BC XC Championships! 20:32 (56:52)

Halloween, 2009

We were lucky again this year with the weather for BCs. It was a bit breezy, but it was warm and sunny. Jon and I caught the 9am ferry along with the PIHRT team. Jon drove so we had the luxury of having the space in the travel van for our gear and were able to have a quiet ride to the race. We had some time to kill before our races so we walked the course. The last time I ran this course was at Nationals in 2006 when there was slushy snow everywhere. Today it was wet and muddy and looked very different. The senior women had to run 3 x a 2km loop which started on a grass field. We then ran along a stretch of gravel path leading up to a sharp left turn where you hit a short but steep hill. The next section had really cruddy footing (dangerous actually with thick roots, stones and mud) for about 200m then a short downhill with some puddles and soupy grass thrown in for fun.  As we walked, Jon went over a race strategy that he felt would work well on the course. I joined in on the warm-up with Kerry, Lucy and a couple of other women in the race. I have to admit, I was feeling pretty low-energy all morning and the warm-up didn’t feel any better. Jon’s plan to not go out like a nutcase at the start was a relief at this point! I was glad I kept my spikes on for the race. I was considering switching to my flats because I could feel my blister on the first stride. The course was pretty soggy and in spots, slippery so spikes were essential. The race went out fast. The pack sprinted the 200m to the first turn. Two women immediately established a lead and had a good gap on us within a km. I didn’t panic because they were going at quite a clip and I figured they would slow up after a lap. No way. Those girls continued to move and now me and Kristina were a good 5″ behind. I stayed in control and followed Jon’s plan and didn’t waste any energy trying to catch them. I waited to see what would happen on the second go up the hill which was about the half-way point of the race….still no slowing up. Damn! These girls were really going for it and were strong!I waited to get through the gnarly section after the hill before starting to make a move. This is where I envisioned running up front and gapping the runners and instead, I had to close a good-sized gap. I felt very good though and passed the girl in second and then caught up to the first woman and passed her. She came back at me immediately and got in front once again along the gravel path but this time I just stayed with her. I made another move to get in front before the last climb of the hill and made sure I made a proper gap this time. After the rough section, I sensed I had about  a good 5″ lead BUT, she came at me again, closing in fast on the downhill and with 300m to go on the flat, we were neck and neck in an all-out sprint. I suck at sprinting and honestly thought I was screwed but somehow I managed to out kick her. It was pretty exciting! Gawd only knows what I was doing to get to the finish but it wasn’t pretty! Arms and legs flailing, tongue hanging out like a dog! That was a great race with some solid competition!

After a quick change and some water/food, I watched the senior/master men’s race. Jon won easily and completed the 10km course just shy of 30′. Steve and Jim took the second and third spots with Richard a close 4th. We beetled it back to the travel van so we could catch the 5pm ferry. Matty came over in the ferry line-up and the three of us were as geeky as they come and did a 17′ cool-down while we waited for departure. He had a really good race so that was good! Nick joined the three of us in the van where we hung out for the ferry ride…made the trip go by fast! Juice picked me up at Jon’s and got in a little visit with Luna which made his (and Luna’s) day! Luna likes Juice a lot. When I got home I warmed up some left-over stew and made a mess emptying all the contents of my bag in the hallway. I think Jon apprectaied my used band-aids and wrappers strewn all over his van, not to mention the  “New Skin” liquid bandage I spilled on the carpet before the race. We were probably a bit high from the fumes! For some reason it also attracted a  wasp. I wonder if he’ll offer to have me travel with him to any more races??

Mar's Mess