Race Report: Xterra Cheyenne Mountain Trail Run

The Xterra trail race at Cheyenne Mountain State Park was my first real test of the season.  I would quickly find out if I was in shape or not, and more importantly, find out if I was in climbing shape or not.  It was a pretty small race (60 people) and I know most of the other good runners in the area.  I did not see any of the big names at the race so I basically assumed I was going to win the race before it even started.  Bad assumption.  The race was a two loop course (repeat the same loop twice) which climbed, climbed, climbed up to the high point of the northwest side of the park and looped back down to the start area.  The gun went off and I started conservatively in a pack of three until we started climbing.  From then I hammered.  I wanted to climb hard and see what kind of shape I was in.  I felt great and was surprised there was a guy hanging on to me step for step.  I decided to surge a little and he stayed with me.  “Who is this guy?”  I thought to myself.  I am arguably one of the best climbers in the country and here was some guy I’ve never seen before climbing with me step for step.  We reached the high point and started descending.  I sprinted as fast as I could knowing most people can run downhill faster than I can.  Sure enough once we got off the single track and to an aid station, I grabbed a cup of water and he ran right by me.  A few minutes later and back on the single track he was already out of sight.  Wow he was fast!  I was hoping he was only running the 12k and would turn to the finish after one loop.  Nope.  Tim Bergsten (pikespeaksports.us) was taking photos near the end of the loop, and as I passed him I asked “Who is that guy?”  Tim said he didn’t know and was going to ask me the same thing!  Besides climbing hard during the race, my other goal was to run negative splits.  I didn’t come close.  My second lap was 4 minutes slower than my first lap.  Lack of motivation was a big problem.  I didn’t have anyone pushing me up the hill, didn’t have anyone pushing my down the first part of the downhill, I couldn’t catch the guy in front of me, and nobody behind me was close to me.  I met the winner, Marshall Thomson, after the race.  He’s a skier from Crested Butte who has only recently started trail running.  He wants to get into the trail and mountain running scene and is a going to be a force if he sticks with it.  Colorado is already loaded with talented trail runners and he welcome addition to our arsenal.   I was happy with how I climbed the first lap, and I was satisfied with my race overall.  I know I need to work on my endurance and my downhills (I always need to work on downhills).  I think I might run the Big Mountain Trail Run next week.