So after the debacle at the Cactus Rose 100, I rested my Achilles for about a week and a half. My wife was planning on doing the Team Red White and Blue 5K in my home town of The Woodlands and I was already signed up for the 10K, which would take place on November 10th, just two weeks after Cactus Rose. I tested out the Achilles on a couple of easy six mile runs in the days leading up to the 10K, just to see if I was ready to run again or needed to take more time off. I was totally prepared to just cheer on Elizabeth if I were still injured, but the pain was gone.
However, I did come down with a really crummy cold on Thursday, which was still full swing by Saturday morning. I tossed and turned all night and really didn't think I would be racing in the morning. But Elizabeth didn't want to run without me, so I decided just to go out and jog if need be. I did a quick 100 yard run down the street just to check my energy level and it seemed possible to run, but I didn't know how long it would last.
I figured I had nothing to lose with this race so I lined up near the front and went off at a sub 7 minute mile pace. There was a small pack of really fast folks ahead and I jockeyed position with three or four guys as we ran from the park, through neighborhoods, and around Lake Woodlands.
As I ran along, Achilles pain-free but coughing and blowing my nose, I kept waiting for my energy level to crash and fall to a 10 minute mile pace. I kept up the pace until beginning the last mile, where I felt weakness coming on. However, I was still running fairly fast, despite letting three or so guys pass me. I felt good enough about still moving quickly and didn't have enough in the tank to challenge.
I finished in 44:05, 16th out of 252 runners. A minute and a half separated me from 1st in my age group and thirty seconds faster would have gotten me a medal. Not bad for running sick!
This was a fun race and an ego boost after my failure at Cactus Rose. I'd like to mix more shorter stuff in with the ultras to keep up some speed.
Now, time to prepare for the Texas Endurance Run 50K in four weeks...
