Bolder Boulder

So I got back in action today for the first time since running the Colorado Marathon on May 4th and ran the Bolder Boulder for the 2nd consecutive year today. I've talked with a few people on this site in PM's and over email and phone calls, but I've been in a funk since the marathon went south for me earlier this month. I haven't been running much, I haven't been rising at 4 to go to the gym, I usually get up around 5:30 to play with the dog and make sure she gets exercise, then shower and off to work. I stepped foot in my gym for the first time in a week on Sunday, and then I just sat in the hot tub and relaxed. I needed a kick in the a/s/s and started by signing up for a trail half marathon in two weeks, but was hoping a good race today would go a long ways to getting me going again. I've never run a good race in Boulder. Last years BB 10k I ran a 46:32, and at the Colder Boulder invite in December, I ran a 21:56 for a 5k. This is was actually only my 3rd ever 10k, and my PR of 44:57 has stood for almost a year.One thing I can say about today is that I really like the 10k distance. I will probably try and do more of these.I think about 53000 people ran Boulder this year. It was a cooler day than last year, and rained for a lot of the morning before the race. I started in the AB wave for the 2nd straight year as well. Last year I showed up in Boulder with no IPOD because they are prohibited, and saw 90% of the people running wearing one. I didn't bring one again this year, it's only 10k and there's a buttload of entertainment on the course. I set my Garmin for 42:59 as the target finish time. 6:59 per mile is what it said I needed to run. And something in the 42:'s was what I was shooting for. As the waves moved forward and were being released, I stood back and waited for everyone in mine to go before I took off. I was hoping that the people would thin a little and I wouldn't get stuck behind people or hung up.

Mile 1. 6:39. A little quick, but didn't think too much about it knowing I could slow up a little and had lots of race to run.

Mile 2. 6:50. Settled in at a good pace, passed a kid I blogged about once who worked out at my old gym, he was struggling already and I offered some words of encouragement as I passed.

Mile 3. 6:58. I was pretty much right on the money with this mile. A couple things that took place during this mile. #1 I started to really struggle during this part last year, and recognized the stretch that I actually walked during this mile last year, but held tough today. #2. The guys with the slip and slide who were drinking beer at 7:30 in the morning, wearing straw cowboy hats and asking if we wanted to stop and party...If I had felt at this point in the race like I did last year, game on boys, but not today. It was kinda cool though.

Mile 4. 7:01. I was starting to feel it a little in my legs, as when you hit the mile 4 marker, its a pretty good uphill. I was watching my Forerunner, but instead of trying to run at 6:59 pace up the hill, I ran at 6:59 exertion, and picked the time up on the way back down the other side. As this mile ended, you start to enter the business districts again and know your getting close.

Mile 5. 6:52. Another good mile for me, was really starting to feel a little fatigue, but the coolest part was that instead of backing off, I pushed ahead, never really getting off pace. This was another section last year where I stopped and walked.Mile 6. 7:05.

Mile 6 is decieving in it's time because of the finish of the race. You hang the right onto Folsom Street, which begins to lead you to Folsom Field. It's a slight uphill that ends with a pretty good climb as you run the last 1000 meters or so. The part I really don't like is at 8.8 they start hanging banners that tell you your KM run. When I saw the first one from a distance, I remember last year seeing a 9k one, so I thought that was it and I was in great shape. Come to find out I was .2km off. So I picked up the pace a little, climbed the hill to the stadium, and crossed the finish line at 42:58:84, less than one second faster than my target I set on my Garmin. 1:59 seconds ahead of my 10k PR.I didn't run a really fast race today. I set a goal and acheived it. I refound a little dicipline today, and was almost scientific in the way I tried to hit my mile times. With the exception of getting out a little quick, I was pretty much right where I wanted to be for most of my miles. I was tired at the end, but wasn't hanging on for dear life. Like I said, I set a goal, and I acheived it.

I have talked recently about my lack of motivation, my not really wanting to run, or work out, or do much of anything except hide from life it seems. I got up this morning and ran. I wasn't hung over because I didn't go out and party after the race. I feel like I might be ready to return to normal, to fight on like I used to be able to. I think I'm ready to put all the outside distractions behind me and try to get back to what I enjoy doing. Running