ENDURrun 2019 - Stages 3 & 4

ENDURrun Stage 3: 30K XC, Bechtel Park, Waterloo

The day before this race, H+P teammate Janice messaged me asking what my planned pace was for the 30K. She was running the stage for a relay team and was seeing if we were looking to run around the same so that we might be able to run some (or all) of the race together. I was happy to get this message. It's always nice to have company on a long stage, especially since I didn't really know if my foot or my fitness would be happy with a stage that was the approximate length of my longest run since April.



We started out together were going to be conservative. I let her know that I would likely not be picking up for the last 2-3 laps as she was planning, since I wanted to play it safe and had reminded myself of my main goal for the week (finish healthy). We ran the first 3 laps together, which made time go by much quicker than if running solo. After she went ahead, I got myself through lap 4 (my least favourite lap), then on to the final 10K to get the thing done. I ditched the shirt in lap 4, and I stopped at the beginnings of the last 2 laps to get sprayed down by a volunteer with a hose as it was heating up a lot out there!



My finish time was 2:38:57.

I ran my slowest stage 3 in several years, but I didn't care at all because it was intentional. It felt comfortable and I felt good. My 5K splits were: 26:03, 26:27, 25:59, 26:18, 27:11, 27:00.

ENDURrun Stage 4: 10 Mile Hilly Road, Camp Heidelberg

When I got out of bed Wednesday morning, my foot hurt more than it had any other morning this week. I was slightly concerned and actually considered grabbing my crutches, but after 15 min or so, it was much better. I threw on a plantar sleeve, which made it feel even better and proceeded to have a lazy day, with a chunk of it on the hammock.

When it was time to head out to the race (the start is 6pm for this one), I did not feel like I should be heading to a race. It's tricky to go from hammock to race!

As usual, the runners walked down the hill to the start line as a group (the race both starts and finishes uphill). It's nice to have that little walk down and brief chat with others on the way to the start.

The race itself wasn't overly eventful. I ran it at a pace where I felt in control, fairly comfortable, yet running harder than easy. I finished the stage 3rd ultimate female, in a time of 1:15:52, 46 seconds slower than last year, but over 4 minutes faster than I ran it in 2016. We won't talk about 2017, when I was in the best shape of my life. ;) Hopefully, next year I won't have broken myself in the spring and I can be back in 2017 shape.