2010 The year that racing went WTF?

WOW, did I ever let this blog slide along with a few other things. Typical year end review time and I see that I only wrote about my Annual St Pats Run. Shame on me, Life has a way of getting away from you after you reach a major goal in your life. I had heard about post Ironman Blues but this got way out of hand.

On some personal news, I got Married this year. Now keep your chins off the floor :) Natalie and I got married Nov 5 2010 in a simple ceremony in our place with Dan, Julie, Carey, and Leah in attendance.

But on to the stories of the few races this year.

Jordan told me about the EXTERA Canada Series May 15 at COP a day or two before. I was kinda worried as I had did nothing and was hoping this would be a good kick in my pants to get me out of my funk. so it was a run up the side of the ski hill and around the side get on the bike for 2 laps (counter clockwise) of the usually closed trails across the road in the protected area. That is where I called it quits. I think there was only 20-25 people doing this, me and this lady were spit off the back on the second switch back up the hill. I was going to quit after one lap of the bike but she was just starting her second lap at the same time after a detour. We finished the second lap and crossed the line saying we were done. I ended up winning a Suntour Watch out of the deal.

Looking at my mighty spreed sheet looks like I went hiking a couple times,

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I also did a few Wednesday Night Orienteering adventures. Have a Compass get your map and off you go.

April Fool's Score O - showed up in shorts and the organizer thought I would never come back. I had a blast and was bitten buy the bug. Was only scratched a few times buy the vegetation.

Fish Creek (elbow park)- I picked an easy map and proceeded to miss the first three markers. 9/15 I properly punched. I have ran in this area over the years but it was cool to see different areas I had not been yet.

Nose Hill (64th ave) - I remember scolding myself for missing so many markers and my goal was to find all of them this time. 11/13 I had such a hard time finding the first one I was so angry with myself I spent a good 20min on that one marker that I missed.

Fish Creek (37ave) - (picked a bigger map than I was truly ready for and got utterly lost, I didn't even get my print out I was so disappointed with myself.

River Park (sandy beach) - Ok here's an area I thought I knew well... 15/21 markers found. I took a bigger course map but was not in shape to run the distance so the ones I didn't find were on this loop that I just didn't go on. It was a warm up for the CRR River Park XC I did later on.

Carburn Park - I used to eat my lunch in this park when I worked at Position Inc. so It was a good memory coming back and I got to introduce Natalie to Orienteering. Together we found all 12, but the bugs were eating her alive so I don't know how much she enjoyed it.

Paskapoo Slopes - Nat and I attempted this one but we were very lost and it didn't go so well we pulled the pin pretty early. 4/11

SAIT/Riley Park - FOUND THEM ALL!!! 21/21 They called this one an urban sprint, I called it fun and exciting

Bowmont Park - I think the weather was bad on this day and I was running late so I grabbed a shorter map (lost of kids did this one) and I only missed one.

FWOC Club Champs.

Forest Event - Fish Creek - Back very close to the area that tripped me up earlier and I was determined to do well. I missed one marker that from the direction I came was impossible, apparently if I came from the south it was plain as day.... sigh DNF because of the 3rd marker.

Urban Park - Nose Hill - after yesterdays defeat I was determined to get all the markers so my time would be counted. 14/14 but in my effort to get the markers I went way off course and refused to see a clear sign I was wrong. I learned a valuable lesson about orienteering that day.

Urban Sprint & Banquet - Calgary Zoo - I like that the zoo lets races happen in there park. I was excited about this one as I know the zoo and really hoped it would help me. #18 I went around and around this building convinced I was correct only to watch this kid walk to the building next to mine and find it. They got sneaky as to where the markers were and it created a good laugh or two. The lunch was very good and even if my time from the first event would have been allowed I still would not have been on the podium in my age group.

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I planned on doing as many Calgary Road Runners x-country races this year as I could. I did the first one River Park Oct 2. This one is fun as you get to cross the river... twice. There is a bridge if you want to Wimp out, which I was not afraid to do on the second crossing. I was so behind and tired I didn't want to brave the cold water. It was an interesting low tech race.

I have been out on the x-skis a few time this winter so far and plan on doing more of it. It helps when there is a park in the city limits you can go to.

St Pats 5km 2010

Wow I can't belive this the seventh time doing this race. Tradition is good. I knew this was going to be an adventure as I was rolling off a night shift so I was scared I might fall asleep and miss the race like I did for the heritage oly in 2005.

I got to the race venue and there was no line for the washroom so I thought that was a very nice sign untill I got in line for chip pickup. I guess they had a snafu because that was a terribly long line!

Got outside as the market was packed and I didn't feel like being crouded. I didn't recognize too many faces but I did run for a bit with a guy I knew from run club.

I barely heard the horn to start this adventure but we all started our shuffle to the mats as it was very crowded. There was alot of groups that probably did fundraising together but I don't know if they practiced running a whole lot. Just before the first km marker a bunch that went out hard were walking and complaining of stitches. I giggled as I remember doing the same myself in previous races.

Things were thinning out nicely by 2km but I was still getting stalled by people that were doing a walk breaks. It was kinda annoying as people were spread across the whole pathway and the fast guys were starting to come towards us and they kept yelling make a hole. You would think that people would clue in. I gave up when I heard one lady tell her friend to move over to the left because there was more room and then she ran into someone and almost took all 3 of them out.

They had a water station on course which I didn't really expect and didn't use. I don't know why but when ever a race goes over the 14th street bridge I power my way up the hill but then my heart feels like it's going to explode so I walk half way across the bridge. Guess I have to practice on short steep hills. This is where the 10 & 5 km split off and I was pleased to see that I was probably in the front half of the group.

The 3 km stretch I had lots of room and I kept my pace and passed a few people. I started to notice that my calves were starting to tighten up. By the 4th km my feet were doing the good old slap step. I tried to decide when to start the finishing sprint. Last time I did a race that took the path through princess island park I started sprinting way too early. So I held off till I got over the bridge and could see the finish line. According to the Garmin I sprinted for 300m and it seamed to work out well. Not too bad considering I spent most of the race in zone 3 and 4 :)

After the finish I heard one of the ladies I was following at one point complain about some guy behind her that was making a lot of noise and she was annoyed... oops that foot slap sound that haunted her was me LOL!! It was a good race as I had fun.

111/276 overall   5154 bib# Randy MILLER   Calgary AB   18/27 Division   38/60  Males M3039    35:16.4  7:04 

2004 5k 0:27:05 42/??? overall 5/30 age group

2005 5k 0:32:52 70/449 l

2006 5k 0:34:22 100/219

2007 10 1:07:45 204/254

2008 5k 0:35:09 84/164

2009 10 1:05:25 149/232

2010 5k 0:35:16 111/276