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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| At Mile 5 |
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| 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.
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| Jim, Kevin and Jen |
Barefoot Runners Society Oregon chapter is getting bigger and stronger !
Time: 00:49:08
Pace: 07:55
Placed: 8 overall (of 52), 2 in my AG (of 12)
