Steamboat Classic {June 17, 2017}

Steamboat Classic 15k 2017

June 17, 2017

7:00 am

Official Time: 1:08:22 (*No stroller*) (31 second 15k PR)

Overall Ranking: 58/666

Female Ranking: 8/296 (and awarded 7th out of top 25 because one of top ladies was pulled out for overall masters female winner)

(My 9th race of the 2017 season)

Well, now that I am finally sitting down to crank this report out - it is just over 3 weeks after the fact.  I need to take a page from Clint’s book and get more of my race reports at least partially done the day I run so that I remember more of the great details! 

I didn’t run Steamboat last year - I played Mama-duty and spectated with our nearly-two-month-old Gabe near the finish while Clint ran.  I did run it in 20:15 and earned 19th female overall with a 1:08:53…which was my old 15k PR.  My goal for this year was "simply" to PR and to place in the top 25 again - love how Steamboat recognizes the top 25 runners in each gender with a plaque. Honestly, when I placed in the top 25 in 2015 it came as a total surprise to me - I really had no expectation of doing that well at a race that has a notoriously "fast" field of runners.

As I made plans for my Steamboat-strategy, I stressed about the Gabe-factor.  With the super-early race start, if we were to leave him in Normal with a babysitter - we would have to either have someone come to our home really early or bring him to someone else’s home really early. This option didn’t seem kind to either Gabe OR whomever this person may be.  I thought about running with him in the stroller…but MAN…those HILLS!!!!  However, Tim Van Hoof was planning to spectate Holly-Rae’s race with their kiddos and graciously agreed to watch all three kiddos. I helped out a tiny bit by bringing our new (to us!) double stroller to help out with the kid-and-gear hauling. SO thankful to him for watching our little guy and of course for keeping him safe and helping him have a fun morning!  For a while, it looked like it was going to RAIN Saturday morning - and it, again, stressed me out on Gabe’s behalf. I decided that if it was raining, I would push Gabe in the race with the rain cover so Tim didn’t have to deal with THREE kiddos in the rain. Insert eye roll. That would’ve been TERRIBLE! Thankfully, it didn’t rain so we didn’t even need to think/worry about any of all of that!

Holly-Rae met us at our place at o’dark thirty and we headed over to Peoria with Clint at the wheel. Seeing as it was her BIRTHDAY we had to have a little celebration in the car. HOORAY for birthdays!  When we arrived in Peoria, we met up with a bunch of teammates in the lobby of the Mark Twain hotel. I did my best to get Gabe and his huge stroller packed and ready for the morning and met up with Tim and the kiddos once they arrived in town. I transferred Gabey over to Tim’s competent caring hands and headed outside with Holly-Rae to get in a little mile warmup. It was already steamy out. ICK!!

I realized, with a start, that I had FORGOTTEN my prized, much-counted-on huma gels. ACK!!! Thankfully, the ever-generous Holly-Rae gave me one of her small handheld bottles to use - it was filled with water and 100 calories-worth of Tailwind. I was really thinking I would need SOMETHING in the way of calories during this race (right, wrong, or otherwise) so it felt good to at least have something with me (a crutch? placebo effect? actual aid? who knows…whatever it may be, I was grateful to have it with me. THANKS for your selfless generosity Holly-Rae!!).

We headed over to line up and the adrenaline coursing through me picked up its speed. There were SO many people - and so many FAST-looking people! This race always brings out tons of studs (to use Carol's term!).  Race volunteers directed people saying that only those who thought they would be in the top 25 should line up in the front area.  I had placed in the top 25 two years ago and thought there was a good chance I could do so again today…but felt like a tool lining up in that area, so I didn’t. Yeah, I am a wimp. Oh well.  

The crowd started to get larger and larger (and the starting area got hotter and hotter!) and before long, we were poised and waiting - ready for the signal! As I waited, I thought about my race strategy - go out hard, but not too hard. Try to keep my first 2 5ks decently equal and then make the third 5k the fastest - it’s somewhat downhill so this is a totally reasonable goal. 

