Total Relay Distance 182 mi in 17 hrs and 4 min (my legs totaled 14.67 in 1 hr 24 min) Friday
AM: 8am easy
run. Got about 6hrs sleep. Easy run with the team on the streets of Vegas. Then
back into the van and to the start. Once we got there my nerves were really
kicked into full gear. The racers had been starting since 9am that morning.
When I watched the 4pm group take off I started getting antsy. I still had
about 5 hrs to wait though so I was going to have to learn to cool my jets. Mi:
5-DS1 Avg: ~7:45 HR: ~140
PM: 9pm Leg
7 my first leg. I ran around the parking lot in the dark for about 2-miles. I
was very ready to go. We had gotten updates over the last few hours and there
was a team a lot closer than I would have guessed anyone would be. To make
things worse I spoke to the guy from that team that I was going to be going up
against. He asked what I was shooting for and I of course told him. Ted had me
down for 5:52 pace. The guy said he was shooting for 5:30 pace. So it was on.
James came flying in and passed the bracelet to me and I was off. My first mile
had a 183 ft climb but I still managed a 5:38. I was a little nervous about
burning out as this was my longest leg (meant to be 6.4 mi) but I didn’t want
to let the team down. It was very dark and my first time running with a head
lamp. Next mile had a good descent and I flew down it 5:14. I couldn’t believe
my eyes. I was in the zone! It was the closest to a “running spiritual” moment
I have ever had. I would look down at the Garmin it would read #.4 or #.5 and
then beep next mile! The third mile was about equal up 174 ft and down 157 ft
but I kept a good pace 5:36. The fourth mile was more down 126 ft but still had
70 ft of up 5:30. The sixth mile I was finally feeling it and it had more climb
121 ft to 101 ft down 5:47 however I was almost there and knew I just had to maintain
for the last 0.67 (little long) was in 3:52 (5:46 pace). When I handed off to
Ted I was ecstatic I was jumping all over the place I couldn’t believe what I
had just done. I beat my goal time by almost 2 min. I immediately got into the
van and to the next exchange I cooled down for about 0.5 mi and then into the
van 2 bananas 2 slices of bread a granola bar a Gatorade and tried to rest. Avg:
~5:31 HR: ~185
Asics
DS-Trainer #1: 48 / / Asics DS-Trainer #2: 12 / / Saucony
Rides #1: 48 / / Saucony Rides #2: 19 / / NB825:
500
Saturday AM: 4am Leg
19 my second leg. Not as much warm-up this time. We had gotten some great
updates and looked like we were in a solid lead. Also this was my shortest leg.
The great news was the times the other van was throwing down but you’ll have to
read their blogs… Logan and Nick are studs, is all I have to say. After trying
to get some sleep but only resting my head I got up and “paced” around for
about a mile. I got to the start and was anxious for James. However, he had a
big climb (540 ft) and a long leg to get to the exchange. He handed off and I
was cruising again. Nowhere near the type of experience I had during the first
leg but still great. The camaraderie was great. It was so much fun cheering and
being cheered on by the other FRBers. My first mile had a 241 ft climb with 158
ft of descent. I managed a 5:46. The next mile was about the same split but
more level 172 ft up with 85 ft down in 5:41, the last 0.87 was mostly down and
I tried to make up time and get the bracelet to Ted as fast as I could 134 ft
down 67 ft up 4:34 (5:14 pace). I did a 0.5 mi cool down at the next exchange
and the same refueling. I managed to drop another 1:30 from my predicted pace!
Avg: 5:35 HR: ~192
PM: 9am Leg 31
final leg “the dreaded hill”. After some more great performances by the rest of
the van I tried to get some sleep again put still only managed to rest my head
for about an hour. Then off to the exchange. By this point we had passed all
~150 other teams so I was the first person at the exchange for the day. I
chatted it up with the volunteers all nice people and then just waited for
James. No real warm-up. The sunlight was out in full force and it was already
warming up to about 70F. James came tearing into the exchange and I was off. I
knew the first two miles were the “easy” ones and then the hill so I decided to
hammer them and hang on for dear life to the end. First mile 89 ft up 81 ft
down 5:32, next mile 182 ft up 156 ft down 5:41. Now the climb 156 ft up, 6:10
not too bad. The vans went by at this point and that helped motivate me. Next
mile was 300 ft UP! 6:55. Final mile was still another 213 ft up but I managed
to drop a few seconds for 6:32. The last 0.13 still up 66 more ft in 0:47 (5:54
pace). Handed off to James and jumped into the van. This was another ~1:20 off
my goal pace. From this point to the finish every chance I got I was out of the
van running around cheering in the last 5 legs. Avg: 6:09 HR: 180
Overall, I’m
so happy I did this race. As you all know by now we won overall in 17 hrs 4 min
beating the next team by 42 min and setting a ~2 hr course record! I was very
happy with my times and effort. Ted had me down to run 14.66 miles at 6:05 pace
which was a GREAT tactic by him to give us a few second fatigue leeway, it
helped me mentally. By my Garmin I ran 14.67 miles (amazingly close Paul!!!) at
5:46 pace with a total of 2194 ft ascent and 1652 ft descent net up of 542 ft.
I managed to give the team an additional 4 min and 40 seconds. Out of curiosity
I plugged in my sea level college 10K PR into Paul’s magic spreadsheet and that
would have predicted 5:57 pace so right now I’m running “better” than I did as
a college senior!!! I’m so stoked about my training, thanks FRB!
Besides the
running the relay was just a great experience. I met so many of the bloggers
and had a great time. I had a good chance to get to know James B and Logan
better on the way to and from St. George. Also, a good chance to meet Steve H,
Dave, Clyde, and Nick to and from Phoenix. The race with Sasha, Steve A, Jeff,
Kory, Ted and James W just rounded out the whole experience. James W, it was
great of you to drive us. You kept the team moving and really helped a lot.
Lybi the post race pasta and salad were great. The homemade bread by you and
Sarah really hit the spot! I’m bummed I didn’t get a good chance to talk with
Walter but there is always next year… There is so much I want to type here
about the non-running portion but I’ll spare you all. I do want to put down a
few things for my own memoirs.
The drive to
and from everything was amazing! We truly live in a beautiful and diverse
country. The change of scenery from hour to hour is just amazing! The condors
we saw were just breath taking and to think there are so few of them left in
the world. A few of the insiders’ comments I have to put down. Clyde’s story of
which side are you on before his Subway came back to visit had me laughing so
hard that my stomach hurt. IHOP was a blast. Last things-We started at 6pm,
Poopy phone, and ZZ Top…
Asics DS-Trainer #1: 48 / / Asics
DS-Trainer #2: 12 / / Saucony Rides #1: 48 / / Saucony
Rides #2: 19 / / NB825: 500
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