (tired) calve saying on the left one “10Ks suck!” and on the right one “Marathon rules”…
Race Report – Fiskebäcksloppet 2016/06/06
Happy first 3!
Planned: under 45 (as the recognition run the week before was done in 47 minutes)..although thinking that close to 41-42 minutes was doable
Actual: 42:50
place: 3rd 🙂
BEFORE THE RACE
Good night’s sleep with eyes opened at 5:35am (sun and light outside…). Back to sleep for a little longer and finally rolled myself outside the bed around 8am. Running gear on, quick kisses to ET and off to the asphalt. Nice in the air and sunny. Took a real easy run to get some croissants for breakfast and that was it. Nothing fancy. Breakfast of pains au chocolat (there was no croissant…), one egg and ice mint-tea. All fine. Final prep for GET and started to turn round round round at home, waiting for leaving to the race. Good for vacuum-cleaning and getting some laundry done 🙂 Checking for the 5th time my hang-along-bag. On with race gear apart from the shoes. Finally 12:00pm and time to get to the tram. Really calm and quiet city on this Swedish national day. Then bus to the start area. A bit odd with all this calm. Was expecting to hear a bit from the bus-stop, but nothing. Walked a part of the race route and still nothing. A few pedestrians taking a nice walk under the sun. But no runner. And finally the start area.
1:15pm – got my BIB and tshirt. Found Lennart B-MIK and chatted a little. Then went to lay down on the grass and under the sun for the next 45minutes. Quick pitstop in the woods before changing my shoes to racing shoes and I was ready. Left my bag and went for an easy warm-up on the first 2.5km of the race. The best part of the warm-up was three small boys stopping me at the top of the first hill asking me if I was running the race: Yes, I answered. Are you first or last? they asked. Well, the race has not started yet, I answered. Isn’t it cheating to start before all the others then? they concluded. Received a large smile from me and they promised to cheer when they’ll see me later on. Felt all fine while running. As expected the headwind was really killing me. But I was hoping for finding some backs to follow during the part km1,3-2. Additional and final quick stop in the woods. Find back Christopher-MIK on the football field when I got back. As well as Lennart-MIK and Helen-MIK. All fine under the sun. Warmup well-executed!
2:45pm – took a short 600m easy + accelerations additional warm-up (or “leg shaking”) and that was it. Back to my bag and decided to go for having music in the ears. Mostly because I was expecting to have some solo-running during the race and did not want to slow down. Meeting Hanna O from Solvikingarna and Carina from Sävedalen right before the start. Appeared we were fours ladies in the “<40 minutes” start-group.
2:55pm – final check to my shoes. Ready with the music. So nice and airy start-group! Nobody pushing and no body contact neither before start 🙂
30 seconds to start… oulala! So short time? Really?
The RACE
Aaaaaand that was it! Start is given. Got passed by mostly guys. Hanna O is heading there as well and I have another gal on my side (she arrived 2nd in Näsetloppet in May and Hanna got 1st place there). Not a chance I can hang along. But actually I did …f or 1.3km 😛 We started with 270m of gravel/dust and then a 150m stiff-but-short hill. Fortunately asphalt. Took it on the top of the toes, the other gal took it easier and passed me anyway by the top of the hill. As expected, this first hill was already separating the runners a bit. Got a large smile and “Heja” (“Hurrah-cheering” in Swedish) from one of the boys from earlier who recognise me. And downhill after that. Felt all nice. Had been passed by Måns-MIK during the running uphill. Decided to keep him in sight as he ran well in 44minutes last year and 41 minutes in recent race this year. Just had to keep his back not too far away. New turn right and new slope. Not as stiff this time. Runners were more disparate already. Downhill and back to the gravel/dust area. NOW the stupid wind came into play. Had the gal in orange quite close 10-20m ahead of me. But the wind!!! tried to get closer to a guy in front of me to skip the wind (and skip eating his dust too…) but it did not work that well. Came closer to the gal when we rounded the area. Running on the grass felt actually a little better (for once!) but that was only short. After passing km2 and noticing that the 4:02-tempo (really?!?!?) of the first km had dropped to 4:03 (not a disaster, but it should have been WAY faster on this part and had expected sub4 for this particular km…) but ok. Run run run and got along with a few guys then, which I will follow for a while. Måns was quite a bit ahead now. 100m? The gal in orange had drifted further and passed him. By km2, the objective was to keep this third place among women. Of course I had no idea how was the field and if there was anyone close to me…and there was anyway 8km to go… Passing the football-field from the start. Got cheering from Anna H-MIK (winner of last year race with a real indecent time…). And soon it was finished with the gravel/dust part. THANK YOU FOR THE ASPHALT! (and the warmth coming with it…). Crossing the road and got passed by two guys running sooooo crazily easy that I felt that I really should accelerate a bit. Passing them on the right side and then passing the Fiskebäcks Church and turning left. SHADOOOOOOOOW! Yoooohooo! For a few seconds and then it was more running on this crazy slow-and-progressive uphill. Before getting a stiffer one up into the woods. The nice part was that 3km had disappeared. Only 7 to go. The less nice part was that it was uphill and in the woods. Meaning had to check where I set my feet as well as checking where the guys in front of me where putting theirs. Passed a few. Ran once again on the top of the toes (it feels that the Achille’s heels prefer it this way actually…) And turning left, no really sure I was smiling there…too much focus on setting the feet correctly. Måns was back into sight. We got kids running along some runners and right when we arrived they started to run a bit on the path we took. Sorry guys if I asked you to move away from the road in a quite decide voice (and hopefully I added a smile to it?…). After that I was not too sure how the path was going, as I always mix two parts of this race. Run on asphalt again, turn left and then right and back into the woods…Really?!?!? had to shout a couple of time “Hold right” (always followed by a “Thanks!”) as the path was pretty narrow and I really did not want to loose time there running behind slower runners. The annoying part is if I was shouting at them to hold their right, I pass them and then they would pass me afterwards… Whatever! Got out of the woods, km4 was done! A bit unsure of the average pace I had, but did not really care. Once again, had Måns in front of me and no gal had passed me (yet…). Running down into a little tunnel under the road and then 90-turn left and short after 90-turn left. Took a dextrosol and right there was the first water-station. One cup on the head and the second one…on the head as well (apparently the brain was no longer responding as I wanted to drink a little…). Turn left and long stretch along the school-yard. It felt pretty warm, but not hot. Definitely not hot like during my recog-run a week before. Felt all fine, had a decent pace going and I was happy. And soon counting down the km as we passed km5 and I was on the upper-range of my calculation (on a flat course, I would set between 20-21 minutes, and I was closer to 22minutes now. Still getting me under 45 minutes though…): This 5th km felt pretty slow…and it was… So I got energy back seeing I reached closer to Måns. Happily telling him that he could do better than that (honestly he should have been 200m away from me by then…). Getting back from him that there was still some km to go. We passed km6 and shortly after reached the long stretch…with HEADWIND! This part I know it, I train there, I have even run intervals (back&forth)…and it is ALWAYS headwind on this direction (except from during my recog-run…). Plan B: tack the back of a runner there, whatever pace he decides to go, I’ll take it. Tried to set myself behind one, but another taaaaall guy was already there. So my only chance for wind-shield was to get close on the right-side. Far from optimal, but it worked a little bit. Strong wind that I really did not like. I slowed down a bit and got myself between the two guys and WOW what a difference! No wind (almost)! But shortly after, my wind-shield stepped aside and I did not have any body left. Slowed down a bit and the tall guy passed me at the end of the long stretch. Took dextrosol and two water paper cups…once again…brainlessly throwing both on the top of my head and getting nothing but an empty cup when reaching my mouth… Matters not! 7km had been passed… Short path along the sea on gravel/stones…and here come…the “dreadful stairway”… Have never run up those stairs during training…ever! They are not easy to run up as having strange breadth. But today… I walked them up…holding the railing on the side! WHAAAAAAAAAT AM I DOING?!?!? Cheering from a couple there got me starting again, as well as being passed by my “wind-shield”. In the little woods and more running. Passing two guys. And then again… WALKING UP the second little slope…for 10-15m or so…I never stop there during training!!! Why do I do that now?!?! Reaching up the top of the slope, I turn and see a gal with blue tshirt…This sets fire to the powder and I got on the top of my toes again. Just loving this feeling. Passing a few pedestrians. Aaaaaand running downhill sooooo crazily fast, passing my “wind-shield” and seriously hoping that I will not fall. (after checking the pace of this specific part of the race, my watch registered a “fastest pace” of 3:04 (!) which I think was actually correct and for this little downhill…). Rushing on the asphalt like a fool for not dropping on my pace, seeing Måns and another guy a bit away from me. Trying to accelerate and shouting to the nice guy helping the cars to pass (or not) to NOT let the car pass (Heeeeeello there! I am coming at full speed here!), Got a nice smile back 🙂 Running up the little slope and then shortly after turning right. This final part of the race is a bit tricky as running along the harbour and the buildings, making lots of 90-turns all the way. Got a serie of high-five with adult (!) spectators sitting on a bench (sooo cool!) and one more right turn. Shouted to Måns to accelerate (well, this was more for me this one, but it felt strange to shout it to myself…). One more turn, a little bit up and then left among the boats and then left and right and left and straight….Aaaaaahh! Will this never stops?!?! There was a change from last year course path. Turned once more left and around and right and that was it. The final km was reached. Shoot! No gal passing by so far and less than a km to go. Tried to take some on Måns, which worked, but close to getting back to the gravel/dust path, I stopped my music and had a problem putting the mp3 in my backpocket. Dropped the pace a bit and got Måns running away. For the 5th time during the race, I got some kind people indicating me that I was the third gal to come. And that was the final stretch. Gravel and dust. Took time for giving a large smile to the photograph there. Could not run much faster on this gravel stuff 😦 Where was all my acceleration powers?!?! And then running on the grass for the final part. Hearing that some cheerings were increasing and was a bit scared to see a gal passing me right before the arrival. But nope. Accelerated and got a guy reaching the final line with me: Hearing my name as third. That was it. Enough for today. Dust-taste in the mouth. Getting my banana and chocolate cookie and water bottle. Realizing I did not stop my watch. 42:55. So. Now it is done.
