Berbee Derby Race Results

34 with 8 mph winds from the north -

Those were the conditions at 9:00 yesterday morning when the Berbee Derby started.  Sounds pretty nice - but I assure you - it was chilly.  I went with my clothes selection of capri's, long sleeve tech top with front zipper, light jacket, hat and gloves/mitten combo.  I arrived at the race around 8:00 - found parking and visited the porta pottie and questioned my clothes.  I had other clothes in the car and should have put them on before heading out.  It was breezy and sprinkling every so slightly / almost sleeting.  The good news is that there were absolutely no lines - got in and out quick.  Ran back to the car - warm up . . .

This was the 7th running of this Thanksgiving day race.  It was started my a local Computer tech company - funds raised benefit the Tech Education Foundation - a fund designed to help meet the technology needs of area non-profit organizations.  There were 6,100 people signed up.

Sat in the car until 8:40 and then decided to head towards the start line.  Headed over to the start - listened to the National Anthem - and yes, as Chelsea from Early Runner, HERE pointed out, the young women, who had a beautiful voice, did sing a couple of words wrong, I was singing along - albeit silently.  I assume she new the right words (I hope)  -  and am attributing it to the cold - maybe her teeth were chattering.   ;-)

Anyway - after a few more minutes we started.  My plan - (I really never have a plan) was to go fast (OK that is relative) for miles 1, 2 & 3.  Take it a little easy on 4 & 5 and then run fast again on 6.  My plan almost worked . . . I just didn't run fast on 6.  ;-)   Started out really strong and felt great.  Thankfully we headed east with the wind to our backs - this allowed me to get warmed up and around mile 1 off came one glove. Mile 1 - 8:41 - YIKES!
We were now on a rural road, one that I would bike by during my summer biking trips to the Capital City Trail - I always wondered where that road went - now I know.  Mile 2 marker passed - 8:42 - YIKES!
The first three miles were slightly downhill - which added to my comfort.  Somewhere around mile 2.5 runners were heading back on the other side of the road from the turn around.  I made my was over to the left of the group and watched for Chelsea - I didn't see her until she was just about even with me - so when I gave her a Holler - I know she didn't see me.  Just around the turnaround was mile 3 - 8:46 - YIKES!
After mile 3 we made our way onto the Capital city trail - a trail I had biked on dozens of times this past summer.  It was nice running on the path and know exactly was was ahead and it is a very pleasant woods area.  BUT - remember we are in Wisconsin and it is deer season - I know we were very near hunting grounds - but hey we live dangerously up here.  At this point I needed to slow down a bit.  Who knows - if I had planned to run fast for 4 miles - maybe I wouldn't have slowed down for mile 4?????  Anyway - I fell back to a comfy pace and hit mile 4 with a 9:35 pace and mile 5 with a 9:25 pace.  That is more like me!
Now I tried to run fast - but I was breathing pretty hard - so even though I was trying - it wasn't working.  I headed up the hill on mile 6 and could hear the announcer and music coming from the finish line - so I knew I was close.  Mile 6, which was almost all uphill -  was at a 9:35 pace.  Little extra at 7:53 pace and I was through the finish line with a personal best of 56:43 and a 9:08 pace.

Grabbed water and headed to the car - drove home and got ready for Thanksgiving!

I learned a valuable lesson - I can run fast!  Next time I will try to stay at a 9:00 pace - which would probably be more productive than how I ran this race  . . . and who knows . . . maybe I can run at that pace!  Actually I think I can!!!!

Have a great weekend.