As the signal sounded and we started out…I tried not to be too crazy and reminded myself that most of the fastest people busting out from the start were doing the 4-mile distance. Still, mile 1 managed (as usual!) to be a little quicker than I should’ve made it.  Mile 1 - 6:48

I quickly reigned in my pace, settling in and embracing the suckiness. Man, was I SO grateful I wasn’t pushing that darn stroller. It. was. HOT!!  Mile 2 - 7:17

Here the lucky folks doing the 4-miler “get to” turn around.  Never mind the fact that they are hurting, too, as they run their 4 miles at a faster pace…I am always envious of them at this point! As I started in on the big hill on my first loop of the park I did my best not to slow down too much. The sweat dripping from my body was pretty gross and impressive. Josh Favus was at the top of the hill - just as I remembered from two years ago! It felt great to see a familiar face in the midst of the discomfort.  As the course snaked through the park and back on itself, I had the privilege of seeing some familiar faces for the first time.  First, I saw Clint and gave him a shout.  Soon after, I saw Gary and Steve and yelled out at them as well. Next were Holly-Rae who was followed not far back by another BloNo runner, Aimee Dziekan. Mile 3 - 8:00

First 5k - 22:32. I’ll take it.

I LOVE the people that set up the sprinkler. I run through that thing. Every. Single. Time. AHHHH!!!! Mile 4 - 7:21. Great, dropped the pace back down from that ugly Mile 3.  With that, it’s time for the second and final loop through the park…starting first with The Hill.  I concentrated on keeping my breathing as much under control as I could - in through my nose, out through my mouth. I wanted to walk so badly but knew I just couldn’t allow that madness.  Water and Josh Favus were at the top - both refreshing in their own right. Mile 5 - 8:03. Not too shabby, but of course I knew I needed to dial it back as I continued through the park.  Before long, the switch back started up again and I said hello to the same crew as before - kinda like some fun deja vu.  This time I saw Holly-Rae and Aimee together.  I had been counting females so that I could estimate if we were in the top 25.  Based on my quick counting, they were right around 24-25ish at the time - I relayed this information to them with a shout and told them to keep pushing! Mile 6 - 7:41

Somewhere around here I came to the last ascent in the second loop of the park and some super-fit chick passed me and literally bounded up the hill. I probably had to literally pick up my jaw off of the pavement - how the heck was she able to move so effortlessly and why the heck had she been behind me for so long?! I can’t remember where she finished, but it was at least a few spots ahead of me.

10k - 45:58/ Second 5k 23:26 - slower than my 1st 5k, but this was to be expected seeing as the bulk of this was HILLZZZZZ.

As the third 5k started, I did my best to get serious about pushing as hard as I could until the end.  I still have lots of work to do regarding pacing for longer races like this. I just don’t know HOW badly I am able to hurt/where the boundaries of my abilities truly lie. Mile 7 - 7:21  One of my favorite parts of this race is at mile 7.3ish as you are running out of the darn park - it means the hill work is done and there are just TWO miles left of the course. These miles are basically downhillish and bring you right to the finish!  Mile 8 - 7:18

I saw Tim and the kiddos to the left as I closed out the 9th mile. Tim was holding Gabe and I could tell that Gabe saw me - we locked eyes and he smiled. I said “HI GABEY!” and continued on my way, feeling kinda bad about it knowing that he might cry and be confused as to why he saw me for a second and then I disappeared.  Mile 9 - 7:13. 

Time to finish this thing out!! I put my head down and ran as hard as I could with what I had left as I ran down the final descent and turned left to run into the finishing chute. I saw Clint (woot!) and saw 1:08 on the clock. I wasn’t sure if it would be good enough for a PR but I pushed as hard as I could to finish things out.

Final 0.23 - 6:10 pace

Total Official Time: 1:08:22/7:20 per mile average pace 

(Third 5k -22:24 - barely faster than my first 5k by 8 seconds!)

(And, yes, a PR but barely…just by 31 seconds!)

Clint and I cheered Holly-Rae in and hung out in the finishing area for a while trying to make a plan about how to find Tim and the kids.  Before we had time to figure out a plan - they appeared!  Tim resourcefully made his way down to the finishing area, taking all work/effort out of our hands. What a great guy :).  Also of note, Clint and I ran into our old-crazy-British friend Andy Wheatcroft in the finishing area and chatted with him for a bit. Every conversation with him includes a smattering of cursing, both in American English and British English - and we can only understand maybe 65% of what he is saying. But, it’s all funny so there’s that! Great to see him!

