Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Windburn 6 Hour Race

Had a great time out at Bartlett, IL with the NLUR crew.  I was able to log 31.4 miles.  I was in 16th place with an official distance of 30.6, but I detoured to my car and back off course twice which took my Garmin distance to 31.4 in 6:00:37, so that is what I will go with.  My splits for the 28 Jan 12 race were as follows:
9:40
9:16
10:59
9:06
9:04
11:44
9:16
10:45
9:28
12:58
10:10
11:40
14:01
10:36
13:08
12:10
15:05
11:54
12:16
11:52
12:09
11:50
12:37
12:22
13:34
13:02
15:02
13:19
9:41
10:03
8:48
3:01
31.44 mi
ave11:28

The conditions ranged from a temp of about 25 to about 35 with winds from about 10-25 mph.  There was some snow but it offered very little challenge (a few slick spots, but mostly packed solid and not a problem).  It is funny how I am happy with the time/distance this early in the year.  I would never be proud of a 11 minute pace if I were in a road mararathon or 50K, but this time seemed ok.  Maybe I'm getting really old, soft and slow?  Anyway it was fun being out in the fresh air with about 50 other NLUR runners and enjoying the day.  I wasn't the slowest by far and felt good that I stuck it out for the full six hours and take it as training for future 24 hour races.  If I kept up this pace I would be well over 100 miles for 24 hours, so it seems good to me.  I hope to have a good performance at one of my three planned 24 hour races this year; I really want to break into the 90's or maybe pop a hundred, but not sure I'm willing to work that hard.  I'll see how the year goes?  Anyway, the year is starting off right.   

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Year 2011 Breakdown

Well 2011 turned out to be pretty sorry compared to past years of running.  I had three defeats where I left the races with my head hanging low.  I cannot blame anyone but myself; just didn't put in the required miles to be able to tackle some of the harder courses and distances.  Here are my monthly miles:

11-Jan232.8
11-Feb52.8
11-Mar178.1
11-Apr220.5
11-May155.6
11-Jun217.2
11-Jul126.5
11-Aug177.8
11-Sep227.5
11-Oct301.0
11-Nov183.0
11-Dec168.8


Total Miles = 2341 or an average of 6.4 miles a day. 

Maybe this year will be better, and at least I'm in the Master Category.  The big races I really want to do well in will be my second attempt at the Kettle Moraine 100K in Jun, and at my three 24 hour races that I have scheduled from May through Sep.  The final race of the year that I want to push it will be a 50 mile race on the Lakefront in Chicago.