Adventure Racing3:53:05 12.82 mi (18:11 / mi) +1536ft16:20 / mi ahr:110 max:142
Z's first "real" AR (she apparently doesn't think the RR family race last June counts). Four hours at Nottingham County Park, which included a foot loop, a bike loop, and a mandatory tree planting - two trees per person.
I did the prologue run for the passport - about a quarter-mile out-and-back. I started down the gravel road, made a joke about wondering where all the speedsters were so I could just follow behind them, and then looked to my right and realized they were all cutting across the field. Quick redirection and then I settled in :)
Once I returned to the start, we set off on the foot loop. Z set a pace that was quicker than I was expecting, especially on downhills, where she flew! She accepted a piggyback ride during the bushwhack up to CP4, but otherwise she moved on her own power - smiling all the way. So great! We didn't expect to be able to clear the course so opted to skip 5, 6, and 7 on foot.
Came back after about 90 minutes and spent 30-ish minutes planting six trees - which was the main focus of the race, planting a forest in memory of the "uncontainable" Bill Gibbons - and headed out on bike.
The riding was mostly double-track. Lots of chunky climbs and descents, some grassy paths. We did some bike pushing on the ascents, and I was totally amazed at her descending. She wasn't fearless - she told us she was scared but wanted to do it anyway - but she was clean and controlled, and absolutely rode things that I would have walked when I started racing.
She started to feel low with about 45 minutes to go - her first AR tears (welcome to the club, champ :) ). We had a family heart-to-heart and gave her the choice of whether to try to clear the section or head in a bit early. And she decided that she wanted to push for it. Buoyed by a few mentos, a little bit of singing, and some sweet support from other teams, she put her head down and pedaled her legs off. We finished with all the bike points and about ten minutes left on the clock.
We ended up fourth in the mixed-3/4 division - not sure of overall placement. Z was pretty sad at first that she didn't place, but we had a good talk about her decision not to race in the family division, knowing that she was putting herself in a position to race against adults and so probably wouldn't be quite as competitive in the field. By the end, I think she was proud of her effort, of her sore muscles and thorned battle scars, and of leaving it all out on the course.
Road Run30:42 3.5 mi (8:46 / mi) +29ft8:42 / mi ahr:154 max:177 shoes: Terraventure 3 Teal
The new XC coach is training for a marathon OTQ. I... am not... We ran together this afternoon while the girls did a post-meet shakeout. Her "recovery" miles are a little bit faster than mine :)