While we waited for the awards we celebrated our girl Holly-Rae’s birthday with some homemade gluten-free/dairy-free oatmeal cream pies that we brought. YUMMMM. I do love any excuse to make/eat sugary desserts (#sorrynotsorry)! So, thanks for having a birthday Holly-Rae - and thanks for spending part of it with your crazy teammates running a hot and crazy race!

THANKS to Mitch for the privilege of being on the Often Running Racing Team and for allowing us to be a part of this consistently fun event.  THANKS to my teammates for the fun in Peoria together - what a great day with lots of outstanding runners and all-around people.  THANKS to Coach Clint for helping me get some great PRs this season and continuing to push me even though I don’t even know what I am doing.  AND…big THANKS to Tim Van Hoof for hoofin’ our collective THREE Van-Wells kiddos around while Clint, Holly-Rae and I raced!  While I genuinely do love sharing races with Gabe, it is pretty great to have the opportunity to “relax” and “just race” without needing to worry at all about him!

Next up - the Bix is just under 3 weeks away!! This year is big #14 for me and #5 for Clint. My current PR was set in 2015 - 52:01 (7:26 pace). I am hopeful for a sub-50 finish this year (7:08 or faster average pace) - too lofty? We’ll see!!

PICS-

-2 Race pics from Steamboat website

-Precious Cargo/the Van Wells kiddos spectating 2 mommies and 1 daddy running

-Me + Gabe with Aimee D. during the top 25 awards (great snap, thanks HR!!)

-Me + the Birthday Girl with our awards

-Oatmeal. Cream. Pies. (and also, some awesome peeps :))

-Wells Fam

 

 

Toluca Double Diamond Dash {June 10, 2017}

Toluca Double Diamond Dash

June 10, 2017

8:00am

Official Time: 21:17 (*Pushing Gabe*)

Overall Ranking: 12/72

Female Ranking: 1/34

(My 8th race of the 2017 season)

The first I heard about this race was when Race Team Leader Mitch mentioned that he would like for the team to go run it - sure thing, Mitch! Count me IN! 

Coach Clint has LONG been on my case (RIGHTFULLY SO!) to be a good girl and incorporate more strength training into my weekly running routines.  Tuesday the week of this race I finally did some “stuff” after my run…body weight strength stuff like some squats, lunges, etc. Wednesday I was so sore that I said, “NOPE!”…and decided not to do any more of that crap until after Steamboat. Sorry Clint. I know, I know, I am such a pansy. 

I had some “high-ish” hopes for this 5k. I thought maybe I could even get a PR, based on recent workouts and runs, and had 20:10 in my head as a goal (with the ever-elusive sub-20 as a “pie in the sky” goal). (*For reference, my PR is 20:34/6:38 pace which was set at St. Pat’s in March with the stroller)  

Coach Clint told me to try to go out somewhere around that pace for the first mile at Toluca (and not to blow up by going out TOO hard!), hold on for mile 2, and then try to hammer mile 3 if anything was left.  Sounds like a solid plan to me!  I tucked it away in my brain and vowed to do my best to follow through with his suggestions (unlike my lack of follow through on strength training).

We did our “recent typical” race-morning routine - waking up early (Clint always manages to pry himself out of bed more expediently than I manage to do myself) and my breakfast-eating of a gluten free pita with almond butter and salted honey whilst wrangling the small man to get us all ready to get out the door. We left for Toluca around 6 and arrived around 7. We weren’t exactly sure where to go…I think the race info just stated a road or something like that so we drove around for a bit (not long, as the town is tiny!) looking for something that resembled a race start. It wasn’t hard to find, and once we did we parked and got ourselves ready to go. Clint retrieved our bib numbers while I got Gabe fed and situated in the stroller.

