5k plus 1k sidways: Dash 'n' Dine opener is a little windy...

Signing up for the six-race Dash 'n' Dine 5k series last week, I told organizer Greg Cunningham of Fleet Feet that I didn't know why I was doing it. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Well, look at it out there -- it's sleeting, freezing and there's snow on the way", I said. "But the race isn't until Tuesday!", he says.

Yeah, I guess I'm still not used to the changing weather in Boulder. True, it's snow one minute, sunshine the next. The University of Colorado students have got it right: loads of them wear shorts and flip flops all year round. Well, the weather did change in the five days after I entered...and the treat it had in store was winds of 20mph plus howling across the exposed course at the Boulder Reservoir.

I quickly put aside all ideas of going for a good time and opted for survival tactics. Rule number one: do not go out in my usual solo position -- too slow for the lead group, too fast for the pack -- which dooms me to run on my own. I tucked myself into a cosy group and stayed there as we echeloned, bike-race style, against the wind.

After I lost my place, I shared the work with the second-placed woman, Sunny Gilbert, taking it in turns to run on the "winward" side. Sunny is tall enough for this to actually work! The wind was gusting so strongly that I've got grazes on my calves where my feet were blown against my legs. It was a day for strength, rather than speed. As we turned with the wind for the final 250 metres or so I felt rocket-fuelled; so at least it's good to know the speed is there -- but I will have to save it for another night.

My final surge almost but not quite allowed me to catch an annoying old geezer who had been drafting off me earlier in the race -- running so closely he was banging into me. This turned out to be THE Buzz Burrell, the local ultra-running and adventure race legend. If only I'd known he was in my age group I'd have maybe found an extra effort: especially, if I'd known ahead of time that first prize for the 50-59 group on the night was an extremely tasty-sounding voucher for dinner at a posh Boulder restaurant. As it was I "let" him beat me by ONE SECOND...so I had to shamefacedly present Abby with a swish water bottle and a promise to "try harder" :)

The wind affected us in different ways of course, but it definitely knocked back times compared to the opening race last year. Jayson Swigart won this one in 17:32 (5:39 pace), which was only 12 seconds slower than last year's winning time; but most of us were at least a minute slower than "normal". I did 18:57 (10th) last year, and 20:19 (18th at 6:33 pace) this time. My fellow pace-setter Sunny did 19:22 when she won the women's race last year and 20:30 this year.

Overall, I'm pleased-ish. My first race of the year! I WAS trying to take it easy and did control my effort so that I wasn't suffering at any time -- so there is lots more to come. And this race was "allowed" to substitute for one of our mind-bending muscle endurance sessions, which otherwise I would have had to force myself through on my own. In comparison, what with the relaxed friendly atmosphere of the Dash 'n' Dine 5k, some neat prizes, big-race efficiency timing and results service courtesy of Benji Durden AND hot food immediately afterwards (that's the Dine part), it's safe to say racing is easier than training.

* More details of the series on the D&D website. There are five races to go.