Trying to keep a cool head when the competition is heating up

Qdoba

DINO

Trail Run

Series

15k

SERIES

STANDINGS

WOMEN

2013

Rank

Name

Age

#1

#2

#3

#4

bonus

#5

#6

#7

TOTAL

1

Kara

Egan

25 to 29

200

200

200

600

2

Katy

Goggin

30 to 34

184

196

196

576

3

Heather

Lake

40 to 44

174

193

186

553

    I ran the Brown County DINO race today. It was a great run. I felt so strong on the hills I know that hill training has paid off and there were long stretches where I felt like I was flying! I found out today that I am third in the DINO series for overall female. Last year I got that place and it meant a lot to me. So I would like to get that place again.
   The only place really in my sport of trail running I am competitive is at the DINO races and I think that is because since the beginning of my running of them some kind of benign spirit has helped me to do very well at them! It surprised me being a new runner and all so here is where I let myself get out all the competitive stuff that I don't feel anywhere else.

Highlights of the race: As you can see VERY muddy. It was raining lightly when we started and it was total mud from first to last. I thought it was funny when people were tiptoeing around on the mud. Like...GUYS...you are going to be doing this for an hour at least. Give it up and just get muddy!
   I was running for awhile with a very strong female runner who ended up placing in her age group, which was one up from mine, and she was FAST! I was really proud of myself that I could keep up with her because I felt like it was a 10 minute pace or below. Then at the water stop I passed her by and didn't see her again.
   The HILLS. WOW. I felt so strong on those hills it really surprised me. It was hard but not awful. And there were long stretches of run-able trail...besides the mud which didn't faze me (I had tied my laces really tight. There were at least 3 people I saw lose shoes to the mud) I felt like on those stretches I could possibly have hit a 9 minute pace.
   I finished it in 1:33:41 and the course WAS long (10 miles instead of 9.3) so it really was a successful run. Here is where I need to make a distinction. My feeling kind of bad about getting fifth place is NOT being ungrateful that I can run at all or being upset at the women who did place before me because they were tough, fast runners and they worked hard and deserved to place where they did. It is more of a disappointment in my performance. I can be extremely hard on myself sometimes. I DID a GREAT run. I had a good time, felt great the whole way, gave it my very best and finished only 5 minutes slower than last year and last year didn't have the mud to slog through.
   AND I still have 4 more races to go to keep my slot on the results. I can drop my worst time so if it is this one then I still have chances to get 1st, 2nd or 3rd and then can keep my place. And if I don't place in the series standings then I need to be easy on myself and feel good that I do as well as I do! Starting running at the late-in-the-day way I did.....past 40....I should probably not even be doing as well as I am.

Post race feast:  Sweet potato fries, avocado, stir fry with hamburger, peppers, shaved almonds and mushrooms. EXCELLENT!!!