We joined the team for a warm-up…I ran with Amber and Holly-Rae for a two mile jaunt on the course. As we ran, we “enjoyed” the heat and the wind and the hills.  We chatted about the fact that we shouldn’t count on PRs. Of course it was still irrationally in the back of my mind….but I also knew it really wasn’t realistic.  It was pretty awesome…as we approached the finish line area at the end of our 2-mile warmup, one of the race organizers asked me to try pushing the stroller through the finishing chute because he wanted to make sure we fit. How awesome and sweet!! He ended up making it a little wider to accommodate our wide load. So thoughtful (LOVE small, personal races!!).

We visited the porta-potties and then headed over to the start on one of the quiet country roads the course was situated on. I weaseled to the front-ish with the stroller (in the crowd of roughly 70ish runners I didn’t feel too bad about that, though I am sure people rolled their eyes about a darn old stroller butting its way to the front - I don’t blame them of course!!), put the brake on, and then did a quick sprint out from the start to get my legs moving a bit. 

We all lined up, did our obligatory team high-fives and pats-on-the-backs…and we were off!! In the words of the great Holly-Rae…BARFO! It wasn’t long before we felt the wind pushing us back. “Go home!” the wind shouted.  Of course, we all pushed through it and followed the course, first to the left, then to the right. I did my best to do my usual bust-outta-the-start-as-fast-as-I-can when I am pushing the stroller so I am out of everyone’s way. I was the first chick out of the gate and did my best to keep the big boys within my sights for as long as I could.  Mile 1 beeped in 6:41 - pretty darn perfect, as far as the plan goes (to have the first mile be around my 5k PR pace of 6:38).

I could feel myself slowing down as I rode the rolling hills (no, I didn’t say “rode the stroller” - contrary to popular belief I have yet to actually try jumping on the back of the stroller and riding it down the hills).  I did my best to push and breathe and fight through them.  A young girl battled with me for the front position but I was able to stick with her. She was in front of me slightly for some time between the 1 -1.5 mile or so portions of the race but always within a few steps in either direction.  After we turn, things felt HOTTTT. I did my best to keep my breathing under control, but I know I sounded awful at some points.  Mile 2 beeped in 7:02. Way to slow down, Rachel! I knew that a PR was clearly way outta the picture…but I wanted to do my best to hold on to the top female position.

I tried to buckle down and push as hard as I could. I did a couple surges to try to put distance between myself and the young girl who was fighting me for 1st. By the time we got past the 2nd mile I was pretty darn sure I could hold her off until the end (as long as I didn’t trip, get hit by a car, or pop a tire in the stroller). Mile 3 clicked off in 6:54, not where I would’ve liked but I was thankful I managed to pick up a bit of speed compared to the middle mile.

Soon the finish was in sights….boy do 5ks HURT! However, at least it’s only for a short period of time :). I saw Clint yelling encouragement to my left and I started “sprinting” toward the finish.

The final 0.11 on my watch was at a 6:03 pace - I’ll take it!

Time on my watch was 21:16/race time was 21:17…43 seconds slower than my PR in March but the conditions at this race were definitely not as good as they were in March. I’ll take it. There will be more 5ks and more chances to be faster later this summer.

I grabbed a water and immediately went back to cheer in the rest of the team. So many great performances, as usual! I love our team and camaraderie! We have fun wherever we are!

It was pretty great to accept the 1st place female medal from Mitch with Clint who earned the 1st place male medal! CONGRATS to the rest of the team as well. 

AND - post race, we got to hang out with teammate and friend Carol at the beach at Wildwood!! THANK YOU for the invite - it was a beautiful, FUN morning with you! <3 a="" have="" need="" party="" sometime="" span="" swimming="" team="" to="" we="">

Thanks to the usual suspects - Mitch, Often Running, the rest of the team, Saucony, and Coach Clint! It’s always so much fun to be out there with everyone.

Pending Race Report (*again, Mitch, sorry for the delay!) - Steamboat 15k (no stroller)

Next Race Up - Park2Park (haven’t decided on stroller)

Race On Deck - Dog Days 5k (with stroller - this will be fun because it will mark my 1 year anniversary of stroller racing! Last year’s Dog Days event was my first stroller race with Gabe - he was 2 1/2 months old at the time.)

Pics -

TEAM!

Me + My Motor at the Start

His and Hers Medals

G enjoying his fav post-race fuel

Daddy + Son…cool dudes!!

Have a great day, all!

~Rachel