Race Rewind Recap - 2014 CrosSport Warrior Challenge

The CrosSport Warrior Challenge took place on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Walla Walla Park in Wenatchee, WA. The course winds around the park, through the river, and out into an empty lot. It was my first race for 2014, after a nagging injury and an appendectomy two weeks prior had changed plans. I made a race day decision to go through with it, planning on a low level of exertion (against medical and competent advice). I had won the race the previous year and it was the first event in the North Central Washington Obstacle Course Race series and I felt it needed to be run.

I scouted the course the day before with my family and figured I would be okay. Not much had changed from the previous year, except a bike leg and the lack of water buckets to carry, both that could be an advantage. A swim shortcut and an expanded mud area were changes that could be problems for me.


I did very little warmup as I hadn't worked out for the previous two weeks and didn't want to waste my energy. Plus I was hiding from my surgeon, who managed to catch and scold me a little bit before the race start. Conditions were decent for an April with a good amount of wind but nice temperatures. Turnout was not as good as the prior year. The race started after the kids and the double racers finished.

The cars and the half pipe

I started out slow, hoping to at least finish the race. I had decided I would stop racing if there were any issues. First obstacle was a couple of cars to climb over, which were easy enough. That was followed by hay bails, over-unders, and the a-frame wall. The running and obstacles thinned the herd and I was running in the top 5, while keeping a manageable pace. A rock wall/half-pipe was a cool feature and after a run on a sandy peninsula, I had to decide on going for a short cold swim or suffer a big time loss running back. I opted for the swim because it seemed short enough. I about changed my mind when a volunteer in a kayak said I was half-way across. That was enough motivation for me to keep going. Canoes were next and then the next big surprise; a tire drag that wasn't there the day before.
 
It turned out it wasn't too bad (still the second toughest obstacle after the swim) and I was running third and second depending on the obstacle at hand. A few other obstacles were tires, low crawl, rope bridge, and cargo net. The bike leg was fun and I made up some time and was in second place solid but willingly surrendered it, sticking with my plan that I wouldn't overly exert myself.

The first mud pit

The mud pits were next and were the highlight of the race. The majority of the spectators were there and it was messy but still fun. I moved into second but once again, let the guy pass me and finished roughly 10 seconds back. It turns out that he was racing in the team pairs and so I ended up in second overall, behind my good friend John Burpee. Not too bad.

Second for me and first for John

20/20 HINDSIGHT: More swim training.

HIGHLIGHTS/FUNNY NOTES:

• Running into my appendectomy surgeon was a little of a shock

RDRR REVIEW: 4 stars out of 5.
Would I run it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes.

Good

• Great course
• Excellent volunteers
• Finisher's medal
• Snacks/Beer at the end

Bad

• No prizes except first place
• Didn't get a t-shirt because they were all taken

FINAL THOUGHTS: Great first race, all things considered.

Race Rewind Recap - Turkey on the Run

RunWenatchee's Turkey on the Run took place on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 28, 2013 at Rotary Park in Wenatchee, WA. It is an out and back course mostly on neighborhood roads.

I had originally planned on running the 12k, but had strained my left gluteus medius and couldn't train. I signed up for the 5k the morning of the race, along with my nephew, wife, and daughter.

A family affair!

It was a chilly morning with a slight breeze, but thankfully, we didn't have any of the snow from previous years. The race started a little late due to the awesome turnout. Mass start with the 12k and 5k runners going at the same time (around 700!)

The first mile was decent. I had no real pace goals and was just trying to keep up with the high school cross country team. After a mile into it they were starting to pull away. I ran my first mile in 6:10 and my second in 6:53.

I love the course at Turkey on the Run because it makes for a fast finish. My last mile was 5:39 and I was able to improve the damage done from the second mile (but not enough to catch the XC team). I finished in 19:46, half a minute behind them. I jogged to the car to get my phone so I could snap some photos of my family.

The Turkey on the Run is an annual tradition for many and I don't remember a year that I have missed a race. The post race refreshments are always great and the out and back course allows you to see the many friends and family members that also run the race.

My daughter, powering through the final mile

20/20 HINDSIGHT: Be ready when the gun goes off? I was hanging out and chatting with friends.

RDRR REVIEW: 4 stars out of 5.
Would I run it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes.

Good

• Great course
• Excellent volunteers
• Low entry fee and day of sign up
• Snacks at the end

Bad

• No t-shirt or age group prizes (but really low entry fee!)