=> official time: 42:50 – place 3
Weather: 18.9° Sunny, Feels like 18.9°, 16 kph SSW wind, 52% humidity – sunny, windy, dusty… Great weather for running and getting a nice tan! (OK, I could have done without the wind…)
Food: grahamsporridge+banana+blueberry jam @11:15am / banana+kex chocklad+bläää bubble water right after
during: dextrosol at start of the race as well as at km4 and 7 (slightly before the water station)
Gear: SOC shorts small trapeze, Casall Iconic sport bra black – MIK. Shoes felt exactly the way they should: fast and completely flying. So light!
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Adios – Purple (Quicky)
14/ OK, to the risk of being called cocky, I really think that the race overall did not reach more than a good steady effort level. Definitely less than interval-training, but more than regular training. The 15km run over lunch this week felt definitely tougher than this race today. So yes, there is still more to get out from this body and legs…
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NOTE: Hilly is as said before not my speciality nor preference. But today it went quite well actually (apart from the dreadful stairway and this stupid stop in the woods (which I can still not explain to myself…). Gravel and dust are not on my favourite list of terrain and will probably never be. Add wind to the whole thing… Yeah, you got the picture! But seriously, it went faster than I really thought it would, but should actually been faster if the wind would have not been there to run it all…
Very good training!
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AFTER THE RACE:
Changing clothes in an open tent (aaaaahhh…runnners…they can really do everything anywhere…) as all the water throwing on the head had gotten my gears pretty wet and I did not want to run back home this way. Quick chat with Christopher-MIK and Lennart B-MIK. Then meeting Helen-MIK and waited for the prices to be presented. First the category “under 17”. and then us… “over 17” 😛 Helen kindly took a few pictures and that was it. Time to get back home. By foot. With a backpack heavier from earlier with an extra pair of running shoes as price for the 3rd lady. Not too bad for a run under the sun on this Swedish national day!
NOTE: 95% of max according to Garmin. Once again. Still unsure what is my HR max anyway…
NOTE: Nice and well-organized race. Would definitely have this on my list for next year. If they can arrange without the wind, I’ll sign up tomorrow! 😛
NOTE: one hour after arrival, the body felt good enough for running 12km back home at a quite decent pace. Meaning that the race did not take at all much on the body and should/could have been pushed a bit more. Having run 10,000m on track at 43min a month ago, probably means there is a little laziness somewhere not willing to push much more on those short distances…. Have to find it and convince it to stop. Sub40 expected to the next 10K please! (no hill and no wind, thanks!)
Race Report – Näsetloppet 2016/04/30
Näsetloppet 2016 – Happy MIKs!
Planned: under 45, revised to “all under 47 is good” (review done after the warmup and recognition run prior to the race…)
Actual: 46:06 for 10.6km
place: 7th 🙂 – Happy!
BEFORE THE RACE
Pretty good night’s sleep. Heard the rain falling all night long, i.e. that would be crazy wet when we would be running. Up around 8am, reading, breakfast at 9:30am with chia seeds -choco/banana mix. Nothing to do really until leaving to the race, so spent the next 1.5hr cleaning at home (bathroom, vacuum-cleaning, dust cleansing, dishes… Well-use of the time!). Had prepared my race clothes yesterday, so it was “just” to prepare the extra change-clothes for after the race. Packed all into a bag and off to the tram. Arrived at the end of the line, took an easy walk for the 1.5km to the race start. Met Christopher T from MIK arriving at the same time and using my alternative transport choice: the bike! I had hesitated a bit between taking the bike to the start (adding a 24km ride -from/to the race) OR having the possibility to run back home after the race. Chose the second option. We headed to the place for the distribution of startkits. Changed my registration to Elite-group where Christopher would also be. Direction the changing rooms. On with race outfit and on the top long pants and warm winterjacket. Met Christopher outside and we talked about our recent marathon-adventures until we could leave our bags. Chose to do a warmup/recognition run from the start to km2.5 and the first hill. Easy tempo, all fine, chatting all the time. A bit muddy and wet, and windy (although it was a bit covered in the side of the forest). Then tested the heavy first hill and turned back down to the start. All fine. Just have to wait for the gun to fire then! Separated from Christopher now. Found a toilet in the club cabin where there was actually no queue at all. Fixed up my hair and that was it. Ready to start.
Headed to the warm-up area where people were starting to line up. Was asked if I was an elite by an person from the race sponsors and if I could talk to a little girl for which this was her first long race. Cool 🙂 I went there, talk to her a bit, cheering and then it made my day (and apparently hers as well 🙂 ) Felt very honoured to do that 🙂 Time to get to the start. No real extra warm-up, but ran until the first turn. Quick pitstop into the woods and then back to the start. A few up&down the first slope and that was it. Time to get to the corral. My watch indicated 1:55pm already… Quick chat with a girl from Solvinkingarna. Not many ladies in the elite-group but guessing that all will fire off pretty fast and I will eat their dust. Not that it is my plan, but on this particular course, there is not a chance I will hold their tempo!
Going forward to the starting line. Final cheering from/to Christopher T. 45 seconds to start already. Light light rain falling. 30 seconds. Everything goes so fast, but it feels so slow at the same time… Did I really register to the race yesterday evening?
The RACE
Start is given and all run ahead of me 🙂 Getting use to it. It is just that for such a short distance as here (10.6km) there is no way I can catch up… Good start, feeling fine. No pushing. Everybody in his/her best behaviours! Easy to the first turn. All the elite group has passed me apart from one lady. She does it after the first right turn into the border of the forest. Easy run. For a short moment I am alone and the start-group behind us catch up on me. All fine. One gal gets to my side and she has a good tempo. Well, this is not km2 yet and the hills are a little after. Passing the first km sub4 was expected, but it did not feel the effort level was high. Second km is on terrain already, so definitely slower still decent 4:16-pace. Turning right after the 2km sign and it is light rain falling. And headwind blowing. Only focus is on breathing correctly (and pretty calmly actually!) and getting ready for this stupid first hill. Almost considered to stop right there at the bottom of it. But nope. I take it nice and easy (read: “tough and breath-heavy”), trying to keep up with the lady that passed me at km2. The race is having a nice dressing code: all runners have their running tshirts on (green for men and pink for women) except for the elites. So it is quite easy (for the ladies) to spot where other ladies are in the green wave of men runners 🙂 I keep to the one lady close to me as the one I can see if too far ahead. Finally up this hill. Want to stop and just be happy of this achievement. But nope. There are still some kilometres to run! Passing km3 a bit too heavy-breathing to my liking, but I am hanging in there. Downhill now, taking off my nose the neckwarmer as there is no much wind that annoy my breathing. And I can also smile to people on the side who are cheering for the runners. All fine. Got passed by the gal right before the water-station. Which I am skipping. And I got ahead of her. Takes 200m before she is in the lead again. Now we are running along the sea. Nice. There I did my training last summer prior to Öloppet Sprint. I know this path. And I don’t like it particularly… (well, during training it is nice. During race it is not). And uphill after the little beach. Killing my steps. But I want to keep close to the pink gal. On the top finally (and no it is not a 1km-stiff hill, but it feels like it!). And downhill. All fine. Still fine. Getting out of the seaside and back to the parking place with the water station. Taking one water cup. Try to drink and most of it get into my face and my left eye. I actually laugh at myself then. Pace has dropped with this stupid thing and I have to catch up with the pink gal. Which is done quite soon. Passing the halfway mark feels good. I get closer to her and tell that “one half is done, one half to go”. Receiving a nice smile and thanks and good luck to you to. 🙂 All fine on this race. No one is really passing us. We run along each other. I take the lead and run left carefully on two small wooden planks set on a muddy/watery small area (great to have that in a turning point as well…). And it is back to asphalt (thanks!). Run run run and more run. The brain is not really happy that the legs continue to run. The legs are not fully understanding why the brain does not tell them to stop. And I am here in the middle of the conversation… Counting down the km. That feels so crazy short! Compared to marathons where the countdown is quite long to get to 1 figure km… Passing km7 happy. And warm. Off with the singlet and the gloves. MUCH BETTER! There are ups & down. Not too tricky, but not knowing really where to turn is annoying. Should have done some recognition for the full route prior to the race… Too late now. I know we are getting to an awful hill like the first one, when we reach km8 or so. Have the pink gal behind me now and am a bit ahead as I cannot see her in the corners of my eyes when I turn right. And wow! Getting to another hill-slope-call-it-what-you-want-but-it-is-not-flat! Decide to actually walk…10 seconds. One guy passes me. And then I continue. This gave the pink gal the time to catch up with me. We hang along and when she passes me, she is cool enough to encourage and tell there is so little left to run now. Grate her with a nice smile 🙂 And finally the downhill from km9 or so. Which – with my head doing calculation – means 1.6km left to go: Yeaaaahhhh! This is tricky to actually consider a race of 10.6km instead of 10km. Not that I have checked my watch since km2. Have no idea how long we have been running (Oh, yes, I did check at km5+ where it was “kind-of” the middle and I passed 22:38. Meaning that 45minutes was still achievable (the higher hand of 45 minutes, but still 45 minutes…). Down down and more down now. Passing between cheering people close to shops. And suddenly we arrive to the little tunnel under the road. Tunnel that Christopher had shown me during our warm-up. Yippie! Not much long then. When turning left to the final straight line, I try to see if there is any pink tshirt behind, but nope. None to be seen. Passing two guys on this final stretch. And it feels so incredibly long. Was it THAT long during the warm-up? Has someone stretched the street to add a few100 meters?!?!? Got passed by a crazy fast guy about 50m from the final right turn. He is young. He probably does not understand what he is doing 😛 It makes me happy to see this actually. And got extra strengths to push after the final right turn. Hearing the speaker saying another female runner is coming. Lifting my arms and giving a nice smile to the people cheering. And that’s it! Missing the 45+minutes but so very happy to cross this finish line.
