Run the Rocks 5k results
by Mr. New to Denver on Oct.12, 2009, under Fitness
I had my first Colorado 5k yesterday. The race was at Red Rocks, which is the world’s most beautiful gym. Working out there is unbelievable, it is so picturesque.
I woke up and checked the temperature it was 25 degrees at the race location. Luckily by race time it was expected to rise to 28 degrees. I bundled up and headed off to meet my teammate. Over 1,800 people were registered but only half showed up.
I had about 45 minutes to kill before the race. At one point, while shivering at the top of the amphitheater I looked out and noticed how serene the mountains surrounding the venue were. The mountains and grounds were all coated with a fresh dusting of snow. Beautiful, but not when you are struggling to stay warm.
It was futile to try to warm up before the race. I tried doing some squats and jumping jacks while standing at the starting line, but nothing really helped. I would have to warm up as I was running.
The first 2/3 of the race was downhill. I usually don’t like running downhill because of the strain it puts on my knees. However, this was a race day and not a training day, so I didn’t care. I finished the first two miles in 13:50, which I thought was amazing. I’d never run that fast in my life.
Despite the abuse my knees were taking I didn’t make the connection that I was flying because I was going down hill. Psychologically I was stoked with my pace. Nothing was going to slow me down. Well nothing except for the hills and stairs on the back end of the course. It was only after the race that I realized I was going so fast because it was downhill.
About a quarter mile past the two mile marker the course sudden went up hill. Brutally up hill. At the top of the hill you get to an even steeper ramp, which led to the base of the stairs.
I ended up finishing the course in 28:54. I was very pleased with my time. I finished 80th overall, 59 out of 325 males. More impressive I finished 13 out of 90 in my age group. I was very pleased with this because the overall winner came from my age bracket.
Now I’m trying to decide which race to sign up for next. In a few weeks there is a 3.5 mile race. What makes it special is that you race in a gorilla suit. The organizers are trying to set the Guinness Book of World Record for most people in a gorilla suit. It is expensive to sign-up, but you do get to keep the outfit.
