Brandon Fuller

McIntosh Mud Hen 5k 2009

We had a nice warm week here and then woke up this morning to a misty 40 degrees. Sounds like race day! Last year, this same race day was windy as hell and snowed in the afternoon. I think it is a cursed day. Oh well. I will take mist over wind for a race any day.

The whole crew piled in the car and got me over to bib pickup. They all stayed in the car to keep warm and dry and then emerged right before the start. I did a few strides out around the park but nothing significant. I probably should have warmed up more but I just don’t like to. Makes me feel tired or something. I stretched the lungs just a bit and was ready to go. I love the small races — I get right up front! Hand on watch ready to go!

The start is kind goofy on this one. A bit of grass till you hit the paved trail. Then its crushed gravel for most of the rest of the way around the lake. Here is me right on the sidewalk.

Can we go back to the car now? They did — and drove back down the block to the finish line to await their runner.

I was a bit hot at the 1st mile marker. My watch didn’t beep. Crap. I just realized I turned off splits from the Sanitas run and never turned them back on. Oh well. From what I remember and the looks of the graph. Mile 1 was the fastest. Then 3. Then 2. I always feel tired on the backside of the lake during the twists and turns. I almost could have used my iPod at that point for a tune. Was kind of zoning out and found a steady rhythm in the pack. Probably caused me to just stay in line instead of pushing it harder. I truly hate the 5k because I feel like I am going to DNF at any moment. Running as hard as I can while my brain is telling myself to slow the fuck down or you will die. That is probably my biggest negative motivator — my own inner voice.

There are usually great views of Longs Peak from here but not today. So I concentrated on those around me. Last year, I finished 3rd for my age group. If I ran at least a minute faster this year, and it was last year’s field, I would win my age group. We will see today. However, I saw a dozen people in front of me. I spent time thinking about how old they might be. Gave me something to do instead of thinking about dropping. Here comes the finish line! I could see Kim and the kids. But I heard the dude behind me starting to come up and I would not be passed so I found some inner turbo boost and flew to the finish. Wonder how much more of that I had in me? Was hoping for some memorable running photos but she got me right as I entered the corral and was about to die. Here is the progression.

Well, 2 new dudes showed in my age group and finished 2nd and 3rd overall in the 16 and 17 minute range. I will not be in that party. So I was next for 30-34 with 3rd place. Prizes to top 2 finishers in age groups. Damn it! I wanna win something someday. I don’t know why. Just sounds cool.

Anyway, that is behind me. You have to run fast to get faster so I have been trying to do a few short races like this now and then to push and test. I hate them. I am not built for fast. It was good to race but it didn’t leave me wanting more. At least another PR lowered. That was the main objective for today I guess. I had a vision of breaking 21 but missed by seconds. Close enough for now. If I raced another one of these in a few weeks, I would break it. The big goal would be sub-20. That would be an accomplishment.

View all photos from this event.