Afternoon Run

Morning Ride

Morning Run

Crystal Cove 15k

El Morro Beach Trailer Park - Emerald Bay

So much fun, there's no race like this! Overall, passing people was a bit less frustrating and cost me less time than I feared. Hard to put a number on it, but maybe 15-20 seconds on the whole course? Experienced Dipsea runners, lmk what you think it costs you. The stairs were not too bad, but I took them way too hard - ran 6 seconds faster than my TT last Saturday and that included some slowdown for congestion. My legs were feeling the effort and I lost some time between the top of the stairs and crossing Panoramic. Still 4 seconds ahead of pace at this point. Wish I had done the whole first uphill like 10 seconds slower, would've made that up and more on Cardiac. The trail connector to Muir Woods Rd was pretty congested and I definitely lost time there. Rolled really well down the road, and took Suicide and the rest of the trail pretty well. Hit the bottom of Dynamite at 14 flat, right on my split, but the legs were feeling the effort for sure. 2 seconds off my TT last week. Dynamite, as expected, was congested, but I was moving around people pretty well. It continued to be difficult to pass for most of the uphill, and it was quite muddy in spots. I knew I was off my goal pace, but just kept my effort sustainable. Ended up clocking 17:44 for the climb, well off my 17-flat goal. I can improve that, but in retrospect, 17 flat was ambitious. If the first 14 minutes had been flat, then maybe, but uphill and downhill really zaps the legs. And of course the passing. Anyway, barreled over the top without a pause (someone said I was 18th) and I was really looking forward to the downhill, since I've rehearsed it a couple times recently. Kept the pace high on the flatter section and really rolled down Swoop and the stairs (no falling this time!). Nearly 30 seconds faster to this point than my first downhill recon just a week ago! My legs were zapped on insult, but I had just enough to keep rolling up it. Unfortunately, the path out to the road was blocked and we were directed to the left. This was unexpected and I didn't know if we were required to stay on the Dipsea trail or if we could turn back out to the road later. Most people stayed on Dipsea through the Moors, but I took the right. Partly, it was because I saw a guy in front of me coming back up Dipsea and out to the road, so I just went with that. Plus I had rehearsed the road shortcuts a couple times. I checked some distances afterwards - they way I did it added .07 miles vs. the usual direct route to the road. That's probably pretty close to 20 seconds added. Still, the road + shortcuts route was .06 mi shorter than staying on Dipsea. I averaged ~5:30/mi on this section, would have needed sub-5 average on Dipsea to make them equivalent. It's pretty damn close. Dipsea is much smoother, wider, and only has 1 tricky turn, while the shortcuts are quite twisty. Anyway, I don't think anybody gained a significant advantage one way or the other. And I got to stay on the Strava segment haha 😉. I had some people tell me I was in 4th at this point, only 45 seconds back (this was a lie, but it motivated me anyway haha). Once I hit the road, I let it all out, but there was no one in sight as I finished. Final time 47:48 I believe, so not quite what I was shooting for, but I was really pleased with my final downhill (may have been pretty close to KOM without the extra distance). Fastest since Dave Dunhams' 47:36 in 1995 and who knows how much shorter it was back then. 3 guys in their 60s took the top 3 places with around 46-flat clock times... So I'm a long way off the win. But between the winner handicaps, personal improvement, and maybe some luck from Father time, I think I could be in the mix in a couple years. Definitely once I get my handicap minute at 32 (I'm 28 now w/ an August birthday). But who the hell knows. All I know is, can't wait to do it again in June!

⛰️Cardiac Hill


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Eddie Owens

4th in my First Dipsea!

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Afternoon Run

Morning Ride

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Crystal Cove 15k

El Morro Beach Trailer Park - Emerald Bay

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