Winter Wonderland

“'Ods pittikins!  Can it be six mile yet?”

William Shakespeare

Cymbeline - Act IV. Scene II.

Reflections on the Rocky Mountain Road Runners Trophy Series 10k race at Twin Lakes Park.

Ah, there’s nothing like a 10 kilometer race in January.  The temperature at the start was about 20 degrees.  The snow storm that passed through the Denver metro area the previous evening left the course with alternating sections of snow and ice.  The sound of cheek meeting pavement was heard, and felt, by a few of the hearty souls who braved the conditions to snatch up some trophy series points.  

The Trophy Series is Rocky Mountain Road Runners’ monthly race series featuring a handicap scoring and starting system.  Participants are given different starting times based on ability.  “In theory”, everyone finishes at the same time.

The turnout was surprisingly high considering the conditions.  Chalk it up to New Year’s resolutions.  The out-and-back course which starts and finishes at Twin Lakes Park is a gem.  Its existence is incongruous given that it runs under some highways and major roads (notably I-25 and routes 270 and 36) and skirts I-76.

It was at the first such overpass where trouble met one intrepid runner.  Tim and I started even at 30:09 after the first runner.  It is hard to describe how Tim fell.  The pavement was dry.  One moment my right foot was on his left foot and my right hand was on his shoulder, pushing him down.  The next moment Tim was ass-over-tea kettle.  I stopped to help him up, shouting encouragement.  “Get up you big baby!” and “quit whimpering and run!”  Tim suggested I go on without him.  

This was a good wake up call for the 2012 race season.  It was long enough to make it a good workout, but short enough to keep the pain to a reasonable dose.  I covered the course in 40:31 (~6:32 / mile); a fine performance under the conditions and at this point in the season.  I’ll log it in as a tempo run.

There was quite a bit of camaraderie and joviality after the race and many runners added a few more cool down miles.  Representatives from Honey Milk and Wheaties Fuel were on hand with samples of their fine products – thank you very much.