This ones a little late as I didnt get much chance to get on the computer while I was home for Thanksgiving break. The race was on Thanksgiving day. Start time was 9:00 AM in Ponca City, OK and the official name of the race was the Pioneer Woman Run (After the historic statue and landmark that the race starts at). I hadn't done any outdoor running since October 6th, and had done almost all my training since returning to school in North Dakota on the treadmill so, with all the discussion about the problems with treadmill training, I wasn't really sure what to expect. My training seemed to indicate that I was back in shape to make a run along the lines of my 19:33 5K and 1:31:35 Half-marathon last spring, but again since all of this was done on treadmills, I was a bit unsure. I ran 44:07 here last year (my soft 10K PR) so I knew the course well, but I also knew it was anything, but flat and fast. It basicly breaks down into 4K flat, 2K of nasty hills (for Oklahoma), and then 4K running back down from where those hills have gotten you. Race day was quite cold for Oklahoma, 40 degrees with a wind chill in the low 30's and overcast skies. This is a very small event with only about 50 runners so lining up, I was right on the front line with a handful of other serious looking runners. The gun went off on time and we were off. I broke into 2nd with the leader and eventual winner putting distance on the rest of the pack right from the start. As we settled into our respective paces, I drifted back to 6th as I got comfortable at race pace. Went through 2K at 8:04 which was a bit faster then I meant to go, but I felt pretty good and knew I'd lose time in the hills so I wasn't too worried. The top 2 guys were long gone by this point, but the other 2 guys ahead of me along with the top woman had made a pack about 200 yards in front of me so I was still holding out hope that I could do better then 6th. The third K was quite a bit slower in 4:13 as I got back to a more comfortable pace and started preparing mentally for the upcoming hills. K #4 was 4:09 and things were starting to sort out. The little pack in front of me hadn't gone anywhere, but I wasn't gaining on them. The hills were staring me in the face and I now realized that the wind would blow right into me all the way up them. After conquering the first 2 hills, I hit the 5K split and saw 4:31 (20:59). I wasn't surprised that I was hurting in the pace department and 20:59 put me in good shape to demolish my PR. Now I had to hold on for one more K of hills. K #6 was 4:42 as I hit the 2 biggest hills. As I topped the final hill I passed the lead woman, going into 5th overall and, though I could see 3rd and 4th place, it looked like they were way too far off to catch now. I knew it was time to get to work as the last 4K is downhill off and on so I was prepred to go fast to make up some time. K #7 was 4:09. Not bad and I was starting to feel much better as the hills got further behind me. I decided to pick it up and see how fast I could get going, knowing that the finish is a pretty good size downhill. K #8 was 3:57. What? That cant be right can it? Under 4:00? Gee, I hope I didn't go too early, but I still feel ok, try to keep it up. K # 9 was 3:52 and now it was time to fly. I was a bit surprised to see that it was even faster then the last, but it got me fired up and now it was time to kick downhill to the finish line! K #10 was 3:39 (I think, I missed the split button on my watch) and my finish time was 41:20, 5th overall, and 2:47 faster then last year! I was greeted by my fiancee, mom, grandmother, and sister at the finish line and even got a bottle of BBQ sauce for winning the 20-24 age group. All in all I was very happy with the race and now I know that my training is going in the right direction. Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I have rambled enough!
