Summer Solstice 10K

We have been chalking up the family visitors lately. I got to perform for another family audience; my Mum & Dad, my American Mum & Dad (Brett's folks) and Uncle Stan and Carol.

La Sportiva Summer Solstice Twilight Trail Run on Saturday June 16. It was a great excuse for everyone to visit Beaver Creek Village and then have dinner after the race. It was a gorgeous afternoon, pretty hot actually.

Time 57:13
This race was actually 6.6 miles and I was thrilled that I broke an hour. There was less climbing and it felt great to actually get up to speed on the flats. I don’t think that I am the fastest climber although I am better (it is all relative). Climbing can be demoralizing at times cause you feel like you aren’t going anywhere. So this race was great for the ego even if the elevation wasn’t as aggressive as most trail running races in the Valley.

I seem to have a pattern, the first 1.5 mile I was questioning why I decided to run (hmm awareness is the first step, now how to change this thought pattern), maybe this is because the start is usually uphill. I picked my head up and saw a few girls around me that I know are solid runners and I was right there with them, so I figured I must be doing ok. I thought I would surge a little and get in front of a few of these ladies and see if I could maintain a more aggressive pace. I pulled away and kept on the gas, it is much, easier to do this when it is the top of a climb that heads into a traverse. A lovely surprise was seeing Pam Cakes on Allies Way with her cowbell. Gotta love these Davis’ and their cowbell, strategic placement for encouragement, just when I needed a boost. She had gone for a ride and heard that Ryan Cantrell and I were running and she was there to cheer us on “Love you Pam”. Silly, she even ran along with me for 10 feet clanging her bell and cheering!

I new exactly where the downhill started and I knew I could keep pushing till then and just hope my legs could deal with running downhill crazy and borderline out of control! It was definitely a bonus to finish up knowing my rele’s were all watching so of course I ran as fast as I could.

McKenna Douglas was 3^rd female overall (54:01) she is an inspiration. I can’t quite catch her (yet) but if I am within 5 minutes of her I am proud of myself. This tiny little dynamo who is the same age as me and the mother of 2 kids is quick. Nice work McKenna.