| Author |
Topic: The Festival of Balloons 5K Race Report |
Labduck
Cool Runner |
 posted Jun-17-2007 07:10 PM
  
The Festival of the Balloons 5K takes place in the Portland suburb of Tigard, Oregon. It is an adjunct event for their annual hot air balloon festival. This was the 5K I’ve targeted my training to for the past six weeks. I had run this same race the past two years, and I knew it was the fastest 5K in the Portland area. My goal was to run this in under 19:30 and PR, and based on my 10K race time from last week which predicted a 19:32, I felt I was ready. The weather was perfect: 55°F, cloudy, no wind or rain. I had an eerie sense of calm this morning when I awoke; a sense of confidence that I was definitely going to beat my goal. The only question would be by how much.My running attire for this race included my trusty silver Nike Air Zoom Milers with royal blue and red trim, royal blue Nike shorts, a white Race Ready singlet with red trim, and the my blue Garmin 205 Forerunner. I was ready to go fast. We arrived at the registration table about an hour before the race (Mrs. Labduck was going to walk it) and picked up our race bibs. Also on the table were a stack of papers that looked like maps. They were photo copies of a Google Maps print out. It was the NEW race route! Oh oh. We carefully studied the map and realized that the entire route was completely different than the old route, and that it was entirely off-road. It was Tigard High School’s new cross-country course. This certainly put a major crimp into my plans. Without going into massive detail about the route, I’ll just describe the different running surfaces we ran on in order of appearance: concrete, grass, concrete, large gravel, asphalt, pea gravel, grass, dirt, bark dust, concrete, asphalt, dirt, large gravel, concrete, grass, and concrete. There were three places on the course that I slowed to an almost stop. The first half of mile 2 was run at over a 7:00/mi pace because of the winding trail. And I passed a guy there. Suffice it to say, it was not the same fast course as in previous years! But you know what? I actually liked the course. It was really pretty fun. Having never run cross-country in school, I’ve never experienced a race route like it before. It felt like this was running in its purest form. A primal, run-or-die (or starve) echo from our Neolithic ancestors. Even if there was concrete and asphalt…it still seemed vaguely prehistoric. Well, needless to say, I did not break 19:30. I ran as hard as I could and finished in 19:43. I left it all out there, so I am satisfied with the result. I finished 8th overall, 2nd in the 45-49 age group, and, get this, only 5th in the master’s group. There sure were some fast old guys running today. And the man who finished right behind me was the defending master’s champion. I had told Mrs. Labduck before the race I was going to try and stick with him if I could. I stalked him for two miles or so, and then blasted past him going up a hill. I saw him give up right there…that was pretty cool. Of course a high school kid from the cross-country team did the same to me a half mile later. Those kids! After the race, I was talking to the previous master’s winner about other 5K races in the area, and he said that another really fast one was the Summer Solstice 5K in Oregon City, which of course is being run at 7:15 this Thursday evening. Guess what I just signed up for? 
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Labduck
[This message has been edited by Labduck (edited Jun-18-2007).]
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Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 07:17 PM
My little heart sings to read such a happy Labduck RR.So it wasn't flat and fast and you still loved it? "Winding trail"? Aha! EconoSister and I will make a trail runnah outta you yet! What a stunning result too. You are running so well! (Too bad you hate it so much, hmm? ) Hope Mrs. Labduck enjoyed herself as much as you!
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TammyM
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 07:22 PM
aahhhh, very very nice Labatrailduckie! What a cruel joke to change the course on you, but you took it all in stride and ended up having a very nice and enjoyable race out of anyways! That's the duck spirit!------------------
Tamborini
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 08:35 PM
Tigard is an area I know. I used to do some consulting work for Key Bank in that area. What a beautiful place to run. No doubt with your time you would have exceeded your goal, but certainly not in X country, even if you felt the course was beautiful. It is just a different way to run. Very nice job on your time despite that surface. And now on to other things:GRRRRR! Spareribs
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smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 08:52 PM
Cross country running rocks!!! You really need to be alert to avoid tripping. You did very well. Some unexpected suprises are kewl. Thanks Lab.------------------
Never regret anything that made you smile, SteveP My User Profile
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tomwhite
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 08:57 PM
.....CC is fun//........glad you enjoyed yourself.........and Good Luck on your next one............nice running.....
