Date/Location: | April 17, 2021 – Grass Valley, CA |
Distances: | 5km |
Time: | 25:57 (PR 23:59, 2016) |
Place: | 1st Place, 40-49; 2nd Female OA |
Teammates: | Anna, Ariel & Troy Soares, Ellie Nickel; Nick Lynch |
So great to be back at the Christian Encounter Ranch racing for these students and staff! We have brought our friends Ellie (13) and Ben (11) with us too. They are staying with us while their parents are on an adventure. I feel pretty wiped out from Ironman training and the busyness of life. But this race is for the Lord and the Ranch so I’m feeling hopeful I will still have a pretty good race. Feeling sad for Anna for popping (spraining) her ankle again. She's back in the boot and unfortunately on the sidelines. Ben has an injury too.
Troy and I warm up. The Ranch is nicely groomed, flowers are blooming and it's a sunny day. Great conditions! We run into one of our the new members of our track group, Nick. He's fast and likely will be at the front.
There are 3 waves of runners going. Troy and I seed ourselves in the 1st wave. Ariel and Ellie seed themselves in the 2nd wave. The leader of CER, Nate, thanks everyone for coming and talks about how the campus loves, disciples and encourages the lost teens/young adults who come here. He then leads us in prayer. Love that the Lord is King here!
Ok, go time! The communications director, Zack, starts the countdown. Ready, set…go! We jump off the line and head up the road to the work shed area. There are 2 women ahead of me. Then it's back to the main campus and UP…about 100 feet in a quarter mile! I am able to pass one woman and a young boy during the climb.
It flattens out a bit and we hit some technical trails along the ponds. This is where I slow down though I'm trying not to. I am such a scaredy cat on trails because I'm afraid of falling. The woman I passed passes me back. Up we go again about 100 feet in even less distance. I'm able to pass the woman again. I can see the other woman still ahead of me along with Troy. I wonder if I can close the gap.
Mile 1 is 9:17. I make it to the canal. Phew, the hardest spots are behind me now…I think! I do know that when I see the spray painted happy face on the ground that means no more climbing…I don't think we climb much more anyway. Troy and the woman are getting farther away even though I am picking up the pace.
Runners are already coming back on the trail on the other side of the canal. I see Nick and tell him good job. I am relatively alone. Now I cannot see anyone ahead or behind. I get to the turn that takes me to the upper trail along the canal.
Mile 2 is 7:54. Yay! Thanks God for a good split! I am confronted with some more hills. Oh man, I forgot it was rolling over here! Just got to make it to the happy face!! As I run back above the canal, I look for Ariel and Ellie below. I’m not sure when they started their wave.
After quite a bit of rolling hills, I finally see the happy face! Yes! I am still alone. I cross back over the canal to the flat trail and try to pick it up more. I get off the canal just before a large group of runners from the 2nd wave are coming up to the canal.
Down, down, down. I don't particularly like downhills because of the fall factor. I try my best to get my legs spinning. I get on the last trail down to the finish stretch. Another technical and steep trail. I am able to navigate with minimal slowing.
Mile 3 is 8:14. I sprint to the finish. I look up to God and thank Him. So good to be done.
The girl that finished ahead of me is a former intern at the Ranch. We congratulate each other. Now waiting for Ariel and Ellie to finish. Thank you Lord for a fun and safe event!
Troy & I warm-down afterwards along the trails..
