A Beautiful Day in Colchester

[singlepic=5536,280,200,,left]

On the drive up to the Colchester Half Marathon this weekend, I realized that I hadn’t run a road race in exactly a year–since last year’s Colchester.   In some respects, it is about as close to being a trail run as a non-trail run can be.  Lots of wildlife (mostly bovine) and several sections on narrow, muddy dirt roads–snow-covered this year–keep you entertained. The Bimbler contingent (minus Bimble, unfortunately) ended up being the same group which had run a Guilford 16 miler the weekend before (which, I should say, was a strikingly similar run:  same lovely rural scenery alternating wooded areas and farmland, same rolling hills with the occasional killer grind).  So we were all well-prepared for the challenges and pleasures of Colchester.

I drove up with Catamount and was glad to be able to find Sport at the registration area (among nearly 400 other intense-looking runners). Guthrie and Scoobie were busy doing appetizer runs, so we didn’t locate them until right before the start (sorry we didn’t find you for the ritual pictures!)  I debated ditching my water belt, since aid stations were available, but out of force of habit decided to keep it at the last minute.

The perfect amount of overnight snow and above-freezing temperatures gave us ideal conditions: mostly clear roads, easy footing, and lush, sparkling snow-covered tree boughs everywhere you looked. I enjoyed chatting with Sport for a few miles and overhearing other runners’ conversations.  One guy teased another for not going barefoot.  Another woman told her friend that, no matter what age you start, you will peak after about 10 years of running (which means I am at least 10 years over the hill!)  At the 6 mile mark, I had a moment of deja vu when I encountered the enthusiastic race director, Rick Konon, on the first killer dirt hill.  He ran around high-fiving all passing runners and again exhorted me to “pump those arms.”  (To my amusement, Catamount later told me he resisted engaging Rick in an on-the-fly debate about running form and efficiency.) The highlight of the race for me came at around the 10.5 mile mark. There was a nice downhill on a narrow, snow-covered dirt lane which for a moment made me feel like I was on a cruiser ski slope whizzing by the slope-side condos. The route crossed a bridge over an icy rushing river, then entered a wooded winter wonderland.  As I started up a small hill, slipping a little on the packed snow surface, the sun burst out from behind the clouds, making the whole snow-drenched landscape sparkle dramatically. At that precise moment (no kidding), my ipod launched into U2’s  “It’s a Beautiful Day.”  I’m sure I had a ridiculous smile on my face as I waved to the volunteers and (yes) a few of the large spectating cows. I let that dazzling moment sustain me as I turned the corner for the last, long uphill stretch. It seemed to go on forever.  I had been experiencing some thigh pain throughout the week (and throughout the race) and it intensified during those last few miles.  I tried to practice accepting the sensations and maintaining my focus. It was an uncomfortable and difficult push, but I was able to maintain my pace and pass a couple of runners before finishing with a time of 1:50:30 (a few minutes faster than last year, so maybe I’m not too far over the hill). Sport, Scoobie, and Catamount arrived in quick succession. (Given how ready I was to be done, I was very impressed that Guthrie and Scoobie headed right back out for dessert runs to complete their designated training mileage.) [singlepic=5535,280,200,,right]

After giving one of the massage therapists a crack at my leg, I enjoyed joining the rest of the crew for a tasty vegetarian-friendly spread in the school cafeteria (veggie lasagna and string beans with almonds).  It was truly a beautiful day in Colchester!

Congratulations to everyone on a well-run race.

Nadia