On Tuesday I shared the races I'm thinking about for 2018. The first race on the list is one I definitely plan to run, as long as I am not sick or injured come race day. It is at RB Winter State Park and it's called Last Man Standing.
The concept is interesting. Here is the info directly from their website:
"The Last Man Standing course is approximately 1.6 miles long and participants will have 20 minutes (12.5 minutes/mile) to complete the first lap. However, the time limit will decrease by one minute per lap and participants can not start laps early. Lap two has a 19-minute time limit, lap three has a 18-minute time limit, and so on. Make it in before the cutoff and you continue to the next lap.
The quicker you finish each lap, the more time you have to rest before the start of the next one. However, the more time you spend resting, the tougher it may be to start back up again. Balance smart early pacing with toughness and speed and you might come out victorious. If not, with the unique makeup of this race, all non-winners will be able to see the winners cross the finish line!
The race should take just under 3 hours. After 2:54, runners will have completed 19.2 miles and will have to be running at quicker than a 6 minute/mile pace.
If no runners complete the final lap before the cutoff, the winner will be the person who completed the previous lap the quickest."
The first year I ran the race, I completed 8 laps and was the 3rd female. The second year I also completed 8 laps but didn't place.
This year I am wondering if I should shoot for nine laps!? This is what my slowest pace would have to be for each 1.6 mile loop:
Loop 1- 12:30
Loop 2- 11:52
Loop 3- 11:15
Loop 4- 10:37
Loop 5- 10:00
Loop 6- 9:22
Loop 7- 8:45
Loop 8- 8:07
Loop 9- 7:30
By the completion of Loop 8, the mileage is up to 12.8. Loop 9 would bring it to 14.5 miles. That's a really fast pace to be running by the end! Especially because part of the loop is on trail and there is usually snow/ice on the ground!
The only problem is... even though I never trained for this race in the past, I feel like I am much slower than I used to be. I think it would be a challenge to do 8 loops and a huge challenge to do 9. If I wanted to do 9 loops, I'd have to do some speed training on the trail...
... but do I feel like doing that? I suppose if I have to ask myself that question, the answer is no! I have just been getting sick a lot these past couple months, haven't been getting good sleep, and really just am not feeling 100% like I normally do. I WANT to feel good but I don't.
The race is on January 6, so if I'm going to train to do well, I better get started yesterday...
Actually, I did end up running 15.5 miles on the trail with my dad this past Sunday. I felt terrible the whole time! I ran a 30k on the trail two weeks before and this 15 miler I just did seemed so much harder than the 30k. Maybe it was just a bad day!?
Does this sound like an interesting race that you would do?
I remember your race recap from last time and I thought it sounded like such a cool concept! I don't think I would worry about speed if I were you. Just go have fun!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm leaning toward. I just don't know if I have the desire this year!
DeleteI agree to just go have fun with it and not worry about speed so much. Running a 7:30 min/mile pace at the end of all those laps, on a trail, sounds super hard. I've been injured so much lately that I don't have ANY expectations for races anymore besides complete them and not hurt myself. I think that's the best mentality because if you do well, it's more of a surprise and good thing than a disappointment if you go in hoping to run a certain time or distance and don't.
ReplyDelete7:30 IS fast especially on trail. And I'm just not sure I feel like training to do that right now.
DeleteI think this is such an interesting twist on a "typical race' and would be great for folks who are kind of over the racing scene but want to challenge them selves as it seems like there is more room for competing with yourself than others. What a great concept! I wish I had the confidence to do something like this.
ReplyDeleteReally? Why don't you go do it just for fun? :)
DeleteI say do what you want to do, and it sounds like you just want to have fun at this race. We are in the heart of holiday season, don't let anything unnecessarily stress you out!
ReplyDeleteGood point!
DeleteWhat a cool concept for a race! I say why not sign up, if you are slower than normal who cares. Sometimes races should just be for fun.
ReplyDeleteYes, and trail races are good ones to do for fun.
DeleteWow! I hope you're ready for the race, that's a really cool challenge.
ReplyDeleteMarty
Thanks Marty!
DeleteThat race sounds so interesting, Megan. The challenge seems so awesome. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is really cool!
DeleteThat does sound like a really fun race and I bet a lot harder than it sounds. Smart pacing is not easy! I am excited to hear how this goes for you. Thanks so much for the lovely Hanukkah card! It was a nice surprise today
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome! I hope you are enjoying some Hanukkah festivities this week!
DeleteIs your Dad running this with you? He ran it with you last year? I could be remembering that wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think you are ready, and I think you are fast, so you will crush this race.
You are right, my dad ran this with me twice. The first year he did the Last Man Standing and the second year he did the "how many laps can you run in 3 hours" race which goes on at the same time. That's the same one he's doing this year.
DeleteI think you would enjoy a race like this. :)
ReplyDelete