The 1st Annual Iowa Speedway 8k - (41/84)

Today was my first ever 1st Annual Race! It was a really fun idea, racing at the new Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. The track was designed by Rusty Wallace and is a bit of new hope for a town that lost the Maytag Plant this year. We ran around the grounds of the new track and finished up the race with a lap of the track and a finish on the start/finish line.

I started out well running through the parking lot and out toward the entrance of the race complex. I ran the first mile in 8:47. Unfortunately at this time I noticed that I had not reset my Garmin GPS watch to record just this race and it was adding my distance and time to my last run. Ack! So I don't have accurate data on this run. We passed the one mile mark and then started up the first of what would be several tough hills. The first one was by far the worst. About 5% grade and over a half mile long. It was a pretty rough climb, but I didn't stop running. Then we turned back toward the racetrack and ran the final part of a lap of the grounds. There was a pretty tough but more gradual climb from mile 2 - 3 and then the course flattened out to run back through the parking lot where we started. We then ran down a pretty steep hill to get to the tunnel into the track infield. Running through the tunnel into the track was really cool, such a great view into a really nice facility. I was imagining how it will look to the race teams as they drive into the new track. After the tunnel was a really short unpleasent climb up to the track for our final lap. We ran around the track and I looked up at the banked turns just being amazed that the banking of the track is so steep. I came around turn 4 and started to pick up the pace a bit. I managed to sprint about the last 100 yards and finished strong in 47:22. Not the first person to cross the line by far, but I am happy with that time. I think that sets me up for the longer distances well.

Race report:
Mile 1: 8:47
Mile 2: 10:00 (est.)
Mile 3: No idea...
Mile 4: Again not sure...
Final: 47:22

I have to laugh at myself for goofing up on the GPS watch. My brain is just a bit scrambled today. I'll be running another long run tomorrow and the last of the 10+ mile runs. The next time I run that far it will be the half marathon. I'm getting excited for it, I'm just trying to control the nerves and make sure I have my plan well in place. I guess that's it for this week!

See you on the roads folks!
Alex