The Race Inside

Another successful Quad race.

Scott Dunlap Race Report
Quad Images

Move! Move that fat as*! Your friends are way ahead. You'd beter start chasing now! It's only the first leg! Right, meaning there is only 21 miles left on this race. I know you can start chasing from at least 26 miles out. You did it at Firetrails 50-miler and at the Stinson 50k two weeks ago. This ain't no regular miles. And this ain't new to you. My calf is not 100% You're not 100%, just lay it on the line. You're what, 10 pounds over race weight, 6 pounds over normal. Nevertheless you have the strength and endurance to go for a PR. Screw the plan, go all out, that's the new plan. Look they are pulling away and I think they're even laughing at you as they go. No one's laughing. I'm laughing. Hey I'm ahead of Georgia this time, that matters. She raced cyclocross last weekend taking 2nd place in her division. I bet she catches you with all this jogging that you're doing. She's amazing. You can be too, if you just move your as* Jogging? I'm 12-15 heartbeats below my max. Then make it 5 below, go hard like the last 2 races. I'm gassing. Straighten out your posture, open up those lungs. I am. Okay camera in 20 yards. Look fresh...suck in that gut...put your tongue back in. Give him the Blue Steel*. I don't think I'll catch those guys today. Loser talk. Downhill. There you go, that's what I'm talking about! yea! yea! yea! what I've been saying all along. Now run this hard for the rest of the race. Whoa she's cute. FOCUS! I am. 2 runners up ahead and you're gaining fast. Take em but be courteous, shout a warning so they know you're passing. Passing on your left! Nice, keep going. The ride will be over soon, uphill just around the corner. Okay I said "gas" not "brake". Rocks or roots which would you prefer I fall on. Of course I'm going to stinkin brake on a technical downhill! Match your speed to your downhill skills. Sprinting and braking is wasting your legs. Like water remember, just like water, flow between or up and over everything. Be fluid, stay on top of your legs, watch the mud and only go as fast as you can handle. Too much braking wastes quads. I've got quads for days. Not on this course, not if you run hard like I'm telling you to. These miles are special. Amen. This loungey electronica stuff you got playing is too soft. Relaxes me. You want cool, calm and collected. You need fire, some Foo Fighters or some Mettallica even. None of that stuff loaded. Two more runners up ahead. Sloping downhill, your favorite, put it in overdrive.What car do you think you're driving?! I've run out of gears a mile ago. You just think that. I'm inside your mind and believe me when I say you've got more. My heart begs to differ. You are not your heart. So look the runners are close. Look at them, like bunnies they are on an open field. Pretend you're a mountain lion about to have them for breakfast. Those are grown men. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't like being called bunnies. They'll never know, besides they're playing the same game. Here we go. Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!, that's what I've been yelling about! Now make sure you stay ahead. I almost slipped on that one. Good catch but you should have warned them you were passing. I'm beyond polite at the moment. Besides I'm a loud runner, I couldn't sneak up on runners even if they were sleeping on the field snoring. They knew I was coming. You know behind that easy going exterior you can be really competitive. Besides had you warned them they would have given you more room. Ha. Reap what you sow. There goes your friends again, on to their 3rd leg. You didn't gain much on them. They are running very well as I thought they would be. You're also heavier than you were in the summer. That's a lot of us today. The game remains the same, spend it all, there's nothing to save. What are you saving the energy for? the bus ride home, the Niner game in your couch tomorrow? Off-season starts today, save nothing for tomorrow. I feel like praying. Go ahead but remember God loves your competition too. Just to say thanks. Say thanks by doing your best. Start line up ahead. So that's one roundtrip done, last half to go. Here's the real race. Aye, exactly. Get ready for the pain. Here we go, what's 14 more miles(eyes rolling).

I did end up going a bit too hard on the first half but not too much. I slowed down a bit on the uphills for the second roundtrip but my downhills felt the same. Finished strong, no cramps, no pain, just exhaustion which was quickly remedied by two sausage dogs, one bean soup and one soda, plus two hours of socializing.

Unofficial time: 5:34
Unofficial PR of about: 10 mins.

*For the Zoolander fans