BEEP ....... BEEP ....... BEEP
What's that awful noise interrupting my sweet dreams?
Opening one eye, I checked the clock for the time, and it said 04:15! OH NO, time to get up all ready :(
A moderately early start was needed to get to the start of the Capital Peak Mega Fat --- 25K for the 08:00 start. I left the house at 05:00, picked up Eric at 05:30, picked up Shannon at 06:45, and we all arrived at the start just in time at 07:30.
A quick and easy form to fill in, pay our $3 entry fee, which we did while trying to listen to the pre race announcement, and then we stroll to the start ( 25 Yds) and next thing you know we were off. No time for messing around, or getting anxious about the task in front of us, just get ready and go.
There were about 75 to 80 of us Crazy people now running up the trail towards Capital Peak. Plenty of good natured banter as everyone found their position, passing when space allowed, people asking if those following wanted to go faster? Some did, many were happy to take pace from those in front.
I was running with Shannon, Eric was running on his own somewhere ahead of us already. In the confusion of the start I couldn?t see where Shannon had got to, but stepped aside for just a few moments, and there she was. After just 15-20 minutes the runners had already thinned out enough to allow us to settle at our own pace.
The trail continued upwards, as it would do for the next 6-7 miles until we reached the Peak. Our pace was slow and steady, running when the trail allowed, walking when it steepened. My HR was averaging 125-135, Shannon?s was much higher at 160-170.
Soon we were above the snow line. Strangely it seemed a lot warmer than when we did the same run 2 weeks ago? Maybe its just the extra energy that comes from racing, even if you are taking it real easy as we were?
We reached the Peak 1:40 minutes after starting, and topped up our water before heading of on the second leg to Camp Wedelkind. This section of the trail was supposed to be downhill, but it started with more uphill. Fortunately it soon leveled of, and started downhill, on a nice meandering trail. Just around the 3 Hour mark we arrived at the next water stop, had a quick chat with the Sherriff, and set of along the final leg back to the start.
Final leg - legs starting to ache, 7.5 miles to go, nice undulating trail, but the sheer distance covered starts to take its toll.
Winding thru the clear cut.
Disoriented, no map or compass, feels strange?
No idea how far to go
Not even sure what direction the finish is in?
Finally we can see the white tent.
And we are done in 4:33
Well done Shannon, you kept up a great pace that must have been hurting, yet didnt complain at all when I asked " are you OK to run a bit more?" Thanks for dragging me out to do this run.
Im already planning to come back in April and have another go. Now I have a time established, next time lets try and take a big chunk out of it.
Things to remember for next time?
Not much learnt from this race, I dont think I would change anything for next time, all my gear worked well.
I did have some problems with my HRM. I was using my Suunto Advizor, and I have allways had problems with the stopwatch, and it either stopping the timer while I running, or hitting the wrong button and clearing the memory. Todays problem was hitting the wrong button and clearing the memory, rather than starting a new lap for the last leg - AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGG! and plenty of other Anglo Saxon adjectives were offered up to the great gods of lost lap times :(
From memory we did the first leg to the Peak in 1:40, with an average HR around 125-135. The next leg took about 1:20. The one lap I did get for the last 7.4 miles from Wedekind to the finish showed the following stats
12.23 Above HR Zone (My HR Zone is set to 126 to 141 to keep me below my LT)
7.07 In HR Zone
1:27.29 Below HR ZOne
Average HR 116
Max HR 167 ( Mistake while HR belt slipped to low)
Min HR 86