The Runner - Super Summer 8k

I was a bit aprehensive going into this race. I hadn't felt much like running since the previous weekends 50 miler and an 8k is an odd distance to race for me. I finally got in about 4 miles the Friday before Saturday's race and discovered my shins were extremely tight. Now this really was a suprise for me as normally this isn't an area I have trouble with and I had not felt any tightness or pain unitl that first mile on Friday when the connection between my leg and ankle felt like it was on fire. I spent quite a bit of time stretching throughout the day and massaging the area with "The Stick". Additionally I got to the race on Saturday early to do a longer than normal warmup.

As I arrived at Lake Hefner I suspected the race might be a wash since there was lightining quite close and it looked like a heavy downpour was going to start any minute. In all actuality the race did start on time and the only real effects were very heavy humidity.

My goal for this race was 38:15 and I started out the first two K consistently holding this pace. Somewhere between 2 and 3 K I began to slow down. For the rest of the race I did battle with myself IE It's going to hurt no matter what - the difference between failing and meeting your goal is just a little bit harder - keep going. By the return when the race takes a turn onto the trails into Stars and Stripes park I missed the turn and cost myself 10-15 seconds with "extra miles". If anyone can get lost in a sprint race it's me :)

Once we hit the second loop through Stars and Stripes park I could "smell the barn" and began to accelerate. I ran the last K quite fast. As we turned into the park for the last 200 yards I gave it all I had and for the first time actually faltered in my finishing kick.

Normally I finish races with an ever accelerating finishing kick and cross the finish line thinking I had more to give. This time I topped out and couldn't go any faster - when I crossed the line at 38:49 I knew I had missed my goal but had the satisfaction of giving everything I had on that particular race day.