FINAL THOUGHTS: Posting this a year late but I'm feeling a little nostalgic since I won't be able to run this year's race.

Rewind Race Recap - Roseburg Duck Race Run 10K

The Roseburg Duck Race Run took place on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at Roseburg, OR. It is an oval course mostly on highway shoulders and through River Forks County Park.

I had no intention of running a race as we were driving home from a trip to Southern California. Luck would have it though that we'd be going through Roseburg about the same time as the race and the family was kind enough to stop and indulge me.

Our "Incredible" Southern California Trip

We had been driving all night up from Pasadena and stopped at the South Umpqua Northbound Rest Area about 3 AM. I caught a few hours of sleep and then we were on the road again to make it to the park an hour before race start.  The family dropped me off and then went to breakfast.


I registered for the race and did a little warmup. Conditions were near ideal with temps in the 50s and weather overcast with little wind. There wasn't much of a turnout until it got closer to start time. The Roseburg folks turned out well for the 5K/10K.  It seemed like a fun crowd.

The 5Kers released first followed by the 10Kers on a slightly different start. I attempted to hold back a little and not repeat my "out too fast" folly, but another runner was setting the pace and I decided I was racing to win. We ran together for about a mile and a half before he dropped back when we left the park. The meat of the race was on the highway shoulders. There was light traffic and a few aid stations but only a handful of spectators. My family drove by and honked at me which was encouraging.

I made it back to the park and began to meet up with 5K walkers. I didn't really pay too much attention to my watch as I was not trying to achieve a goal pace. My family was near the finish line and cheered me on to my fastest 10K at the time, a 39:58! Finally a sub-40 minute 10K!  I took first overall for the 10K race.

My fastest 10K!

There was decent post race refreshments and a participation medal for everyone. I received a first place medal as well but nothing else. Swag was raffled off but I wasn't one of the lucky folks to have their name drawn.  We hit the road shortly afterward and continued our long drive home.

Bailey and me at the awards presentation

20/20 HINDSIGHT: None.

HIGHLIGHTS/FUNNY NOTES:

• Perhaps a day of driving and 3 hours of sleep is the right combo for a PR?
• Loved the road race in the middle of a road trip.

RDRR REVIEW: 4 stars out of 5.
Would I run it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes.

Good

• Great course
• Excellent volunteers
• Finisher's medal
• Snacks at the end

Bad

• No overall winner prize

FINAL THOUGHTS: I loved to be able to stop and get a run in, and to have it as a race and a PR made it even better.

I got a mention in the local paper!

2014 Race Schedule/Results

My tentative 2014 Race Schedule. Come out and race if you want to be humilated humiliate me.

Date	Race	Distance	Notes/Results
1/25/2014	Bundle-Up Run	5K
3/15/2014	Apple Capital Fun Run	10 Miles	Guesstimated Date
4/5/2014	Yakima River Canyon Marathon	Marathon
4/19/2014	Wenatchee Marathon	Marathon
4/27/2014	CrosSport Warrior Challenge	5K Mud Run
5/4/2014	Common Cares	5K
6/21/2014	Bavarian Battle	5K Mud Run
7/19/2014	ChelanMan 10K	10K
7/27/2014	Eugene Marathon	Marathon
8/2/2014	Spartan Race	5K Mud Run
8/14/2014	Omak Warrior Dash	5K Mud Run	Guesstimated Date
9/6/2014	Lake Chelan Marathon	Marathon
9/20/2014	River Run	Half Marathon
10/4/2014	Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon	Marathon
11/27/2014	Turkey on the Run	12K

My Top Threes - 2013 Version

I was thinking about things that are great, and that prompted me to do this! It's a compilation of top three lists, 2013 Version:

Top Three Pre-Race Snacks
1. GU
2. Haribo Gold Gummi Bears
3. Banana

Top Three Race Experiences
1. Bavarian Battle 5K Mud Run
2. Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathon
3. Roseburg Duck Race Run 10K

Top Three Online Fitness Stores
1. Performance Bike
2. Running Warehouse
3. Road Runner Sports
Runner-ups: REI, Backcountry

Top Three Fitness Purchases
1. Pearl Izumi Men's Fly In-R-Cool Singlet
2. CEP calf compression sleeves
3. Zoot Visor

Top Three Cool Winnings
1. Garmin Argyle Jersey
2. $5 frozen yogurt certificate from Froyo Earth
3. Three free car washes at Jet Pro