Castle to Coast 8.2 Mile Race (7:23 pace)

The Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race in San Simeon, California, was my first race in practically 3 months after my hip harm. I raced the Antelope Valley Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, however I haven’t been touring to races in the previous couple of months. Why? Actually, I didn’t really feel prepared, and my hip harm put me right into a funk that I can’t actually appear to get out of.

I haven’t felt the identical since coming again, and I’m simply hoping to string alongside a very good marathon coaching cycle for Los Angeles. I’ll have an extended put up sooner or later, however I’ve additionally been coping with congestion and being drained all the time. Once I went to my major care physician (who’s nice), she stated I in all probability had COVID about two months in the past, they usually’ll do some bloodwork to verify. Fortunately she prescribed me some stuff, nevertheless it doesn’t make it simpler.

Earlier than the Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race:

We drove up the evening earlier than to San Simeon. It’s a couple of 3:30 drive, and we made some stops, together with in Paso Robles, and received there round 6. I used to be fairly drained and fell asleep virtually instantly. The Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race was $40. That appears virtually unparalleled in lately of races, however there was no chip time, no bib, no medal, and no t-shirt. You can purchase a t-shirt in case you needed.

We discovered the web site and instructions sort of complicated. Do you begin on the citadel? Do you begin on the park? Lastly, we figured it out. It’s level to level, so it’s a must to both take the shuttle again or run/drive again.

They advocated getting there early, however after we arrived at 6:30 for the 8 am race, the gates have been closed to the park. There have been different individuals ready, so I knew we have been in the proper spot, however we couldn’t get into the park till 7:15. I didn’t suppose there was any approach we might begin on time, and we ended up beginning at 8:15. Not an enormous deal. I ran a 1.3-mile warmup. I thought of doing extra, however 1.3 felt proper, and my plan was to run the 8.2-mile course again. I ended up not having sufficient time with lodge checkout, so ended up operating 5 miles after, which was ok.

For fueling on an virtually 15-mile day, I had a bagel with Nutella for breakfast (my regular breakfast), Maurten 160 throughout the race, and a Maurten gel at miles 5 and 10 for the day (which was round mile 3 and on the end of the race). I’ve combined ideas on Maurten liquid and I feel I like Ucan higher, however I’m TBD.

Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race:

The Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race is small. Possibly round 200 individuals run. When the gun went off, I discovered myself proper in a groove. I didn’t really feel nice, however I felt ok. We ran on the shoulder for a lot of the approach, and it was borderline scary to have vehicles whizzing by you. My final aim was to run beneath a 7:30 tempo, however I wasn’t actually positive if I might maintain that.

I ran a 7:11 first mile and thought wow, perhaps I can. The Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race is among the most scenic and exquisite race programs I’ve ever achieved. As we headed into the second mile, I seen that it was slightly hilly, and I ran a 7:16. I additionally seen there was some headwind, not loads, however there was greater than nothing.

Mile 3, I ran a 7:14. I assumed, wow, perhaps I might common 7:15, however that was rapidly shut down at mile 4 after I ran a 7:23, and I simply didn’t really feel nice. From there, I felt like I used to be holding on. I haven’t been doing loads of lengthy velocity work since my harm, and I felt it.

Mile 5 of the Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race was my slowest, and I ran a 7:32. Two girls flew by me like I used to be standing nonetheless. I used to be considerably defeated however simply tried to go along with them (or as a lot as I might). I ran a 7:30 subsequent mile. The final two miles are within the State park. I assumed we might go down a steep downhill for a quick end (I don’t know why I assumed Citadel to Coast meant you have been going to run from a mountainous citadel downhill to the coast. The course simply had rolling hills the complete time). However the downhill end by no means got here. There was a small downhill, however nothing loopy. I completed mile 7 in 7:28 and mile 8 in 7:25.

Lastly, after I might see the Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race end line, I simply sprinted as onerous as I might (round a 7:00 tempo). I completed in 60:47.

Citadel to Coast 8.2 Mile Race Ideas:

I’m completely happy I beat my aim of sub 7:30 tempo, though it didn’t really feel nice. We did have a small headwind, and the course was extra hilly than anticipated, so I’m proud of the outcomes for now. I’m hopefully wanting ahead to turning a nook and feeling higher with operating once more.