=> official time: 46:06 – place 7
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Weather: 10.0° Rainy, Feels like 7.2° , 23 kph S wind, 66% humidity – quite nice weather to run actually.
Food: chia seeds+choco/banana mix at 9:30am, banana about one hour prior to the race, right after the race: 6-7 pieces of energybars (homemade – yummy), banana during cooldown
During: 2 dextrosol right before start, 2 about km3,5, 2 around km8,5
Gear: ADIDAS Supernova shorts Blue line, MIK singlet black, compression socks compressport, arm sleeves black, SOC windgloves, neckwarmer Icebug.
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Adios Boost – Purple (Swifty)
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16/ Difficult to set an effort level here. I would rather find a full marathon easier on the effort level than this race. But having definitely not push much, it cannot get that high. Would have very much like to have a flat race and see how was the form for a 10K. But that was not today!
NOTE: Hilly is far from my speciality or preference. Gravel and terrain follows closely. During training that is one thing. But during a race… Good to have done this one anyway. Very good training!
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AFTER THE RACE:
Getting home-made energybars (yummy! Especially the one natural with oats!). Getting my medal, drinking some water. Meeting with Christopher at the bags-drop. A bit of chatting. We take a couple of photos and then easy cooldown round round round the football field. Enough. I am cold now 🙂 On with some more clothes, getting more of those energy bars. And goodbye to club buddy. Changing to other clothes (i.e. putting dry clothes on wet racing clothes… wonderful feeling!). Watched the podiums ladies and guys. Headed to the bus stop. No running back home. My butt is feeling too cold and it ain’t fun to run in sweaty wet clothes. That was it!
NOTE: For an unplanned race, on a very strange distance, on a non-preferred hilly route, after a couple of weeks with annoying hip… that was a good Saturday training run!
NOTE: According to Garmin I was in the max zone from start to end… 95% of max… Would be good to finally do this HR-max test and see what it is for real…
NOTE: Can actually think of having this race on the plans for next year 😛
NOTE: Just loved the cheering from a young boy about km8 somewhere, saying “Come on, you Gladiator-girl” 😛
Race Report – Varbergsloppet 2015 – 2015/07/11
Planned: 10km tempo pace (which is estimated to 4:25/4:30 at the date of today) – i.e. 45min would be fully satisfactory
Actual: 44:19. Quite fine, especially with the preparations and the expectations and the route 🙂
Got the kicks, abs challenge done in the morning. Porridge breakfast around 10. Felt ok, but a bit heavy on the stomach though. Turned round round round at home for not leaving to early: clothes folding, laundry hang, eyebrows plunk, and final check on the gear to be taken (for the..5th time?!?!?)
Headed to the city center, bought 2 powerade, 1 dextrosol and a little bag of gummy bears 🙂 And then train trip. Final drink at 2pm. Don’t want to have to stop during the race, right? Easy at the arrival with the explanations of R. Got my registration done and then it was…2,5hours to kill…
Changed in the swimming pool ladiesroom, getting the BIB on my singlet and headed back to the main grass area. Waited for club buddies to land 🙂 Did a bit of sunbathing in the meantime (with warm jacket as it felt a bit chilly with the wind). Lennart arrived and we chatted a bit. Met Tricky and his friend (both had been cycling (!!!) from home – would run the race – and cycle back before nightfall… Either you’re in, either you’re not! Massaged my legs with Tiger balm, re-adjust my laces and it was already 3:30pm. Time to drop my bag, final stop at the loo, and warmup together with Lennart and Torbjörn (that we met on the road). We took a VERY easy pace for that: Not at all what I am used to. I had planned to run 5-6km prior to the race in order to ensure the muscles would be ready for a kind-of-fast pace (read: tempo pace). We ran 2+ km on the final part of the race (which was good, because when it arrived during the race, I knew the end was near!)
3:45pm – tried to find a place for doing accelerations, but nope. Not really. Did lunges warmup and it was time to get to the start.
3:50pm – Nice place under the sun. Start group 1. First line 🙂 On the right, so can be passed easily. Got a hug from a smiling Sara and another one from a smiling Robban :-). A bit of push, but I have learned how to handle this. And surprisingly I did keep my place…
3:55pm – all set. Music in the ears is ready to burst as soon as the start is given… (and yes it was already warm…but with the air from the sea it felt quite nice).
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4:00PM – No pang, no gun fire…just a large clock announcing the beginning of the race. And as usual for 10Ks, this feels like the opening of the gates for letting veals, cows, horses…(you name it) free to run. Felt quite ok actually, remaining on the right. Got passed a few times on my right (!) but otherwise, the human wave passed me on the left. ALL the wave 1… Quick check on the clock showed 3:30 (!) after the first turn and 3:45 after the second one around the castle. I know I know, way too fast, but the faster you run, the faster you’re done J Seriously now, did feel that the pace would not hold anyway so quick check on the watch when it beeped 1km indicating 3:50. Hummm…not as planned. Turn on the left and in the streets of the city then. Felt pretty warm. Would have gladly run at 9am this morning than 4pm…How are they thinking really??? Got to the second km and the avg pace indicated 4:16, which was still too fast, but more “ok-fast”. I thought that I had anyway 8km for getting down to 4:30-pace. The 3km-sign is a little off compared to the beep of my watch so I press “lap” to get it aligned better. And just have to continue the run. Loving my home-made trance-mix (freshly done this morning while I was turning roundroundround at home). Brilliant combination, especially as they are bringing different paces and at the correct time 🙂
Seeing the pace going slower. Good to have had some indications from R on the route. So I could take the first little up at the beginning, not fear the pavements in the city center and enjoy (yes…sure!) the run in the forest. When I hear beep and see the 4km-sign, I know it is only 500+m left “climbing” (ok, there was no climbing, but it surely goes up during a while and culminate at 4,5km) and tried as suggested by R to push during the downhill after this top. Not as easy as I thought however L Can remember however that it was nice and refreshing to be in the forest (or park?). This is there that some new runners start to pass me. From km1.5 or so, I was the happy last-person-of-group-1 and for this I happily accepted the cheering from the crowd (and even lifted my arms from time to time to get them happier and cheerier 🙂 ). So, back to those guys passing me: the little competitor inside me agreed to get a 4:30-race, but still, if that could mean NOT be passed by more gals from the group behind, that would be great… And let’s admit it: sometimes it is nice to have guys passing you. Need a bit of focus afterwards, but it is nice distraction for a while 😛
Around km5 it felt a bit odd that my watch indicated 1,6km on the lap-screen when it should have shown 0,6km… and THEN I remember that I turned on the alerts…but did not setup the autolap before the race… Which I do a bit before km6 and press lap-button at km6 to be in sync with the signs on the side of the road. Surely dropped a bit of time there. Took 2 dextrosol. Did not have any food in my stomach since porridge of the morning and the half-bag of gummy bears in the train. Felt warm-warm and more warm. At each water station it is “take a first cup and throw it on the head (be careful the mp3 on the chest not to get wet) and then take a second cup, a few glups of water and the rest on the legs”. Felt quite good (of course, I noted afterwards that having thrown water on the stomach and legs was probably looking like I peed in my shorts, but it did not matter much and it was drying anyway within crazily short time. And as well, who cares???).