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ksrunr
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 09:19 PM
XC running is the best really. The best way to guage a XC race is by how you feel and if you are gaining or losing ground to the others. Clocks are not relevant! Very primal and fun. In H.S. XC was a contacts sport! 
Congrats on a fine race. Get 'em Thursday.ksrunr
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mariposai
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 10:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Labduck:
It felt like this was running in its purest form. A primal, run-or-die (or starve) echo from our Neolithic ancestors. Even if there was concrete and asphalt…it still seemed vaguely prehistoric.
So LabTrailDuckie is the newest convert to trail running? Great race brother, I loved the following statement you made in your RR "I left it all out there, so I am satisfied" I don't think we often see an RR like this one. We often short change ourselves by thinking how we could have done it better, often forgetting to enjoy and celebrate the victories. Indeed you had a running experience in its purest form. Congratulations for that!
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SherieRanier
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-17-2007 11:03 PM
Glad to hear you actually liked the changes in the course. Even if you didn't PR, it gave you an opportunity to experiement and try something different. Sounds like you had fun and great finish in your age catagory.Sherie
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glidegal
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 07:45 AM
Way to adapt to the new course and run well anyway! Let's hope they don't change the Solstice course on you now too, lab. I'm running that too--maybe we can meet up. glidegal
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euphoric
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 08:22 AM
My heart went kathunk for you as I read paragraph 3. You certainly exhibited grace under pressure once you realized the change and and you quickly reduced the "crimp" in your plan. It's neat to think of it as "running in its purist form". What about the ballons?
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Labduck
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 10:03 AM
glidegal - I don't think the ORRC is changing the route for the Summer Solstice. It's still two laps around Clackamas CC. I'm looking forward to an evening race for a change. We'll definitely have to meet up. Looking forward to it!euphie - the hot air balloons lift off around 6:00 am and then drift down the Willamette Valley. We can't see them after that, although it would be cool if we could. As to my conversion to trail running - ummm, I don't think so. I would prefer to run trails in the summer when it's hot and gain comfort from the tree shade. But unfortunately, trails cause extensor tendinitis on the top of my feet due to their uneven surfaces. My knees don't mind asphalt, but my feet hate trails. So it's city running for me. Although that doesn't mean I wouldn't meet up with a fellow Boomer for a run on one of Portland's awesome trails...
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Lil Engine
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 11:02 AM
Loved this report Duckie! I've never raced on trails, but I run on trails a lot (for my knees, and because it's fun). And yes - it's primal! Nice job adjusting your goals and having FUN!------------------
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"I think I can, I think I can"
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Karl Rysted
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 11:43 AM
That's what you get for trying to cherry-pick your race! Seriously, good job. Maybe you should have run cross-country instead of track. (I didn't even know what cross-country was back then). You know you can meet up with a couple of Boomers and cheer us on at the Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon in Bend, right? (I'll be flying into Portland and either getting a ride from Dove or renting a car).------------------
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mrpat
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 11:53 AM
You adjusted very well to the course change, kept your composure and focus and enjoyed the day. You also ran a great race for not knowing the course and would most certainly have broken 19:30 otherwise.
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 01:05 PM
That's still a heckuva time considering the huge change in the nature of the course. We'll expect another RR on Friday letting us know how you did on the flat-and-fast!------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-18-2007 01:27 PM
Great race and report, Lab. I like the way you adapted to the changed course and enjoyed the experience. If you had known ahead of time about the change, you may have opted for another race and missed a good time. Congrats on coming so close to your "road race" goal, high overall finish, and 2nd in AG. I agree that there were some fast old guys to run against. TomS ------------------
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-19-2007 03:35 PM
Labduck – Sounds like you had a good time running this race, even if you didn’t quite PR, and you still had a very fast finish time. But wow, 8th OA, and yet 5th in masters – that’s awesome! I live to see the masters kicking butt like that!Good luck Thursday!
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Holly
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Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-19-2007 04:29 PM
Oh yes Labduck, cross country running is something else, not even trail running, running without a trail, very prehistoric. And if you are chasing something, even better!
You are fast fast fast! Congratulations on being sub 20 all of the time.  hi Spareribs <waving>
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John2635
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-19-2007 04:37 PM
Congrats Labduck on another speedy race and your usual high AG and overall placements. Good luck at the solstice 5K thursday night.See ya John
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