Finished my only run race of 2022. (Only 2 Tri’s on the schedule too, might add a duathlon). So now I can gain back those 12 lbs I lost since New Year’s.
Oak Barrel HM. Love this race.
plan was to take it easy the first 3 miles to whiskey hill, take whiskey hill at whatever felt decent (push but not too hard), miles 5-9 smooth and relaxed with some push, then miles 9-13 under 30.
miles 1-3 were exactly as planned, 7:40-7:53, HR in the low 150s (ignore the 106 showing for the first mile on Strava, no chance that’s accurate). Felt good.
Miles 4-5 are the hill, ran most of it until the last 100 yards or so when my “range walk” kept pace with the people next to me. That hill is hard but doable. Feeling fine.
miles 6-9 went as hoped, felt smooth. I’m running completely by PE without checking time but averaged just under 7:40. A lot of this is downhill.
Miles 9-13.1 were my focus, wanted under 7:30 pace. Hit each between 7:16-7:30. Fumbled one Gatorade at mile 10 so that was less than awesome, getting orange stickiness all over my hands.
Downhill running when you weigh more than most around you is fun. Just relaxing and going smooth, passing quite a few runners. I don’t think I was passed by anyone until the last quarter, when a guy I had just passed caught up. But my Quads

walking downhill after the race hurt like a #####
I usually aim for top 10% in these races, fell just short of that for category and gender. Considering I haven’t been running as much as previous years, that’s not a surprise.
Still, I’ll take it
and now, for real whiskey and no more running races until 2023!