OK, km6 is passed, seeing the lighthouse over there. Remembered the description of the route and that we would…actually…run…CLOSE to this lighthouse??? No, cannot be. It looks like it is at 100km away (yes, the water on the head is not helping much the brain to cool down and think reasonably…). Passing the bus stop of the SPA (had been there a few years ago…but the weather was waaaaaay worse!). a bit of waving to get the crowd cheering a bit. And under the trees again. This part is nice. Very nice. Because it is less than 4km to go. Because my watch is finally indicating the correct pace and distance. Because after a turn around I-don’t-know-what I can see this stupid lighthouse which is WHAT? How did it come that close??? And nope, my watch is indicating a pace which ain’t fast. Turning right a bit uphill aaaaand so nice again! Catching up with two guys…he he he! I know it is not polite to count people out loud when you pass them. So I did not. But I probably talked loud to encourage myself, because a guy before me turned and looked strangely at me (and it gives me the opportunity to pass him. :-)This is nice this km8, because it is close to km6 and you see all the other runners passing the km-sign that you passed yourself a bit of time ago.
Then it was less than 2km left… Where is this stupid castle? What said R in his tips? Sure, when I see it I know it is soon finished…but how close would that be?!?! A bit less people cheering on the road, more likely looking. And then there is this little uphill. I know that from there can be seen the 1km-sign soon. MOG, this feels so nice. Had taken 2 dextrosol at km8 and it feels that the brain is actually cool now J (next time I should take 10 at the start of the race maybe!). And.here.I.see.it: the 1km-sign. Had passed it during warm-up. Just accelerated in the downhill. Don’t care about the guys I passed (although I still cheer for one who is walking on the side of the road).
KM1-sign: requires change of music! Anything to pull me to the end. Even make a happy cheering noise to myself when passing it. Run run and more run… ???… ok, how come that the 1km is now longer than during warmup?!?! And I surely resist from checking the watch which would tell me stupidly that nope, you have not run 500m but 267m and there is still a LOOOOOOONG way to go!!! Seriously? Did the stretch the pavement? Change the screen on my watch and see that it is 4:43pm. My group is time-measure on gun-time, meaning that I better move my nice butt and get those tanned legs running a bit faster to get under 45minutes (yes, I know I know. 45minutes is the FASTEST to be run today, but if that is possible to be slightly under, that would boost a bit the confidence on the return to training done during the past 1.5month). Passing 2 guys, seeing one guy stopping at the first time mat. The clock indicated 4:44:09. Don’t stop. Running to the second mat. Stopping the watch. 44:19 (44:20 on the watch). I’M HAPPY J (and tired…).
Medaille, banana, milkshake (disgusting btw…), 2 chocolate cakes and a laaaaaarge water glass. Congrats to Sara, walking a bit around, seeing guys laying down on the grass ready to pass-out. Feeling indecently fine after having run 10km. Probably could have run longer, but not faster. Definitely needed to have this 5-7km warmup before next 10K! Meeting Lennart (45:xx), then Tricky (45:xx). Winning a sun-chair on my BIB-number, taking pics of me and my clubb buddies and after some chitchat heading to the pool for shower and change. Skipping the sauna however (even though it would have been nice). Final result are given, podium for Sara (2) and R (1). No win at the lottery for a brand new car. Bye to Tricky and his friend and to Lennart. Time to get my train back home.
Nice Saturday outing!
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Weather: 19ºC, feels like 19ºC, 16km7h WNW wind, Humidity 56% – cannot complain on the sun, but the wind was annoying from time to time and nice to have in other time. Would have greatly appreciated MORE shower on the road (and maybe one extra water station?)
Food: Grahamsprridge + banana+ oat milk @10am, 0,5 little bag of gummy bear in the train at 1pm, 1banana + water + 1 milkshake + 2 kex after the race (and the 6 gummy bears left J).
During: 2 dextrosol @km2-6-8
Gear: ADIDAS Supernova blue line, MIK singlet white, mp3, fast flying shoes J
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Adios Boost – Orange – liiiiiking them!
16/ First km was the fastest and almost the easiest of all the race. Effortwise it was not for the body to run but to the brain to convinced itself that it could actually lead the body to the end at the decided pace. And necessarily (?) fights for NOT stopping. Weather was probably playing a bit on this, but have been able to run faster and under worse/warmer conditions. So let’s face it, this was a tempo training workout and good test for how the form is right now. (Although the 5km ran last week at 4:25 felt way lighter and easier that any of the km of today’s race. So this was not really a 4:30-day maybe)
NOTE: left foot? All good during the race. No problem, no screaming, no complain. Felt a little after the race in the BGS when walking to the train station.but not much really.
NOTE: left knee and hip? WHY are they complaining during training and just shut up during races??? All fine.
NOTE: Good training race. Top shape is not there yet and have anyway a few weeks to get there. Nothing really to complain about. Back to training since 1.5month and no real speed training so far. And not much in the stomach since the morning ( I know how to prepare for a 42km race and most of the time struggle before a 10K…) Nope, this race was a very good training. Especially as 10K ain’t my favourite distance. Body felt all ok after drinking half-glass of water after the arrival. Should have run more after the race to get some miles under my feet…
First race since a while and a good day under the sun!
Happy finisher 🙂
Race Report – Midnattsloppet – 2014 – 2014/08/23
Planned: 10K as temporun – training race
Actual: 10K @42:53 🙂 – place 18 all women (11th at the finish line), 4th in age category
Not the easiest/flattest/lightest of the route…. Got the kicks and rehab done in the morning. Spend the day wandering around and rush at the end to get prepared. Porridge around 7:00pm and shower to get ready at 8:15pm… Not too great preps this time. Got to set the hair up, prepared the shoes and double-checked the watch and the chip on the shoes. All set. Ran easy to the start using the last slope and final 1.5km of the route 🙂 Fun to see people cheering already, one saying that the first runner was already passing by (he he he, I wish!). Saw the final preparations for limiting the road and noted the wind in the final street… Fortunately the rain was not there. Had been raining cats&dogs a couple of time during the day, but now it was just lightly windy. Arrived 8:45pm at the start, figured out where the start 1A was (nothing looks the same when it is dark!), got a stop to the loo and…. Started to wait. Having friends meeting at the tram stop at 9pm I decided to go and check them out. Nice to meet a talk a bit before the race. Met Lennart as well from the club and then it was already 9:08pm…Maybe should try this thing called “warm-up”… Left with all the best luck and smiles and off to the start. Met Maria B (Hälle IF) warming up. This is her who won at Kungsbacka vintermilen last year J A few accelerations in the dark, found my plastic bag cover I had hidden behind a tree and then started the wait for the start…among the coolest gang of elite runners J Felt a bit misplaced, but what the heck… I did qualify for starting there (even if I am probably and by far the slowest of the group on a 10K 😛 ). And almost 5minutes to start aaaaand the heavy rain started to fall on us like crazy. Yeaaaah! Fourth time I run this race and everytime it has been a wet start. As long as the start is not delayed this year I think… right when the speaker announces that we have a 5minutes delay for the start… Can definitely see that HE is under cover when WE are under the rain… Not many smiles from the runners around me, I can tell. Doing a bit of jumping, moving a bit, smiling to the guys around me (and yes…the “misplaced” feeling does increase then!). When hearing 10 seconds to start… REALLY?!?!? Cannot he announce a countdown like…1 minute to start…30sec… and he even shout in the speaker “TWO SECONDS TO START”…
9:35pm – Start it is! Rushing as fast I can in the dark and I just see a thundering yellow on my right and a thundering green/black on my left. And off we went. Nice that the rain had kindly stopped before the start. We run onto a close to pitch black street and then turn and up the little slope. A wave of men with fucshia tshirts just burst passed me (the tshirt colour is the chosen one for this year’s race and all runners are to wear it – apart from elite who may if they want or choose to run in their club’s colours…which I chose 🙂 White singlet, black Moremiles shorts, black arm sleeves and Adidas Adizero Adios Boost Orange. A fast-like outfit :)). Back to the race. The long first straight line is going fine, tricky to check the pace as it is dark out there. Turning up right and then right again to reach km1. Lots of beeping on the first control matt… to start hearing cursing guys all around. So I lift my eyes from my feet (don’t want to walk on something or water or whatever and fall!) and see…small white plastic hurdles ahead of us!!!! WHAT IS THIS?!?!? All are rushing on the left of those…which is a VERY wet grass and then for the final 2-3 then most are running above those “plastic tubes” on the ground…which I decide to do…forgetting that I am probably 2m smaller than most of the guys here and then I actually have to JUMP (!?!?!) above those hurdles and on the last one, my foot step on something which is under the white plastic stuff and the left ankle shouted a bit. NOT A HAPPY ME then. (and no cursing from my side, but definitely not happy)… and it is only km1!!!! Continued the run and then left and it is downhill. Nice with some cheering (WOW, people came despite the rain!!!). and at the end of the street… a giant disco bowl is hanging high in the air…and all the floor is actually turning and bouncing and I already feel sick…like sea-sick! And it is the turning right then and thanks! The street-lights are back and normal after that! Straight and easy, if the first km went sub4, the second one will be far from it. But who cares? Nice and easy to km3. Had been passed by 2 women by now (all the elites are far away now…). I got a nice rhythm and let all the guys passing by. Feels like a marathon start. All are rushing, but I know there are 42km to go… Let’s them rush… Until the brain is waking up around km3 and remember it is only 10K to run this evening. Anyhow, the light fake slope to km4 is heavier that before. Nice to have no wind and no rain though. Reaching the water-station and taking an energy drink. Dropping half on the nice guy giving it to me and then just rinsing my mouth with the rest left and spotting out the whole thing (disgusting taste!). Getting back to the run and hearing MW cheering on the side (yes, I will try to catch up with #22 and see if he (?) is cute!) and the new slope is arriving. Nice and easy, easier than during training actually. The turn to km5 is great with music and hearing someone shouting my name is even better! Twice in less of a km 😛 Passing the 5K in 21:06. D*mn…. 6seconds slower than I wished… But continuing.
