GZ's race report.
Mario Macias- 1:50
Greg Ruckman (Olympic rower and pro cyclist)- 1:57
Michael Aish- 1:59
Lucho (me)- 2:00
GZ- 2:15 (wins his own prediction contest) first Master
Winds gusting to maybe 40mph with temps in the 20's. Windchill maybe in the teens (there were frozen puddles on the road) and it was spitting snow at the start.
Mario jumped immediately to a significant lead. I settled in with Greg Ruckman and we worked in to the wind and at mile ~3 caught a walking Aish ("I'm getting my ass kicked!") So he joined our group but kept throwing in surges that dropped me. Aish and Greg stayed just ahead the rest of the race, bad call on my part not to stay with them. After Summit Lake I brought them both back to within 20" but could never bridge because they were trading off taking the wind which at 13,000ft was very significant and absolutely frigid. I would get close and then get hammered and have to ease up. After the race Greg said that he and Aish were working together to keep me away, neither one wanted 4th place.
Funny thing about "racing" at that altitude... I would push but nothing significant would happen, like my legs were operating at 50%, which they were. Over-all I never felt strong at any point really, just a flat, grinding feeling. After GZ crossed the line he jumped in with us and rode down. He asked (in a frozen mouthed, slurring, drunk voice) how far ahead of him I finished and I guessed maybe 3:00-4:00. Hypoxia has funny way of messing with perception. I'm psyched to finish so close to Aish, the guy's awesome. And only 10:00 off Mario, even if he was jogging, is respectable in a ~2:00 race.
Fun race, miserable conditions.
16 comments:
You ran in shorts when it was 20 degrees??? I cannot even fathom. Nice race though! Congrats!
I think what you train in is harder! When it's cold you just put more clothes on.
Thanks!
You left your gloves in my car. I will get them to you tomorrow. I am going to tag team myself with them though several times.
Rickey G remains the man to beat on the big hills.
Nice work out there. The wind was easily worth an hour and a half.
FWIW - my legs were not cold at all during this run. Thankfully it was not wet up high ... that would have seriously sucked. I might have bagged if it was ... my face and hands however were near useless at the finish.
Lucho: You had a great race today and it was nice to finally meet you. I'm really impressed with your talent and how hard you work. I hope we can meet for a run sometime before Leadville--would love to hear your thoughts on a few things with the race. I wish I'd done better than a 2:43 today but I know it takes time to be able to race at altitude. I know you have several races coming up, but let me know when the best times are for me to meet you with you a run. It would need to be on one of your easy days....
Wyatt
But, um, you didn't put more clothes on! You ran in SHORTS. Yikes. See, I was thinking about tights for CdA bc it'll only be ~55 on the bike. Lol. We are so different. :)
Way to go! Very fast time.
Awful weather, and I'm surprised your fingers have thawed enough to type.
I do want to try that road some day, but on a day and during conditions of my choosing. I'm going to allow 4 hours; I'm not even kidding.
I thought that was the Marmot who makes the outdoor gear. Guess not.
Sweet race, Tim. Rotten conditions.
Actually I think your legs were operating at 38%...if my memory for what happens to the oxygen content at that altitude is right.
Aish was scared of you. Thats quite a compliment.
It took two quality runners working together to beat one Lucho! Way to go!
You're awesome Tim! Sounds SO epic (both the weather and the performance). Can't wait to hear stories and/or collect some phlegm-blood that I imagine accumulates in a race like that :)
Thanks All!
G- You might to wash them BEFORE you tag team. And yep- I was definitely thinking on a good day I could maybe go 30:00.
Ya Wyatt, lets meet up before Leadville! I'll be mostly biking from here on but will do at least a long run each week. Maybe loops on Walker?
Congrats on not taking a wrong turn on that course. Its a tough one.
Ha! Seriously... I'm kind of shocked myself. I think I've taken wrong turns on tracks before.
mountain killer. you stand accused.
Meh, more just alpine battery. Didn't quite kill it, just slapped it... open handed.
Congrats Tim! Awesome race!
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