Yesterday was the super fun Endless Summer 6 Hour Run - this small affair (limited to 80 runners) has the support and energy of a much larger event and was very professionally run. I want to start off with a big thank you to the race directors - Mosi Smith and Tom Dekornfeld and all the volunteers who came out on a warm day to lend their support, friendliness and enthusiasim - you guys rock! The race also benifitted the Semper Fi Fund and it's good to run for a great cause.
The race itself is held at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis and the really fun thing is getting to run past the dog parks and getting to see all pets with their families having a great time on a warm Saturday. Not to mention the deer and birds and glimpse of water - all of which lend a boost of energy to a tired mind and legs.
We arrived 6 minutes late for the start - no big deal for a 6 hour race (we thought) but by the end of the race those 6 minutes would ahve come in handy. The rules were different from last year we were told - not sure how it was set up then but the whole 6 hours counted - what you got in that time frame were your final miles for the day. This year only the miles up to your last completed loop counted so if a runner went out for one last loop and missed the final cut off those final miles would not be counted. I thought I might be able to get 8 of the 4 mile(.something) loops in within that time frame. The course itself is all on bike path with a few short and gentle hills thrown in - nothing too difficult and I set off on the first loop with Moca with a fairly easy and conservative pace. Each loop runners checked in at the start/finish and their time ws recorded - this was also the main aid station and it was fully stocked with water, Gatorade, fruit juice, fruit and all the other stuff I don't eat. There were also to mini aid stations that proved to be really handy along the way too (thanks for being out guys!) I started the second loop by myself and increased my pace - I hoped to catch up with Moca by my last loop and run it in with her but she proved to be too fast (no one wants to be lapped) and kept just ahead of my throughout. She finished with 6 loops and 24 miles for the day - great run!
I ran pretty strong and consitant throughtout and did a decent job making up those 6 lost minutes. I feel the trackwork has been paying off and felt very resiliant, especially as I did a tempo run two days before and a track workout earlier in the week. I ended the race at 29 miles (according to my Garmin) at the 5:25 mark and didn't feel like I could make the last loop in the time frame - maybe if I had those 6 minutes back - but maybe not. I did want to finish with 30 miles so after I checked out I ran another mile to even things out - since that mile was turned out to be at a 9:05 pace and I felt pretty good I immedietely regretted turning in my bib number. Maybe I could have made it. I'll find out for sure next year as this race is a keeper. Mocas's only complaint was that her long awaited Sangria turned out to be alcohol free.
So my 6 hour run turned out to be 5:34 fun filled hours. I really would have had to turn it on on tired legs to get that last loop in and I woke this morning feeling pretty good and ready to run (7.5) so I think it turned out for the best to hang back. I have North Face coming up in two weeks and plent of time to taper now after such a great run. I am definitely ready for more timed runs!
Again a big thanks to the race directors, volunteers and all the runners and their familes for coming out. It was a beautiful day!
Thanks for reading,
Eric
No comments:
Post a Comment