The first half was easy-peasy really. Passing a bunch of guys on the way to the slope. A bit of cheering from Magnus from the club (thanks!) and then just taking 2 dextrosol at km6 more for the fun of it (?!?!?) than because it is needed. The first slope feels a bit heavy but once again, being a female in the middle of males does call for some cheering. Which I get and thanks for it! Tricky to see who is cheering because it is SO dark. Anyhow, the scary hill to the first church is soon there and still not seeing the first elites passing… Yeaaaaah! I am not THAT slow anyway 🙂 Starting then the uphill and after the first turn, I see the first male runner crazily running downhill…closely followed by the other elites…and here came the first female runner and all others after… Just continuing listening to the cheer-leaders to the way up. Yes, I know I am almost on the top and some are slowing down…which makes me accelerating a bit (kind of). Have no clue of my pace by now. Just feeling all ok – training-like. Have seen Maria B going down on my way up. So I estimate she is 1km or so ahead of me… Sounds like a sub40 to me… Passing km7 and then turning around Masthuggetskyrkan…to get stopped almost by all the guys taking water or sport-drink at the station, trickily placed JUST after a turn and in the downhill on the other side of the Church 😦 And it is to bite it a bit, headwind for a short while and time to rush down. WHY ARE YOU SLOWING DOWN GUYS?!?!? I have to cut a bit on the left side for passing guys slowing down in the downhill… Not a chance I do that. I know how fast it can be taken. Down down down and fast fast fast. Not seeing anybody really on the way down, just passing people. And turning left to the next downhill… this one we have to run it on the pavement (which I think was stupid, because the street is much less slippery-like than the pavement…but I am not the one arranging the race…). And it is just fast and faster and almost fastest 🙂 It is now less than 2km and it is going nicely fast (not race-like fast, but good enough for today). Passing Andrej who is cheering my name (thanks!) and here comes the first of my best fans G parking on his kickboard and shouting to keep the pace up and all will be good J More of my name in the same street and then the final right turn towards the soon-to-come Church slope. Hearing a functionary cheering that I took the slope quite nicely earlier the first time (i.e. on my way to the start) so I just have to do the same now! Cool to be recognized in the dark! (then I remember I have my club outfit and not a fuchsia tshirt. Difficult to hide…). And the heavy(est) part of the race starts…almost; G has made it to the start of the hill for more cheering..Can’t let him down really! So rushing a bit more (ok, I noticed that I take smaller steps AND looking at my shoes then…) and seeing E&T on the right side…OF COURSE I am making a short curve out for some high-five J And a smile (as if it is not painful…). Passing the music band (sorry, did not noticed what it was for music…to concentrated on NOT stopping and walking). Now it is only a few meters to the end of this *#%!& hill and to the almost-final street. Not too many stopping, but several slowing down here – as expected. Gosh, this is heavy with those small slopes here and there. Getting to km9 and I am just dead tired… but ONE km is left. Just have to rush with the wave of guys around me…some just waking up at this moment…I am waiting for reaching the next street and the little downhill… and accelerating. OK guys, WHY are you slowing down in the downhills?!?!? I jump on the pavement and run there passing probably a bunch of guys there and then of course I have to take the external side of the right curve but who cares… I am almost done! And it is just not long at all. I feel the legs are burning (this chili cream is just killing me! Never getting warm-feeling when I need it). And turning right and it is not much left. On the way up the final slope I just feel like flying. Noting a few guys and deciding they won’t finish before me. Just rushing through the crowd and accelerating, hearing the kind and happy cheering of the guys I am passing…I am on a cloud and I see that the clock is not yet to 43:xx…JUST.A.LITTLE.BIT.MORE….Aaaaand YES! It is finished. Pressing the watch on 42:51. SOOOOOO glad to have made it under 43. The plan was under 45 minutes for this route. Even I ran this race two years ago right under 44 minutes, the route this year was tougher. So sub45 was a good to have. So sub43 was definitely a happy ending… Same as usual after the finish line: Medal, banana, water, cheering from guys around me (fun to hear one saying “I thought I could beat you but you were to strong at the end. How are you doing that?” J and another one just hugging me for the fun of running passed him (Hmmm OK, then!)). After that, just turn back and got more water and then pressed saved on my watch and started again the clock for running back home. Easy peasy pace. Ready for running 3 times the distance already run…. Yapp, have to work on the “being-tired-at-the-end-of-a-10K-race”.
Official time: 42:53
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Weather: 12ºC, Feels like 12ºC, 8 km/h SSW wind, Humidity 88% (form Garmin). Nice in the air at start, heavy rain for 5minutes before the delayed start (just to make us wet?!?!? Is that part of the plan?), dark in the skies
Food: Grahamsporridge + banana+soymilk @7:00pm, 2 bananas + water right after the race, risotto+Italian sausage 1.5hr after
During: Dextrosol 2@km2&6 (most to wake up…) and mouth-rinsing with sport-drink
Gear: Moremiles short shorts (3), MIK white singlet, black arm sleeves. Real nice to have the arm sleeves when it rained before the start. Might have been a bit chilly otherwise. Shoes were nice and well-suiting…and fast J
Shoes: ADIDAS Adizero Adios Boost – Orange
14/ tricky again to set an effort on this one. Definitely above the normal-workout-effort, but not much more. Of course a bit higher on the way up to the church, definitely a 15 for the last Church 250m-slope, but despite the final 300/400m being fast, the effort then was not more than strong 13. Just running on adrenaline and happiness by then! J
Knee pain: 0/5 – YIPPIE! All good. The body felt all fine and ready for running.
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NOTE: One more good training race. Better shape that in the previous 10K-race, feeling good just. Once again could the preparations be a bit better (like shower and clothing 45minutes before the start was maybe a liiiittle late for concentration or so…). Warm-up was a little better this time, but could have definitely run 3 more km for being really warm before start. Should have kept my plastic cover on before the start to skip being all wet…. Good to have skipped the music in the ears (dangerous in the dark and in a race!). Great with so many people running as it gave a lot of pull at the end and through the race (well, did not use it during the race, but definitely at the end!)
NOTE: Running in the dark is fun, but racing in the dark ain’t my favorite and far from it. Especially when raining and slippery. Really dangerous I think. Have not fallen, but the ankle slip of the km1 made me a bit scared for the rest of the run… All went fine though.
NOTE: The pre-run done yesterday was on heavy/tired legs and it might have been this during the race as well. No excuse. Just checking how the legs are lately. Probably some rest to plan within short…
Race Report – Musselloppet – 2014/08/02
Planned: 10K as temporun – training race to test the knee and the form
Actual: 44:47 🙂 11th place women elite, 69th place total.
A bit of fun under the sun and definitely a good check for the knee 🙂
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Surely not the optimal preparations… Up early thanks to the seagulls, got the kicks, core and rehab out of the way in the morning already. A short walk to wake up the legs and then ate porridge around 11am before leaving with Lennart around 11:30am to the race… So far, so good 🙂
The car drive should have brought us to the race area 2 hours before start but due to ferry issues we arrived 10 minutes (!!!) before start (having with us Adam and his mum who needed a ride to the start as their car was still waiting on the other side…). No need to say that it had been a GREAT move to change to running gear while waiting for the ferry… On with the BIB and the chip on the shoe, run to the loo (for once no queue at the ladies…) and then 400m running back&forth rubbish warmup. Fortunately the start was delayed 5minutes to allow other runners blocked by the ferry to arrive and join the race…
Hi to Mattis and placed myself at the first row (surprisingly mostly femal runners there…for once?!)
