I Ran Like a (wounded) Dog!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kGh5Ag8NsBQ

I cant tell you how frustrating it is to work and train hard for each race, yet this race I ran like a dog and finished 8th. I was just never into it, ready, nor looking forward to hurting on the run. I have been nursing a right hamstring for most of the season now and it finally came back to bite me. This is a picture of my dog Hurley...... he is the ish!

So the race went like this, I had a decent swim getting out of the water 5th, smooth T1, and really felt strong on the bike, legs were warming up nicely and I made up 3 spots putting me into 2nd going into the run. Yet again, knowing my run is the weakest leg of the 3, I started off slow and began to pick it up until the 4th mile. That's when my toes started tingling and my right hammy started cramping up........... lets just say I kept punching myself in the back of the leg to try to keep the muscle from ceasing up on me. It worked, but I couldn't run like I usually do come race day. See usually I run as fast as my lungs will let me until the race is over, but this race I just had to sit back and put it in cruse control. 8th may not sound bad out of 100+ in my age group, but I don't compete to finish in the top 10, I do this because I want to win!

Speaking of winning, big ups to Beth Gerdes for winning her 25-29 age group! Beth has been coming back from a serious leg injury and a broken arm from a "training" bike crash and even though she doesn't know it , the Olympic/International distances are were she will dominate! I wonder if it has anything to do with her boyfriend James Walsh, one of the nations top amateur Xterra athletes pushing her? Naaaa!

Lastly, I want to blow up Dave Plattfoot for his 6th place finish last week! I have a feeling that if I could have been a better rabbit and stick in 5th place, Dave would have still run me down like he does every Thursday in our track workouts allowing him to finish 4th......... Sorry Dave, I tried brother!