Race Report: Dick Houston Woodminster 9 mile Trail Run

Race Report: Dick Houston Woodminster 9 mile Trail Run. Oakland, CA. June 15, 2008

This was supposed to be a Father's Day run with my dad, but he hurt his calf last week hiking Red Rock in Utah, so he had to bow out. Bummer. I had chosen this run because my dad wanted to do something more challenging than a 10K. My dad is a little hardcore. Always has been. Even in his 60's he isn't really an "easier, softer way" kind of guy. Picture: Me and my dad at dinner this Friday.

Case in point, on our first skiing trip, after two trips down the bunny slope, he says "let's try something a little tougher." He took me up to a black diamond run and I spent the better part of the day attempting to get off the %^&#*@ mountain, while he shooshed on down like he had been doing it all his life. Anyhoo, this race was billed as a "very tough 9 miler."

Yesterday, I did the Mermaid Sprint Triathlon and then I went (after a nap) to get some bike miles in. I am concerned about my bike mileage, or lack thereof, for Barb's Race Half IM in August, so I went out for a 2 hour, 26 mile ride. I was, understandably, concerned about this "very tough 9 miler" today. Picture: Race Shwag

It was cool and overcast in Oakland this morning, but this burned off quickly to a beautiful, sunny day with temps only reaching about 70. Perfect running weather since the trail had lots of shade cover. Pictures: 1. View from the top of the first climb. 2. Pretty trail shot (I actually passed the woman w/ yellow, to make myself NOT dead fucking last in my age group. Go me)


The trail was breathtakingly beautiful. It had two really, really nasty climbs. One was only about 1/4 mile, but was like walking up stairs, rocky, broken stairs, for a 1/4 mile. Then the second climb was a little less steep, but went on for almost a mile. Picture: Elevation chart for the run.

The rest of the trail was very nice. There were a few technical sections with rocks and roots, but that is NOT where I had my first trail run fall. Picture: Technical descent in last 1/2 mile of race, makes for unhappy knees.

Yep, I bit it.
Hard.
I even skidded a bit.
Very cool.

I fell on a downhill section, but not a particularly, or even 'kind of', tough one. By some stroke of luck it was late in the run and everyone had already passed me, so no one witnessed my trail surfing event. I was, however, covered in dirt at the finish, so that may have been a clue that things had gone awry on the trail.

I am not sure how I finished. I know I was not DFL, but I was pretty far back. Even Teeka the Jack Russell Terrier beat me. Yes, she ran the whole thing with her owner! My kind of race! Picture: Teeka!


Final time: 1:57:34, 13:30 min/mile pace. Not bad for a tough race.

It was a great run and I am glad I did it, but I will enjoy my rest day tomorrow!