10k Ubertons Resolution Run 2012

[paraganek]

Saturday 10 AM, Cook park, Tigard, OR



My first race this year. In addition to the usual pre-race excitement I am also really happy my wife Zdenka and my son Lukas (6) are joining me today. Lukas really wants to run the Kid's race today and Zdenka agreed to work as a support team.

Weather is looking good, around 50F, ground is soaked and wet after the last night's rain and sun is occasionally peeking through the grey cloud cover.It has been raining solid for the whole past week. Nothing unusual for our west of Cascades region this time a year but rivers are already overflowing.



Barefoot and minimalist runner







This trail race was originally planned in a beautiful Champoeg State Park but because that area is now flooded, Ubertons moved it to this small city park at the very last moment.I have never been here before and after seeing a nice smooth concrete trail weaving through the trees I am really hoping there is going to be some nice dirt trail section as well. Running on a smooth pavement in not my idea of a trail race. The rest of our Barefoot Runners Society team is showing up. There is Jennifer, Kevin with his little one in a stroller and Jim. Our whole group, only Kevin is missing in this shot The organizers are announcing a "big dangerous slippery mud covered hill" on the course. After seeing the well maintained trail I take that warning with a grain of salt but having "better safe than sorry" in mind I clip my Vibrams on my forearms just in case and head to the start. There are not that many runners around. About 100 people altogether, half going for 5k and half for 10k. The course is just 5k so the second group is running it twice.Our barefoot/minimalist team starts last. We have nowhere to rush. Everyone just wants to enjoy the run. I have no plans to beat my 10k PR today. Although I feel really good and strong, my left fibula spot above ankle has been acting up on some recent runs so I will only gun it if it behaves today.



And off we go - Kevin with stroller, Jim, myself and Jen



After a quick warm up I feel like speeding up a little. It takes me the whole 3 miles to completely relax and settle into the right form. Sadly there is no dirt or gravel on the course. The "big dangerous slippery muddy covered hill" is a joke. There is however a good number of nicely sized puddles on the trail and I make sure I do not miss the joy of splashing through all of them. I realize my Vibrams work just as weights on my arms so I throw them out when starting on my second loop.

Throwing shoes out



The next three miles are great. I feel fast and relaxed. Aiming for the puddles second time, having a blast. When sprinting to the Finish line, Lukas is cheering me up in his Five Fingers anxious to run his Kid's race next.49 minutes gone and feeling good !Jen and Jim in Vibrams show up soon and Kevin gets a big applause finishing 5k pushing his stroller all the way to the finish at solid 9:42 pace.

At Mile 5





Joining Lukas at his 1k Kid's race



Since there are almost no kids participating in the Kid's 1k, Lukas takes home the gold medal which he is pretty happy with.The rain starts at the perfect time, right when everyone is heading home. A good lunch with a good company is in order, time to plan some more group runs together.

Jim, Kevin and Jen






Barefoot Runners Society Oregon chapter is getting bigger and stronger !




Race stats:

Length: 10kTime: 00:49:08Pace: 07:55 Placed: 8 overall (of 52), 2 in my AG (of 12)

 

[Barefoot TJ]

I've added your meetup report

I've added your meetup report to the home page. Thanks for sharing! Where's the rest of the guys, like Migangelo (Mike), Josh, and Nick? Any others I'm missing?

 

[paraganek]

Barefoot TJ wrote:I've added

I've added your meetup report to the home page. Thanks for sharing! Where's the rest of the guys, like Migangelo (Mike), Josh, and Nick? Any others I'm missing?

Josh and Nick were injured and Mike is on Maffetone method.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Oh yes, I knew about Nick. 

Oh yes, I knew about Nick. Sorry.

Geez, Mike, you can't take one day off the Maf to join your group?

 

[NickW]

Barefoot TJ wrote:Oh yes, I

Oh yes, I knew about Nick. Sorry.

Geez, Mike, you can't take one day off the Maf to join your group?

He still could have run it. Just really really really slow.

I wish I could have been there to cheer them on since I live just down the way from the race, but I was painting in my condo.

 

[migangelo]

i didn't run this one because

i didn't run this one because even though i could have run at my pace, this is a race. the people, gun, excitement. it all would have given me an adrenaline rush and sent me past my maf pace. i thought it best to avoid that as i NEED to build my aerobic base. i don't have one, or at least much of one. i may race in march for the shamrock run and will definitely sign up for the bridge to brews in april.



i thought joshh and jasmine joined you guys for lunch? i went to a pow wow for my own cultural curiousity. it also worked out that i can write a report about it for my world religion class i'm in. i bought some buffalo jerky, ha, i almost said buffalo beef.



so don't worry TJ, you'll get more race reports from in the spring and fall.

 

[rickwhitelaw]

Great race report.  Nice pace

Great race report. Nice pace for wet conditions. I just gave myself blister's running on wet pavement. Any tips, or just good form and conditioning? I know I was pushing my pace too fast (darn races) and haven't had too many miles in wet conditions to adjust properly.

Where did you get your shirt? I really like the logo. I have the stickers, but I haven't searched for the shirt yet.

Rick

 

[jldeleon]

Mike is "hardcore" when it

Mike is "hardcore" when it comes to sticking to his training. Yah for him! Of course, I had to point out that if he doesn't want to jack up his heartrate, he'd better stay away from other "extracurricular" activities, too. LOL.

 

[jldeleon]

Oh, and Josh and Jasmine were

Oh, and Josh and Jasmine were there we just didn't get a photo of them...I guess.

 

[jldeleon]

Why in heck do my emoticons

Why in heck do my emoticons keep producing twins???

 

[paraganek]

rickwhitelaw wrote:I just

I just gave myself blister's running on wet pavement. Any tips, or just good form and conditioning? Where did you get your shirt? I really like the logo. I have the stickers, but I haven't searched for the shirt yet. Rick

As for wet pavement, just good form and sole conditioning.

Tshirt - www.zazzle.com

 

[NickW]

Rick, I find for me I

Rick, I find for me I actually get less hotspots in the rain and wet. Not sure what it is but when my feet start getting hotspots if I can find a puddle it seems to have this calming effect on my feet. Not sure why. Maybe I push less or slow down to enjoy the moment.

 

[jldeleon]

I always have to shorten my

I always have to shorten my stride and make extra sure I am not pushing off in the rain, as I find wet pavement is "stickier" than dry.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Jen, hover your mouse over

Jen, hover your mouse over the smiley you want to add and type the code instead of whatever you are doing. It will show up just once and without all the garbage behind it.

 

[jldeleon]

Thanks T.J. 

Thanks T.J.

 

[rickwhitelaw]

That's a zazzle shirt.  I'll

That's a zazzle shirt. I'll have to do some searching. I bought a white BRS shirt, but that black one looks much more slimming.

On the wet weather running, that would be a good topic for another thread. I really enjoyed the wet conditions, I even splashed through a few puddles. I heard many runners complaining about their wet, heavy shoes. I believe pushing off was my problem.