My last three races were marathons. MARATHONS! They were Philly in November of '08, The Watchung Winter Ultra in January '09 (in which I fell and broke my rib), and Boston in April '09. The last time I ran a 5K it was the RVRR Summer Series #4 in August of '08. So I have been mentally and physically prepared for nothing but big distance runs for more than 6 months! I had two Tuesday track workouts in before this race, with two weeks of skipping them before this first XC race of '09.
So I ran this one on Tuesday night barefoot. Finished in 20:17 for 4th in the 45-49 age group. That time would have won 35-39 and 40-44! Also note, this race comes just 3 days after the Towpath "Train"ing Run where I ran 27.3 miles. (Perhaps I should not make an issue with that, because the winner of this XC race, Mike Dixon, ran the entire 34 miles of the D&R Towpath on that day.) I didn't feel like being barefoot slowed me down at all! I was surprised how I could run on the cinder path with no problem. I did use the grass next to the cinder as much as possible. My legs were definitely fatigued from the "Train"ing Run and my habitual lack of sleep. I did not have much strength up old Red Barn Hill, but I felt I was cruising the flats very comfortably.
I am feeling a little Achilles strain on the left side after the race. This may be because I have not done any fast running barefoot. My track workouts were in spikes for the fast parts. My average pace barefoot is 8:30-8:45 per mile. My pace was 6:32 for the race.
I ran in Mizuno road race shoes last night to give my Achilles a little rest. I need a day off.
The next RVRR Summer Series race is June 23rd, in two weeks, and it is my birthday party!
Running various amounts of my mileage barefoot since July 2004. Now that it's mainstream, I am no longer crazy, but maybe I was among the visionaries.
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