Living History Farms - The Race

As a virgin (woah!) runner I will share my short take on the 7.something (as advertised) mile Living History Farms off road race. I did my first organized run in September, the 5k Beaverdash. Part of Beaverdale Fall Fest Prior to that most of my running was contained to cemeteries and treadmills. Wait, actually, I did the inaugural Grand Blue Mile in 2010 with my dad. THAT was the longest straight distance I had run in 20 years, at the time. 7:57. :)

So to go from running 1 mile to 7 miles...was a change. I didn't really train for LHF. We were lucky to have a very nice fall, weather wise. I would just run when I felt like it. I did a few runs mapped out using my odometer prior to the run when I was frustrated with driving everywhere. John prefers mapmyrun.com, and is always eager to map my runs and figure out my pace when I come home. So far I am averaging a 10 min mile WITH walking. So, maybe 8 min mile while running.

Anyway, LHF. Our friend Dave, of Honeybadgershirts.com organized a team for the race. 4 men and 2 women. He provided awesome beanie hats and tshirts.

John and I were behind Dave and crew for most of the race, but got many comments on our shirts, and tried to do some breathless advertising. I ran/walked the whole race with J by my side cheering me on. He got frustrated several times with me walking and then running too fast, but that is just my style. I think we had a breathless brief argument about it during the run, and I swore I was NOT slowing us down via this method. I came home that evening to look up his past times for this race, and he PR'd (personal record) with me by over 15 minutes. So, yeah. Run fast, walk when you need to. I'm going to stick with that.

Unfortunately, I injured my left leg a bit during the race. It was very sore in the hip joint for a few days after, and now I am having classic IT band knee pain in that leg. I take back everything I ever said about people being wimps about IT band pain! I am trying to use my Merrel barefoot shoes and will try a knee compression strap the next time I run. LA half marathon coming up January 14th! I am behind in training due to small children making me very ill, and the knee pain. Right now my goal is to still run/walk the half.

Living History Farms Packet Pick Up

LHF.  One of the signature trail races Des Moines has to offer.  Apparently, they have learned a thing or two about structure of the packet pick up process in the 32 prior years they have hosted this race because it was smoother than...well, something that is really, really smooth.  Maybe it just went by as a blur because I had an engagement ring in my coat pocket and wasn't really paying attention.  Truth be told, I'm shocked I even ended up with the correct bib number/timing chip!

Anyway, despite battling "rush hour traffic" coming from Beaverdale to Urbandale at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Friday via Hickman, we were in and out in record time (this is my 4th year running the race).  We walked right up to our bib number booth, got our tee shirts (a deep red this year, still long sleeve), got our chips, our token SWAG (Shit We All Get - this year peanut butter packets and shaving gel, obviously...wait, what?) and were done in no time, making it official that we were ready to race and I was that much closer to getting home where a surprise was waiting for my soon-to-be-fiance waiting on the dining room table. 

For newbs thinking about doing this race, here are a few recommendations -
1)  Do it.  It's a blast!  Sign up early though, this race fills up ridiculously fast.
2)  Don't plan on setting a PR.  This race is intended to have a good time and is packed with people.  Unless you are starting at the front and have legs that go up to your chest, it's not going to happen.  Accept it.
3)  Have fun.  Plan to be cold and get dirty, summon your inner 10-year old, you know it's in there.

Dashing Des Moines,
~ J