Orienteering race 37:11 [4] *** 2.98 km (12:29 / km) +65m 11:15 / km
ahr:163 max:189 13c (injured) shoes: Inov-8 Mudclaw 330
Haven Hill sprint at US Team Trials A-Meet (SMOC). Red/Blue sprint.
I came into this weekend with some concern about my heels and the new shoes, since I had some blisters started from last weekend's Story meet. Since this sprint was the shortest event of the weekend, I decided to tape up good and give the shoes a second try.
I started off strong (for me), and was on pace for my typical sub-10 min/k sprint run until leg 10, when the heel pain slowed me down to a hobbling walk. On inspection at the finish area, I found that the shoes had now torn the blisters completely open on both heels.
Mike M. made a comment in a recent log about a run making him feel "old, fat and slow". Well, struggling with these heel issues after five years of orienteering, and at an out-of-state A-meet no less, made me feel very out-of-place there. I couldn't even make eye contact with anyone in the finish chute. Absolutely crestfallen.