Re: Tom Besh Homestead Hill Run 14k (long)

Hi Dot-

Congrats for the faster race than you thought you were going to
run! Sorry you weren't so into it as last time, that helps a lot.
Great pics, those really are some nasty roots. And really pretty
fall colors. Thanks for the cool wishes for us still in the heat.
(We've been having near-record heat, one day over 100F this week).
Look sooo nice and cool and refreshing. And sorry about the fall!
Hope nothing is hurt!! That's never much fun. As always, great
report and pictures!! Thanks!

Teresa in AZ

Dot wrote: 
Event: Tom Besh Homestead Hill Run 14k
Location: Far North Bicentennial Park, Anchorage, AK
Date: 9/25/2005 10am
Host/Benefit: Alaska Pacific University xc ski team

Course layout: Loop, hills, mud, and a few roots for good measure. 14k,
about 1400 ft up elev
This has a shorter 5k (actually 4.4k) loop associated with it that I ran
last year - in the snow.
http://home.att.net/~akrunning/TomBesh2005/index.html
(With a couple bonus scenery pics to make up for no pics last time ;) )
Anchorage paper had one pic: http://tinyurl.com/dq5zg

Weather: High 40s F, occasional light wind, a few raindrops. Big
improvement over recent weather which has included heavy rain and wind.
Weather last year (has significance in planning and mental approach):
http://home.att.net/~akrunning/TomBesh2004/index.html
Summary: Whatever my 5k a couple weeks ago was as far as positive feelings, this race wasn’t.

Definitely had trouble getting psyched for this one and was planning on 2.5-3 hr, but somehow managed a 2:14:58. FWIW, this was a faster pace than my 2 10k's (one was snowshoe) and my 2 8-mi's. Elevation-wise, it was similar or a little more gain / mile than all except the Chena Hot Springs run. Footing-wise it had some slippery mud and roots, as well as some easy ski trails and utility access - maybe a slightly larger pct of easy trail, but the up portion was slower cuz of slippery mud and roots. IOW, I wasn't faster because trail was significantly faster, although cooler temperatures may have helped, but I do think the experience with different footing conditions earlier helped me with this one.

Eventually got to arc, then a final small uphill, some flat, then the
finish line - in 2:14:58 (DFL, as usual). Duh. That was a *very* pleasant surprise :) considering absolutely nothing felt good about the race - neither the pre-race feelings, not enough sleep the night before, nor any part of the race. Heck, I had even forgotten to put post-race SlimFast in the car. (That’s what I get for cleaning it out this summer.) For kicks, I compared the gps mph readings on the initial tank trail (slightly downhill) and the pipeline section (flat), and they weren't too different - certainly not as slow as I thought I was going at the end.

Thanks for reading.

Dot 

.

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