Tecumseh Trail Marathon 2014
I don't usually wait this long to do a race report but this week has been busy and so I am just finally getting around to it.
Tecumseh last weekend was wonderful! I don't know how to describe it better than that. I first ran Tecumseh in 2012 and the weather then was perfect just like it was at this race. The temperature was mild enough I was comfy in my shorts and singlet for most of the race.
I got to work packet pickup the night before which was so fun! I saw so many friends and it was like a big trail runner party and I met some new friends too. I also like hanging out with the DINO people. They are a nice group. I was able to get a ride home so got to bed fairly early about 9:30 or so.
I prepped my stuff before I went to bed. I was going to use non-flavored Tailwind in my hydration pack, I had 3 gels, some fruit rollups and a UGO bar to put in my pack. I decided on my outfit and packed my backpack with everything I thought I would need.The next morning I got up very early (around 5:30), had breakfast and got my Vespa ready in my pack to take at 8 am. I ended up probably should have taken it at 9 but it was fine. I like Vespa. It seems whenever I take it before a big race I always feel my best. I poured my Tailwind in my hydration pack, checked it to make sure it was good to go and double checked my backpack.
My friend Craig got there around 7 and we drove to the finish line. You see the way Tecumseh works since it is a point to point course is that we go to the finish line to start and then take buses (which takes about an hour so you know how far we have to run!) to the start line and then run back to the cars. It had been on the weather report the day was going to be lovely so I had on my shorts, singlet, some arm sleeves, light gloves, my pack and wore my Brook Peregrine trail shoes which have seen me through many races and I love them!
We got to the start line and found some BARA friends and had a group picture although we were missing one friend, Miranda, who had some transportation trouble so she missed the photo but go there in time for the race which was good! We started out at 10am and I felt great. I was heart rate training it so I was just taking it easy...using it as a training run for my longer races coming up. I had to keep my heart rate below 140 so I had a really relaxed pace. I didn't have my Strava on because I wanted to save my phone battery (more on my phone later). I had to keep telling myself when all the runners ran by me to "run my own race", "look at the bigger fish" (I.e. my longer races coming up) and not to pay attention to anyone else.
I spent most of that race just enjoying myself. I took in the scenery, ate my gels when I felt I needed them but the Tailwind and Vespa had really taken care of my nutrition needs for the most part and the gels just felt like a pick-me-up when i felt i was tiring a bit. I smiled at every photographer...even holding my arms out wide for the guy at mile 12...and talked with some of the other runners. I started to pass some of the runners that had passed me awhile back. Perhaps some of them had started out too fast and gotten a bit tired but I kept my pace fairly regular. I couldn't be sure as I had no Garmin or Strava but feel like I was right on target by keeping my heart rate at it's prime number.
I was excited after mile 18 that i was soon going to pass the stop where my friend Rebecca was going to be. There is nothing like seeing a friend you haven't seen in awhile at a point in a race and I had missed her. Big hug for her and saw Evan was there too and Barry. I got a bit of very good beer and talked with them a few moments and I was off again. I found out at one point I had lost my phone somewhere in the leaves so that was a bit of a bummer but still couldn't get my mood down.
I never really got terribly tired. I felt a bit achy by the end of it but that is to be expected after 6 hours of running up and down hills, jumping logs and crossing creeks. I ran into the finish line to be greeted by "There's Our Girl!" and all my friends lined up cheering for me. I felt like a superhero and felt so loved!
Great Race! Great Day! Great Friends!
Shoes: Brooks Peregrine
Nutrition: Tailwind Nutrition and Vespa. 3 GU gels, one UGO bar and 2 fruit rollups. Some small snacking at aid stations.
Hydration: Salomon Hydration pack with 1 1/2 liters of water and one package non-flavored Tailwind. Some gatorade at aid stations.
Time: 6 hours
Weather: Warm, beautiful.
Best point: Seeing my friends!
Low Point: NONE
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