Race Report - The Schlotzsky's Bun Run

What a day for a race, it was beautiful! The temperature was a little chilly at the start but once we got going it was unnoticeable. The temperature was 47F with a ten MPH wind, but by the time the race ended the temperature had warmed up to a whopping 53F.

I did not do as well as I was hoping. I was shooting for a time under 30 minutes, however my chip time was 0:32:21. Considerably slower than last year, which was 0:30:47. I think the biggest problem was I knew the course this year, and the first mile and a half are uphill, so I thought I would take it easy for the first half, than kick it in on the second half. This I did; my split times are:

1. 0:10:40
2. 0:10:36
3. 0:9:11

But it was not enough to get me in on (under) time.

For the first half I kept pace with the people around me. Next time I need to move a little ahead at the start gate or pass people who are going slower than what I need to be doing.

Also, I need to set up my Garmin to report better data or learn to interpret the numbers better. I was using the basic time and distance setting. I was watching the virtual partner and I realized he was getting ahead of me but I thought I could catch him on the last mile of the race.

Perhaps if I set up an advanced workout knowing that the first mile would be slightly up hill, mile two would be over some steep hills and mile three would be down hill. Perhaps, I could work out what I would need to run to arrive in my allotted time.

My heart rate does not appear correct for yesterday's run so I replaced the battery in the heart rate chest strap. Hopefully, this will take care of all the problems I have been having recording my heart rate.

Perhaps my slowdown has more to do with my giving blood several weeks ago and not with the way I ran. In the future I should give blood at the end of the spring and fall running/cycling season, not at the beginning.

Although at the end of the race I did not feel as exhausted as I generally do. I think I need to learn how to pace myself better so I get to the end with no fuel in the tank.

Here is Garmin's version of the run: