The weather for the first race was warm by Santa Clarita standards but not for me after running the Bakersfield series. It cooled down to 93 by the time the 7:00 PM start rolled around. I went into the series planning on only running hard at the series finale since recovery seems to be getting tougher as I age. I had run a race only 48 hours earlier so the plan was to take it easy and enjoy the race. My start was fairly quick because old habits die hard. At the COC races, everyone heads out along the baseball field to a gate then a sharp left followed by the course narrowing down as it wound its way through campus. My early 5:30 pace for the first couple of hundred meters slowed as we made the turn and I settled into a pace that I felt comfortable with. My first mile was 7:03, followed by an 8:13 during the hilly section, then a downhill 6:49 to the finish on the track. My official time was a 22:18. I got third in my age group for the first night. In years past we have always gone to Vincenzo's Pizza for our post-race nourishment but on this night they were unable to serve us so we headed to Chuy's instead.
Robin went for the basket of fish at Chuy's.
I opted for the giant burrito
The following week we were back at COC on Thursday for race number 2 and this week Keith showed up. I did a short warm-up and caught up with Keith and his son Ethan about everything we had been doing in the last year since COC had ended in 2017. The second week of COC I hadn't done any races so I figured I would try a little harder than the week before but still nothing all out until the last race. I hit the first mile a little quicker in 6:57. The second mile I still didn't run hard because of all of the hills and ran an 8:11 split. My final mile downhill was quicker with a 6:38 showing on my watch. My final time was 21:56 good enough for second in my age group behind Nigel Toates on the night. Keith finished in a 35:37 and off we went for food at Vincenzo's Pizza.
Part of the family meal deal at Vincenzo's.
We opted for a pitcher of beer instead of sodas
Week number 3 was soon upon us and we all met up in the parking lot at COC to get ready for the nights racing action. Since I had raced on Tuesday before I wouldn't be running hard and the weather was a cool 82 degrees out. I was bummed I wouldn't be able to take advantage of the weather and race hard but I knew if I did I would pay the price down the road with recovery issues. I did the first mile in 7:17 cruising along talking with friends. The second mile with the hills was 7:53 and my last mile downhill to the track and finish was 6:57. My time was 22:17 which was good for 3rd in my age group on the night. Keith took full advantage of the cooler weather and turned in a 33:09. We all headed to Vincenzo's Pizza again for some food and adult beverages to aid in recovering from the night's activities.
Week number 4 meant we were over half-way through the series and the weather once again turned out to be cool. I decided to just run the middle mile hard, at least harder than I had run it up to this point in the series. Once again we all took off from the baseball field and headed to the middle of campus. I hit the first mile in a comfortable 6:58 then started working the hills with a little more determination than the previous 3 weeks. The hard work paid off and my second mile was a 7:41. I eased off on the last mile to the finish and had a time of 21:36 for the race, good enough for second in my age group on the night. Keith came across the finish line in a 33:37 which was a little slower for him than the previous week.
We tried to get to Vincenzo's but it was packed with some meeting so we headed over to Chuy's instead.
I have a soft spot for the Chuy's burrito
Week 5 brought us back to COC for the first time in the month of August. This week I decided I would run the last mile harder and go through the first two easy. I did my warm-ups and headed to the starting area. When the gun went off I did start quickly, about 5:30 pace but then I settled into an easy running motion to get through the first two miles. Lucky for me I tucked in behind Phil Howard that runs the Tuesday night track practice and was able to chase him to the finish. My third mile was a 6:22, the quickest of the year so far. I finished with a time of 22:11, good for third in my age group behind Nigel and Phil on the night. Once again, being creatures of habit we headed to Chuy's for dinner after the race.
Robin had the salmon
I went for something different finally and had the chili
Week six was the last night for the regular season. Next week would be the finale. This was the last night to get eligible for awards. In order to win an award, a person had to compete in three of the first six races. Anyone could compete in the finals race but only those that had three races in could win awards.
The previous Sunday I had competed in a trail half-marathon in Shaver Lake that I hadn't fully recovered from yet(more on that race in the next blog post)so my goal was to run the whole race easy. I went out slow and never ran hard the whole race. I was still tired from the half-marathon and I knew I was going to run hard the next week. My splits were 7:48, 8:49, and 7:00. My official time was a 23:48 which was good for 7th in my age group on the night. Keith, on the other hand, was feeling his oats and cranked out a 31:42 which was his best so far in the series.
The real treat for this night occurred at Chuy's. When we arrived Big Bill was there waiting for us. Bill Hines, aka Big Bill, was best man at my wedding and him Keith and I used to do lots of things together before marriage and children.
Big Bill showed up at Chuy's to eat and reminisce with Keith, Robin, and myself.
Week seven was here which meant it was finals night at College of the Canyons. The weather was a cool 82 which for mid-August was perfect. I did some extra strides and drills as I got ready. This week I wore my Nike racing XC flats for the race. I had done all of the other races in my Nike Pegasus trainers. The race started a little late which was actually good because it let the sun set behind the hills. My goal all season was to run this race hard.
This time when the gun went off I took off with the high school kids at a 4:50 pace and settled in in a good spot for the run through campus. I went through the first mile in 6:33 and attacked the hilly section. I learned to run and ignore pain early in my running career and it paid off in the section. I had a 7:21 mile 2 with all of the big hills. I continued to push the pace remembering last year when I won my age group by only a tenth of a second at the line. My third mile was a 6:19 and my finishing pace heading for the line was 4:30 in my sprint. I think I could have gone a little faster during the race as I had a lot left at the end. My official time was a 20:21, and I was first in my age group.
Results from my age group at the COC finals
Keith and the Frazier Park bunch all ran hard. Keith ended up third in his age group with a time of 31:37. After the race, everyone is treated to tacos and a awards ceremony takes place where the medals are handed out.
My first place medal for winning the 55-59 age group.
We started a tradition a few years ago of going out for sushi after the finals night and this year was no different. Keith, Ethan, Robin, and I headed to Love's Sushi and had some delicious food after seven weeks of fun running in the heat and dust. I give this race a 5 lager rating. I think it's a little overpriced for what we get but I'll continue to do it as long as I'm capable.
Our sushi after the finals night at COC.
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