Well, the last time I raced was the snow run in Kuzminki 30 December. My training had been going pretty good and by April, I was hitting times in my interval sessions on the open tundra/dirt/gravel road to the airstrip faster than my track times over the last couple years! I had a hunch I might be in decent shape, but you never really know until you get out and race. This was the barometer race to see where I was at. I flew out of Tuluksak on Thusday so I could get rest before the Saturday start. It was hanging 7-8 C in the morning -perfect! No pressure, just whatever it is, it is. This is the run where they age grade you and give you a goal time based on your previous performances. My goal time was a 1:34. jeez, they had me set for a minute faster than last year's goal time....means I ran too fast last year LOL! So, I figured what the hell, if I can hit fast times on dirt, I should be able to do this. I went out with 4 other lead ladies and we were pacing right in that range. After the first hill, they began to drop back. I really didn't want to take the lead less than 8km into the race remembering how my tired legs quit at 18km last yr and I ended up 3rd. However, if I didn't move my butt I was not going to hit said goal pace. I was slacking off. I just kept picking it up to the turn around. The outbound has a few uphills but no big deal if you are on a diet of hill workouts. The lady that got me last year dropped back but I only had about 38 seconds on her and the chase pack at the turn around.
I stepped it up a bit on the return. Actually, I stepped it up more than I realized, but felt good. I ended up negative splitting a good couple minutes! I ended up 1:31 good enough for the overall win and the age grade they do for everyone. So, I got an award for overall and top age grade overall. I have run this half since the 90s off and on but this was my first win. I always finished top 3 but that was it. I was over 2 min up on last year's time which shocked me since i'd literally been on the bench for 5 months. I train in an extreme environment. I work in 2-3 bitchin hill climb workouts on the treadmill working to Artctic Valley 10k simulation climbs by May so I could handle that in my comfort zone. I set the grade 10-12% just a little more than Arctic Valley so, I'd be mountain ready. I did 2 speed sessions a week and a long run Sundays followed by the banya/steam house. Yes, teachers, have a steam house too like the villagers. Leonid, a Sped teacher, and I are really the only ones that use it and can appreciate the value of a good steam for recovery.