15:10 – Start was given and got directly an elbow kick on my front arm, which will hurt throughout the race and even after:( First 100m (?) on track with lots dust and a bit of pushing before leaving the arena and arriving on the first little downhill along the sea. Not much fun to run on unstable ground, with stones and shortly after the first hilly part. Taken running…
Then reaching the street (Yeah! asphalt…) and downhill along the sea. Reaching km2 or so and the second hill (pretty easy at sight, but so early in the race it just KILLS the legs. Taken running though). Turn left and got to the street with lots of supporting people. Not feeling to fun to run, a bit too fast. Downhill light and easy after that. Following a guy since km2 and it feels good because when turning left along the sea side after 2.5km, there is a light headwind and I just hide myself RIGHT behind him. Cannot hear my breathing as I listen to music, but hope it is not too heavy and loud so the guy would continue this way.
First water station right after km3. One glass for the head and the second one, a bit unsure if I drank at all, but threw some on the legs and knees, pretty hot already. Felt nice. Then continuing the run on small stones street… Yeah…NOT! 😦 really careful not to fall there. Still side by side with the same guy. Asphalt is back and NOPE! no straight line along the harbour, but a killer of turn right and left and left again… Yoouhou! Almost 4km…Aaaaaand nooooo! the crazy-killer hill arrives. Good I knew it was there from Lennart, but seriously not expecting this steep! Run almost all the way up (or 2/3?) and then walk. I know there is still one lap to go and now I know where it is gonna be painful (OR really painful…). By the time I reach the top, there is still a little more uphill on terrain before getting the last km before the arena. Pretty steep downhill there, catching up with the guys who passed me on the way up. Noticing how much is left to run around the arena before getting to the end. Running a bit heavy along the wall, getting some cheering from Adam’s mum and into the arena and the track… Rubbish first 5km, don’t like to run on this dusty track either…and WHERE IS THE WATER?!?!? Oooohhh, ok, on the other side of the track. Same procedure: 1 glass on the head and half-one in the mouth.
Second lap is crazy slow. First km exiting the arena is possibly (?) 30 seconds slower than during the first lap…but reaching the first hill is killing me already. So either stopping or walking the last half…which I choose to do. Enjoying the run downhill and on the harbour side. No chance for a nice time on this race, so as good to stop at the maximum of kids asking for high-5! At least it gives a smile for the rest of the run! And here comes the second hill. This one I don’t even think and walk it from start to the top. Not many passing me by now. Have lost my guy in dark red singlet from the first lap, following now a topless guy with his tshirt and BIB in his hand. Seems a bit hard to run, but he has a pace I can follow… Nice street with all supporting people. By this moment my mp3 decides to die completely (apparently not being waterproof…did not really like I passed under water sprinklers and throw water on my head). Got the idea to put it in my side pocket of the shorts, but nothing is more difficult and tricky than this!!! So all ends in the sport-bra and hopping it won’t burn the skin. Downhill from km7 looks to be painful for most of the runners around me. Despite the pain, takes the 3 last Dextrosol I have, hoping it will clear my head at least, turn left to the sea side. Trying to get our GV-trainer with me until the end, but he seems a bit tired. Catching up with a few guys then and it is time for water-station again (one on the head and half-one in the mouth). This time it gives extra strength though. ONLY 3km to go. Piece of cake (under hot sun!!!) Same however when arriving along the harbour (WHY ON EARTH CAN’T WE SKIP THE TURN RIGHT/LEFT/LEFT AND JUST TAKE STRAIGHT TO THE KILLER HILL?!?!?). Crazy enough by now, have been asking two kids to join the run, forcing (?) people to clap louder because I could not hear them and of course all this with still (!!!) a smile on the face. The killer hill is definitely of its own kind: NOT A CHANCE I am running it. Walking from start this one, having 3 courageous guys passing me on the way up. By the time the hill is finished I start again and catch up with them surely less than 100m after that. Then it is just less than 1km to go, passing 4 guys on the top of the hill, 1 on the way down and 1 on the side of the arena. Just not willing to let a gal passing me…The final downhill is taken (I think) way faster than during the first lap, because not fearing to be in pain then (well, might be hurting AFTER the race, but at least the race is finished I thought!). 42:XX and I am still outside the arena… Pushing a bit extra and really thinking that they must have increased the distance outside the arena between the first lap and the second lap (yap, thanks to extra dextrosol I REALLY do think clear by now!). Final 150m on the track. No chance to get the guy ahead of me, but hearing the cheering and the speaker saying my name give an extra kick (and a bit of shouting when passing the clock under 45minutes…).
Medaille, banana, thanks from the dark red singlet first lap guy, congrats to a few runners and then heading to the water station. Talk with Mattis (42:xx), two glass of water, than Lennart (47:xx) and then pick up the bag, shower, final results and heading to restaurant for large hamburger with bacon and french fries with a coke. Happy to have been running today!
Weather-wise it showed 26-27ºC… not much wind as expected, not crazy hot neither but far from optimal… The race was far from effortless, but with all the walking it went fine. Most of the effort was not much in the running but in the convincing that it was nice to run this race under the sun and with all those hills! Definitely easier to run the last 3 marathons than this 10K race…
The great part was that there was NO pain in the knee 🙂 Not a word throughout the race, nor after. So surely fine for a training race, not in top shape, although should consider 1) stress for coming 10min before start, 2) warmup can be considered as non-existent, 3) pretty warm and not much water-station and 4) counted on my mp3 to drag me during the last 2-3km but it unfortunately died before… and by then there were nobody to pull me to the end!
Musselloppet 🙂
Race report – III Subida a la Cruz de Benidorm – 2014/05/04
Planned: 10km race in training mode
Actual: 44:37 (1st place women & Veteran A category) – Happy? Very!
Great and fun race under the sun! B)
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Quiet and still asleep city. Tricky to find the start, but saw a guy with “triathlo club” on his T-shirt and thought he must be there for the race as well… So followed him 🙂 1.5km later we reached the start. They were putting all in place. Registered on place with the translation help from a volunteer. And it was 1hr to start… Sunny and warm, got an easy 2km warm-up and few accelerations before start. Less then 10 minutes before start, decided to skip my singlet. Sport-bra is good enough for Dubai runs in January, or April runs in Sweden, so it would do for May race in Spain!
Lined up in the front, until two guys stepped before me (I passed one at km7 and the other guy got in top ten…). And PANG! Start and confetti rain! Lost the woman standing by my side before start already after 30-40m, so headed with the hungry blocks in front of me! Wow! So fast start (down a slope) and towards the beach. Got to run with another gal for a few meters before km1 and then no more woman. Took the side of a Spanish guy with caps. Good rhythm and this race was planned as training. Knowing there was a hill to run up somewhere, would definitely not aim for a PB whatsoever. Just fun (& sunshine!). The 3 first km went smoothly around 4min/km and THEN the “slope” started. Got the running continuing for a while during km4, encouraging my running mate and getting some “vamos, vamos” back. Not many passing us… I thought this km was slow… Saw above us where the other runners were disappearing in a snake-like road towards the top.of.the.hill!!! Km5 got so crazy-tired-snail-pace-slow, lots of walking, lots of “Vamos, Vamos”… Passing a guy in orange T-shirt a couple of times during those 2km upwards and he passed me back. He did lots of walking as well 🙂
Got to understand by then I was at first position for the women (“la primera de las chicas“). Passed the walkers of the “walk race” who started 30minutes before us. What a sight to see all the guys running down, got some extra strength when recognising some who were not too much before me on the way up…meaning the turn back was close. So many cheering by the guys, filled my heart with warmth and would have hoped my feet would feel lighter 😉 Grabbed a bottle of water, turned, drank and that was it!!! Half way and no more climbing! Ran down the hill from this point (sorry: flew down the hill!!! Got two km @3:32 & 3:35 which are my best km ever run and all in my mind was “don’t fall-don’t fall…). From km6 I got the great honor to be escorted by a lady police on motorcycle, telling me she will take la “primera de las chicas” until the finish line 🙂 WOW! THAT was cool! Km7 was reached and now back to the beach side. Not many people cheering apart from when passing as 1) the police made loads of noise for it and 2) they understand I had the first place 🙂 Thanks for the extra applauds! Got a bit tired to run the race on the beach side, was a bit boring, but the objective in my mind became to pass one of the guys ahead of me before the finish line 🙂 Got to pass 4 of them and met again one of the guys (the orange T-shirt guy) with who I ran up the hill. He encouraged all the way at the end, ran by my side and kindly pushed me on the little slope towards the finish line. He also stepped little back behind me, lifted my hand to show I had the first place and I got to run through those banners (?) and got a confetti rain on me 🙂 yap! First place!
Not sure what I got after the race, hugs from my helper, and other runners who had cheered during the race, coca cola+orange, got goodie bag, ten minutes massage and two trophies (1st place race, 1st place category veteran A).
The time 44:37 ain’t fabulous. BUT considering it is a training fun race, it was crazy hilly 2km, I had my “heavy” shoes and for the fun just to run, I am so happy to have done this race! Great organisation, the route was not easy but actually fun to run (& walk), the runners were very kind with me on the way up and the way down 🙂 all good!
And I know what to train would I ever run this race again!!!!
Got a huge fruit basket as well and it was time to get back home. Tram for 70minutes, changed to beach-gear and off to get some tan and relax close to the sea. Yes, a book did follow, but after one chapter I fell asleep. Few hours later, more sun cream and turns to get a regular tan 🙂 it was time for getting home. Same procedure: shower, after-sun cream, pasta with tuna and clamps and ready for bed after little reading…
Nice way to end the week!
