Race Report: Richmond Flatlands

I'll start by talking about the positives from my race yesterday.

Moments after crossing the finish, I heard someone call my name and was surprised to see my brother Roy standing there to greet me. The most surprising thing was that he drove in from Burnaby so early on a Sunday morning. It was nice to spend the post race with him and have lunch later with him and 1/2 the family. It was a race morning that had ideal weather --you couldn't ask for better conditions. Another positive was the fact that I know I'm capable of a better performance.

As for the race itself, it was not as well attended as past Richmond flatland races I've ran in (two others), and the race itself did not seem to be as well organized as past events. A case in point is that just as runner's were finishing their warm ups, it was announced that there would be a 10-15 minute delay, as the police were not happy with course marshals without reflective vests. So there was some waiting around for the actual start of the race. With the race moving from Minoru park and track, the participant level has dropped by at least 300.

I wasn't happy with my performance for several reasons, the two main ones being that my time was slow, and secondly, that I could have done a much better job RACING. I was with a pack of runners to 3k and put in a surge to keep up with them at one point. I had a chance to stick with a guy at around the 4.5k point and then let him get away from me, putting me in no man's land from that point to 9k. At the very end I gutted to the finish to prevent from being passed.

I didn't run with the intensity required; to slow as a time trial, and not with a competitive edge required for racing. I know I'm fit, but suffered a mental lapse. I needed to push between kilometers 4-9 in particular. I wasn't wearing a watch during the race so I've no idea of split times. The best thing for me to do is learn from this experience and move on.

I won't be giving up running for beer and Internet poker, as my wife suggested.

Here's a pic from the race............Look up the road you idiot!!

A bit better here.