Was back at the races yesterday with the first of a number of run races this fall. The Turkey Trot was a 10 km which started at Granville Island, went over the Burrard Street Bridge and then around False Creek back to Granville Island. And after a beautiful Saturday and Sunday, Monday, of course, brought rain.
Knowing that I had limited race fitness at this point, my plan was to take the first 3 km easy (which took me to the top of the bridge) and then start to pick it up the rest of the way.
Everything went according to plan, stayed relaxed until 3 km and then picked it up a little allowing me to pass a number of runners. Unfortunately at about the 6 km mark I hit a bit of wall (read: lack of fitness). I cramped up in my side and it was a struggle to just keep myself moving.
Luckily, a woman who I had passed at about 4 km, passed me back at 8 km and kicked me back into gear. I decided to try and stick with her and hope for the best. The best was I got back into a rhythm and tried to get back past her a couple of times only for her to fight back. I finally made the move stick with a couple hundred metres to go.
Ended up 17th in a time of 39:50. My splits…
KM Splits
| km | Split | Total | Note |
| 1 | 3:52 | 3:52 | |
| 2 | 4:01 | 7:53 | |
| 3 | 4:18 | 12:09 | Up hill to top of bridge |
| 4 | 3:46 | 15:55 | Back down |
| 5 | 3:58 | 19:53 | |
| 6 | 4:00 | 23:53 | |
| 7 | 4:03 | 27:56 | |
| 8 | 4:07 | 32:03 | |
| 9 | 3:57 | 36:00 | |
| 10 | 3:50 | 39:50 |
All in all, a good start to the fall running season. While I was off a PB by 20 seconds, it was a tough course and at a time when I’m no where near my peak running fitness.
So no where to go but up.
