Home on the Island for a six day beach and cottage vacation, I decided to join my Love Training More athlete Sarah for the 42nd Annual Dunk River Road Race in Bedeque on Sunday. I didn’t come home planning to race but I missed a Wednesday workout and figured a race would be a good way to double up workouts. Also, it’s a long-standing road race that I’ve never laced up for. Time to fix that! And finally, the moment that I crossed the Confederation Bridge on Tuesday, I had this deep longing to run on Prince Edward Island country roads.
This is more a reflection on what went right for me than a traditional recap. But first, the prelude.
My pre-race thoughts were enhanced by a trip to my long time running mentor Salam Hashem at Hashem’s variety. He serves as long time mentor to many. I caught him at a moment where the shop was empty and we had a nice long chat. I asked him why the Dunk River Race was a nonsensical 11.6km. It’s because 4 decades ago, the original route went around the Dunk River which was, yes, 11.6km.
Mr. Hashem told me about running the race in 1979 and running 46 minutes after gassing himself chasing the leaders. He could see me pondering if I could run that time and he quickly added, “I also race 42 minutes there!”
He asked me lots of details about my current training and fitness. And then ordered me, “Split through 10km in 39 minutes. No slower than that. Then you will be happy with your split and you will hold on for one more mile.” I laughed. As if it were so easy. That’s practically my PB and though I’m running well now, I’m not yet in peak shape. Mr. Hashem is insistent, “You will win. You will run 46 minutes.”
While we were talking, I miraculously dug out this amazing vintage ASICS crop top from under a pile on a shelf. Cool!! I asked if he had a smaller size: “Oh I love that one!” he says. “Put it on right now over your shirt, it will fit, I know it.” I put it on. Race gear love at first sight. The tag read the year 1998. I must have it and I commit to wearing it on Sunday.
“I thought I would never sell that,” he mused. Perhaps it was meant for me.
Pre-race was further enhanced by getting messages from Road Hammer friends Charlotte and Kenzie who were on the Island. Would I like for Kenzie (faster than me but recovering from injury) to run with me? Oh, yes, sir!
Sunday morning, I made my way over the hills of Kinkora to Bedeque, my two kids still tucked into bed at Nana’s house. The sky was perfectly blue. The sun was hot. I was ready to enjoy the country roads. I was excited to see Sarah, Kenzie and Charlotte. Of course, I wanted the win, especially when I found out, on the start line, that the prize was a trophy. I flippin’ love a trophy. I keep them in my office at the high school where I work to enhance my athletic street cred.
The Race:
During podcaster Tina Muir’s Mental Skills Podcasting week, there was a guest who talked about dissecting the things that go right along with what goes wrong in a race. I did win. I did not split through 10km in 39:xx. It was 41:40 on a hot and hilly course. Final time 49:16. So instead of the play-by-play, this is my collection of what went right.
Attitude. I was all in on enjoying this course. It was hot. There was almost no wind. The roads were ran through farm fields and over a bridge. There was very little shelter. At one point, I had this thought that we runners were like clothes hanging on a line, drying out in the hot sun. The hills were unrelenting and more than I expected. I didn’t know the course and the road continually presented another hill surprise with a seemingly lack of downhill to follow. But I loved it. I loved every struggling hill step. I loved the scenery. I loved the sun. I loved running.
#bettertogether: Kenzie and I ran in mostly silence but great support of each other until 8km. It’s so helpful to have a friend.
Override achieved with take a risk: On this day, maybe fueled by a postiive attitude, I was able to continually push on the flat stretches. Looking at Strava, I had some sweet splits of 4:00, 4:03, 4:05, 4:05. At the 8km water stop, I actually stopped and walked for 33 seconds. I was getting dizzy and felt like I might fall over if I didn’t get both Gatorade and water into me for the last ….. How far is 11.6km from 8km? That. So I walked and drank quickly. My Garmin rang 8km the moment I stopped. I saw it was 33 seconds and then I ran. The next km split popped up as 4:34, so that was another 4:01/km split. I was telling myself: “Take a risk” and this provided some override to the part of my brain screaming, “You won’t make it to the finish if you do that! Conserve!” I don’t always achieve that override.
Roll with it: I have a habit of laying out my first set of race plans based on current fitness on a perfectly level course on a cool, crisp fall day. Note this is for myself, not the athletes who I coach! I don’t even want to write what I told Kenzie I had in my head for pace! It was based on an ideal course on an ideal day. I know this. But I do it almost every race. I like something about the optimism of it. Once I get into the course, I can re-adjust without judgement or disappointment. Once I’m in it, I can roll with it and manage the course and the pace with reasonable expectations. I knew at 3km, after my first hilly 4:13 split (GAP 4:00 per Strava) that Hashem’s 39:xx 10km wasn’t going to happen. Your best effort on the day is all you can do. I think I readjusted my goals and expectations three times on the course. I am happy with my best effort.
Finishing the race necessitated lying down on the grass. I posed some serious life questions to Islanders Mike and Samual Peterson who placed first and second: “what is with these PEI Road Runner Races and the unrelenting hills!?”
Mike laughed, “They are a bit sadistic, aren’t they?”
I then got to watch my athlete Sarah crush a 7 minute PB on this tough course. Yay! Congratulations again to her. We did cooldown together.
And then I was awarded this completely amazing trophy.
Thanks to the PEI Road Runners for a super morning, doing what I love. And thanks to my mother for helping me make it happen by caring for my little ones.
You can read about the race here on the Journal Pioneer (Summerside newspaper).
Now to find a spot for this beauty:
