Yesterday we received our leg assignments. This is something the team eagerly awaits. We give them our input on what we feel we can do, and then the team captain looks through everything, and decides who will run which legs. I am runner #9 on the 12-person team. What does this mean?
First off there is a degree of difficulty in the legs, ranked 1-12. I had requested because of my health and foot issues I run anywhere from the 10th - 12 most difficult. I will be running the 2nd most difficult. When I saw that I had anxious moments.
Runner #9 runs the following legs of the race - 9, 21 and 33. I'm going to break down each leg. Leg #9 is 5.38 miles, and listed as a moderate leg. You run on the Springwater Trail, which is a long gravel/paved bike running trail. According to the elevation map, you start at 550 ft, go up a bit, and then descend to 350 ft. So it looks like a gradual decline.
Leg #21 is the leg which has me a bit nervous. This leg is 5.06 miles, with a long decline from 1050t, to 850 ft.. What worries me is this is a gravel country road, with a lot of dust. If I am going to have a night time leg, this looks like it will be that leg. You are encouraged to wear a bandana around your face, as there is a lot of dust as vans go by. It's a combination of the gravel and the darkness which worries. I will have a headlamp, and or another light with me. Still, I worry about taking a wrong step, or how big the gravel is.
Leg #33 is my longest leg. Who doesn't want that for their final leg. This is a 7.72 mile leg, on "rolling hills on narrow country roads." The map does look rolly. I will go from 0ft to 100ft, and back down a few times. I will be tired, and not sure what I will have left at this point.
Overall I am running 18.16 miles. I worried and fretted yesterday for a time. I started reading people's accounts, and watched various You Tube videos on those legs. By the time I went to bed I said this to myself, "Well Charlie, you wanted to run Hood to Coast, well you are running Hood to Coast, so suck it up." By suck it up, I wasn't being mean to myself, I was telling myself to stop being a baby, and get ready for it.
Training will now consist of more hills, and night/earlier morning runs. I have over 3 weeks to get this figured out. This is where the real work begins. If anyone reading this has run any of these legs, any and all advice is welcome.
Je Suis Runner #9!!!
Charlie
No comments:
Post a Comment