Race Report – Sylvesterloppet 2013/12/31
Planned: under 42 (training reference also done last week on heavy legs)
Actual: 40:17 for 10km
place: 9th 🙂
BEFORE THE RACE
Good night’s sleep, waking up fully rested and happy, so yes, I thought, it could work with a race today. Had to refrain myself for not going out for a short run right after going up @7:30am. Had checked the time and information yesterday (late!) and all should work. Got breakfast ready for myself (porridge with banana, kiwi, blueberry, cranberries and joggiberries). Felt a bit heavy on the stomach but by the time of the race it should be fine. Got my water drinking started and prepared breakfast for the small ones. Showered and getting ready for the race, still undecided for what gear to have. Looking like 5ºC, no rain but windy. Aimed for ¾ tight, long compression socks, SF long sleeves, neck warmer, bonnet and wind-jacket (and of course wind-gloves). For once (!) did not take an extra change in the bag to the race. This is the usual outfit I have had the latest weeks, so should work. Finalized the sandwiches and warm chocolate to take with us and then direction the tram. Of course (!) forgot my banana at home so a short stop to buy one as well as getting the tram cards charged and taking some Dextrosol. Finally at the area of Start/Departure, was a bit surprised that it was still starting to prepare. 10:30am we reached the Tennis hall for late registration. No queue… And then it was just to wait. Got a visit to the ladies room (no queue there neither). By 11am, people started to fill in the Tennis Hall and the queues to the loo was getting longer and longer…. Attached my BIB on my wind-jacket and continue to lay down on the floor resting a bit and eating my banana. Change of shoes and getting ready for a warm-up. Had to find an alternative solution for the ladies’room so ran easy to the Max restaurant close-by, stayed there as well a short short while as it was nice and warm inside and then off I left for a quick warmup. Music set to the “Go-list” of my 10K-tempo from last week. Should I hear all the songs on the Go-list just once, I should be under 42 minutes…I think… Getting warmed up easily, doing a few accelerations, feeling a bit ache in the backside of the left thigh… all as it should be, right? 🙂 11:47am, seeing a crowd already at the starting line, deciding it will be too much with the wind-jacket, so plan-B it is. Off with the jacket (and no, it is not THAT easy and fast to take off the wind-gloves, off with the BIB, take off the jacket, and yes, forgetting the watch on the left arm, taking off the watch, off with the jacket, and yes forgetting the mp3 in the right pocket, off with it and finally setting the BIB on the long sleeves sweater…). Looking for my cheering squad for dropping my jacket. Meeting “Tricky” at the same time I see them 🙂 Cool, double-cheering squad in place and got some lucky hugs as well! Taking place on the front line (sounds like we’re gonna be shot…) as being under 42minutes and being a woman, I can take place in the Elite group (cool!). And meeting Johan P as well on this line (Wow, now it feels not too right to be here, because all around ARE very fast-looking…). Anyway, promised my cheering quad I will be at this place 🙂
The RACE
Listening to the two girls singing and the guy with the mic finally stopped talking and it is … 10 SECONDS to start! (How did the time pass so fast? Two seconds ago we had 1,5 hour left before start…). And hop! It is the start. Feeling a push from behind, but gentle and no elbow-runner in sight. Starting my watch slightly before passing the mat but that’s ok. And it is a wave of fast runners I am in. Seeing few females passing by… Not my category! No need to stress out 🙂 One turn, two turn and it is already windy (wonderful!…). Passed by 3 more women, recognizing the one who won Sävedalsloppet in October. If I have her in sight, should be close to 39minutes 🙂 Then turning once more into the Aveny. Nice to have people cheering there. Have finally started my mp3 and the rhythm is perfect for the start. Good feeling, no more no less. Aaaaaand a new turn, have passed the 1st km in 3:52 (watch and km-sign are matching perfectly!). All the fastest run in the beginning is some time won when it will start hurting, I think… Great, already such thoughts! Up to km2 I follow a guy who has a good step and corresponding to mine. Will soon reach the place with head-wind so as good to get a good pace now. Have to drop this guy because he is slowing down 😦 Finding two other ones which is a bless as it is pretty windy in this short first part. Turning once more, no more wind so accelerating (I think?) then on the way back…WHERE IS THE TAIL WIND???? Following closely my two guys because after the bridge I expect to need their help as wind-shield (and with my height, it is not too easy to follow one giant probably 1.90m and another one 1.80m… in short: our steps do not quite match…and I have to get faster than I think I should. After km4 it gets better and I am seriously bored to see two backs. So screw the wind and get alone on the side instead… Get into a group of 5 (guys of course, because the last two women I saw passed me around km 2.5). Their pace is fine so getting along for a km or so and then turning towards… the finish line (well, actually there is one more lap to go…). Km5 I decided to drop my gloves and bonnet to my cheering squad at the water-station (plan B being to throw it to the nice people helping at the water-station and picking this up after the arrival…). Lots of high-five done between km5 and 6 🙂 Nice as well with so many people cheering (although I do not hear anything because of the music in my ear… Not good :(. Aaaand here I see them, my own personal cheering squad, exactly where they said they will be. High-five the first one, drop the bonnet and gloves to the second one and throw a smile to the third one… Water-station? What water-station? Dropped the first mug as it is energy drink and the water mug is too full and most of it is dropped on the pavement… Yapp, drinking technique should be revised (at least at this pace…). Passing km6 and back to the second lap. Difficult to get the back of someone as not many are passing me now. So decided to push a little bit more to get to the guys in front of me….JUST when reaching the windy part. Yippie…NOT! Biting the lips for the end to reach km7 and turn to no-wind-street and to another-no-wind-street and one more. Definitely tired by now, cramp-feeling in the backside of the left thigh since a while (just hoping it is not a strain…). Have noted a female runner passing the bridge maybe 10seconds before me. Making my goal to minimize the time difference with this one if this is the last thing I do! Back on the bridge and this is the final 2km with full head-wind…Yoooohoo! This time I push to get the four guys in line ahead of me as wind-shield, but once again, I feel a bit slowing down, so take a step aside and pass them by the time we reach the turn to the next no-wind-street. Choose three new guys in front of me and trying to have them pulling me a bit, but only one is doing this properly (!). Reaching the female runner and now I think carefully whether I should pass her now, a bit more than 1km left and risking to be used as a pulling force for her, OR staying right behind, having her to pull me and then pacing up at the end… Nope, not a chance I am slowing down, because now I see that the 40minutes limit is actually still at reach or quite close to. So passing the girl and for the final longest-300m-of-my-life, I change back the music to the first song as the pace is perfect for this. Pushing until it actually hurts this time in the back of the thigh, but seriously, 300m…! Nice to arrive in a wave of people, once again just seeing them and not hearing them (have to check this volume thing on my mp3). Getting the largest smile from Tricky right close to the end, seeing the clock passing 40minutes, but who cares? If the girl I passed a while ago was 10th, that means I am 10th now 🙂 Aaaand stop the watch at 40minutes 20. Getting my cheering squad smiling and really satisfied of my performance… Cool!
=> official time: 40:17 – place 9
Right after the race (+ one banana, two energy drink mug and water 🙂
Weather: 7ºC, Feels like 3ºC, 26 km/h SSW wind, Humidity 81% – real nice in the air, strong wind some times, humidity? Dono… Even sunny some timesGood anyway to have trained lately by all type of weather!
Food: before banana (1hr before) // right after (within 30/40min): 2 mugs of water + 3 mugs of energy drink + 1 banana + a few spoons of rice porridge/blueberry // during: 2 Dextrosol @km2 & 8km – after 2hrs (a bit too heavy after the race maybe): hamburger meal with cheering squad
Gear: ASICS ¾ shirts, compression socks, SF long sleeves, tiger neck warmer, purple bonnet, wind-gloves – shoes felt nice and light. Had a plaster on left ankle not to risk a blister, but took probably 1km before it started to move under the sock 😦
> Good move to have skipped the wind jacket and dropped the bonnet and gloves after half-way. Could have done well with shorter shorts as well and regular running socks as it felt a bit warm throughout the race
16/ OK, effortless it was not. Strangely the main effort was due to the pain in the backside of the left thigh. Without this one, I might have pushed a bit more. But having a race in less than a month, this was not worth it. Better have it slower today, than faster and painful afterwards and for long… Definitely more to train for a 10K… Still tricky to pace this race as 1) there was not a female runner in sight and 2) the male runners are still tricky to pace because they tend to accelerate when a female is passing them.. Once again, within a few minutes after arrival, had gotten the strength back (at least some of them). Still needed some stretching for the thighs (backside)
NOTE: Once again nice to meet jogg-buddies and above all having personal cheering-squad there is priceless 🙂 (especially when they had made the effort to count all the female runners arriving before me to announce that no need to bother the time…I was in the 10 first 🙂 )
AFTER THE RACE:
Walking to get banana, chocolate cookie, rice porridge, water, energy drink and medals. Changing to dry clothes (yes, it was cold outside but after a 10K the body feels extremely hot!…then the cold starts to bite!). E checked that I had to go back to the Tennis Hall to get my price so we did. Checked online the result and got my official time finally. Waited a bit for the price distribution and then got to Max for a hamburger meal. Back home, getting ready for New Year cosy evening, watching the early firework (5pm here…) and then the day is soon to finish as well as the year.
