Saturday, November 9, 2019

Rockledge Rumble 30k 2019/11/09

_prep
I’d just show up and stay around 11:00 pace based on memory: the course wasn’t too difficult in 2017.  Race was canceled in 2018.

Forecast said 40F start.  50F by 10am.  I decided to dress for 40F walking pace.  It’d be too warm after an hour, but I was anticipating a 2:15 run.  Would be fun to have another dehydrated ab photo.

The course change was explained at the start: back half would be more technical .  “How hard could it be?” 

_crash #1
We started 15 minutes late.  I stayed with a cluster that formed after half mile of pavement.  I was in no rush.  The single track was simple as I remembered.  1 girl went down.  She was OK.  Another went down.  I wondered what tripped them.  Then I fell.  Left shoulder was sore from breaking the fall.  I couldn’t find the tripping agent.

Everyone skipped rest stop #1, Murrell Park at mile 4.8.
[wished I could lose the arm warmers; photo by Mark Olateju]

My pack broke into 2.  I didn’t see the front half for 40 minutes.  All the sudden they caught us from behind--wrong turn.  I decided to stay back.  I didn’t want to be stepped on if I fallen.  Soon my pack was down to 3, including Sam from Irving, the only runner I recognized.

_half way, Twin Coves at mile 9.8.
Racers lingered.  I left after filling 10oz water, not feeling thirsty.  I was horrified to be 40 minutes behind schedule despite running at pace.

_bad in math
30k < 20 miles.  My trail pace was approx 11 min/mile = 10 min/mile for guestimating purpose.  My neurons short-circuited that into 10 mph, so I thought the race would take me 2~2.5 hours.

_crash #2
Sun stayed up.  It felt warm.  Middle miles of the course included more roots and rocks.  My ankle wasn’t cooperating.  I finally crashed after kicking 1 too many rocks.  I slowed down, accepting my limitation from spine injury.  I was grateful I managed to compete beyond what surgeon predicted in 2004.

I was roasting after 14 miles.  Mark was still there to encourage runners.
[dehydrated ab photo from overdressing; photo by Mark Olateju]

_4th quarter humbling
I was running alone for the final miles except this faster guy who walked his business phone calls.  Not everyone was lucky enough to focus on the race.

_#’s
Official gun
time: 3:26:48
distance: 30k = 19 mi

GPS:
time: 3:25:53
distance:17.90 mi


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