NOTE: For an unplanned race, on a non-preferred distance, after several weeks of hard training and higher volume… could not be more happy for completing this racing year 2013!
NOTE: changed down from 17 to 16 the effort level after discussing with cheering squad. Yes, I was short on breath at the finish line but had just done a real fast last 500/100m… but seriously had a controlled pace throughout the race (yes, it was fast and it was some effort, but to reach 17 “high effort”? don’t think so. Took 2-3 minutes to recover afterwards…
NOTE: HR-curves looked out of its mind once again… Yellow dosa… training effect 2.5… time to increase the pace, difficulty and effort delivered according to my Garmin!!!
10 first female runners 🙂
Race Report – Åsaloppet 2013/07/06
Planned: under 41:51 and try towards sub41.
Actual: 41:09 (1 sec faster than Garmin shows!) for 10km => new PB!
place: 9 out of 100(?)
BEFORE THE RACE
As the race was in the beginning of the afternoon, there was no rush really. Up around 6:20am without the alarm. Well-rested? A bit unsure as the hamstring was making itself reminded as soon as I lay down. But in a good mood definitely! Sun shining outside. Up and started to prepare the lunch boxes for GE. Then shower and preparing the hair 🙂 Time for breakfast, cereals+sesame+chocolate and oatmilk. Drink not a looooot of water, but enough to skip de-hydratation as the day is planned to be hot…Packing all the gear for me and GE. A bit unsure for the shoes, so took both my ASIC Skyspeed and my Saucony Kinvara. The choice would be done on site. ADIDAS supernova shorts from Boston marathon and for singlet I took both my NY marathon singlet and MIK singlet. The problem with the latter one (i.e. the one of my club) is that it is too long. Once again, the choice would be done later. All packing done, missed the first tram so walked to pick up the car and get GE and on the way. Really nice and sunny, a perfect beach day… but no, some 300+ (?) would be running today in Åsa! Easy drive and parking. Pick-up of the BIBs, setup on G&E as their race was earlier than mine. Got time to see & encourage them, chat with our club responsible and a few other people I knew and then time for the choice: it ended with ASICS Skyspeed 2 and no singlet. Too much sun and in such conditions I would be taking off my tshirt during training so it would be similar for a race. Attaching the BIB on my top ain’t to fun as I hope it won’t burn me. Anyway, took time for an easy warmup: 2km with accelerations during the last 5/700m. Last stop to the ladiesroom and time to line up. 5Minutes to the start, noticing the stars of the race (among others Musse, our fastest Swedish man on marathon distance, as well as pretty fast runners – you notice it just by their look…). Set my watch to 4:06. Ain’t feeling the sub40 is in the air, so touching the 41min would be nice 🙂
The RACE
Not really possible to place myself close to the first line at start, but honestly, I rather not. Seeing the people on this line, it is not my category! Tricky start as it is directly a turn right and then a straight line and then a turn left. Reaching the first km mark but my watch is showing 870m or so, when it beep 1km, the pace is at 3:55. Noticed the first 5/600m were way under 3:45/min… Definitely too fast and a bit dum, but not really possible to do anything else with all the runners pushing behind. Up to the first 2km it was headwind and I tried to get some backs in front of me to get a better pace. But when arriving at the km2, the fast group had disappeared and the ones around me would be quite close throughout the race more or less.
The start pace was way too fast and I needed not really to slow down, but the body adapted to a better pace, which was slower than I planned. The little slope up around km2 ain’t too fun and I recall it from last year. But this year, easier to climb (but still not easy). Not much shadow until this part and that was nice with trees close to the road so could get not that hot. Had from km2.5 a woman in red singlet who had quite a nice pace so decided to keep up with her (which I did until the end). In the downhills, the surprising was to see the female runners accelerating and the male runners slowing down. All-in-all it was equal results when we reach the flat parts, but noticeable. Got a nice shower under a waterhose, got not too much water to drink at the water station as I threw it on me and on my head. The water station was a little too short and did not have time to get back and get more water… Up to km5, it felt really that lots of effort was put on the race. From km3mark, I clicked on my watch for the lap, as to get them better sync. It ended that most of the “km” were shorter and the last one was… well, I am not there yet. Back to km5, I took 2 Dextrosol tablets, but difficult to get them down as I was really thirsty… Km4 once again like last year went pretty slow, but cannot recall why… Felt a bit stressed by seeing so strange pace on my watch so kept the pace from the lady in red singlet instead. Passing km5-mark in 20:01, which felt good, although felt a bit too fast (best 5K was achieved in training not that long ago and it was 20:21…and the feeling was definitely better than today!).
From km5 to 7, there was a group of younger guys running ahead of us as well as one more female runner (grey (?) singlet). Those guys ran making the race looking so easy and cool, which was very disconcerting for my little brain which was really fighting for continuing. I would not have stopped, although the idea crossed my mind 4 times during the race, but I definitely considered running slower. But something happens from km6 onwards as it is now counting down in my head for real, trying to match to distance I can remember. The sun was pretty hot, and a few more showers on the route would have been HIGHLY appreciated… Missed to drink at the second water-station and this was not good really. Arrived on the seaside, with more gravel or sand or stones, whatever but not asphalt… Not happy-me, really! Two of the guys are now left behind and one is having a pretty nice pace (looking at the pace here…) and I decided to keep behind him as long as possible. Cannot have been fun for him to hear me struggling with the breathing for a long while… The lady in red is now behind me and the one in grey as well. Not feeling too good about this as I am expecting them to pass me in the last minute. Reaching km9 and really, same feeling as last year: can it be ONLY one km left? It looks like pretty long. First curve right, good feeling, legs are still fine, second curve left and third one taken pretty well. I felt the two ladies coming closer, so kept the side and push as much as I could. But the lady in grey passed me in the next left curve and the one in red a few meters after. Seriously, I tried to keep up the pace but seeing all the way that was left, was not really fun. The worth being when the watch beeped indicating the 10th km mark and obviously there was a long way left… impossible to cope and get the grey lady, but I got a few meters closer to the red ones. 40 meters before the finish line I here my cheering squad saying that I am the 8th female and that Musse has won 🙂 Crossing the finish line, stopping the watch:41:10 (official time will be 41:09) for a good distance of 10.01km (and a “final km” of 1.26km…).
Close to the finish line…
Smile on the face? For sure at the finish line. Indecent almost to say that there was lots of energy left. Definitely not for having reached a sub40 (although it was close), but for another 10km at a quite similar pace? Probably… New personal record for the 10K. Last official one was 43:31 on this same route last year (although it was then a bit less than 10K….) and inofficial one of 41:51 on the first 10K of Stockholm marathon in June. So Yippie? Yes! The route is not flat as it is advertised, there are lots of ups&downs. Surprising last year and this year as well. But better prepared!
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Weather: 19ºC, Feels like 19ºC, 14 km/h W wind, Humidity 52% – well this is what my Garmin says. Being there during the race (!) I can tell that it was way above 22ºC. Sunny like a perfect beach day and windy for some parts
Food: before banana (1hr before) // right after: 2 bananas+3 water mugs+1 snacks bag // during: 2 Dextrosol @5km – 2hrs after: 2 grilled sausages+breads+2 large sweet drink
Gear: ADIDAS Supernova Boston, SOC sport-bra, sunglasses – shoes felt great. Could not hear my feet pounding the pavement now I realize…
16/ A good 16 I believe. Unsure whether due to the sun, the too fast start, the up&downs… but effortless it was not! Once again disappointing to have energy left at the end. Although would be nice to be able to cope with this pace for one more round… A bit more work to do to get under 41 and 40…
NOTE: Really cool to meet (in such a little race) jogg-buddies as well as club-buddies and people I have met in different places 🙂
NOTE: sunny weather is truly helping! But too sunny would probably require a cap next time
NOTE: Got my cheering squad on place and this is definitely something not to be underestimated. Will probably have them in two places next year 😉
NOTE: HR pretty high from start of the race… to be concerned?
NOTE: the km-marks were not in sync with the Garmin, (and not just mine…) so lap on each mark from km3. KM10 was pretty long… (1,26km)
NOTE: 10K is very short so should have a better disposition of the energy (or rightly said: do as planned and it will be better…) Pretty tricky to get some km under 4:00 when I truly believe there was some opportunities… Next time 🙂
AFTER THE RACE:
Grilling with club-buddies, and then back home to prepare packing. Pretty tired in the legs, but realized that I have barely been sitting during all afternoon. 2 small pizza slices and later one cereals with oatmilk. Now all seems in place so time for resting. Pillow is waiting… More 10K to be run…
Malmö – 34 days to go…
Just Running Around... 