Evendays

Wife and I ran a 15K on Saturday near Bern (Kerzers). Fantastic race weather with temps in the low 60’s. I was shooting for just-under-five-minute kilometers, hoping to finish in 1:13. It’s a tough race with 150 feet of climbing in the first kilometer, followed by level then some downhill, then very steep uphill on kilometers 9 and 11, a gradual drop to the start-finish line. 6000 people ran, and our group, F, lined up for the 12:39 PM start, since starts were staggered every 2 minutes.

We finished the first uphill bit in 5:25 (about right), then hit the 2K mark at 9:33, which was a little fast, so I slowed. Wife was about 30 seconds behind.

The kilometers passed by at an easy pace. At 8K I was at 37:30. I crossed 9K at 60ish (not a typo, sniff sniff). My tachycardia attacked while beside the lake at the 8.5 mark. I exited to the side of the narrow passage, pulse at 240, squatted down and concentrated, but no luck. No privacy, too much frustration at hearing the runners pass, and many concerned runners calling out in German and French if I was okay.

After 20 minutes, I shuffled to where the hill was, tachycardia still strong, and found a quiet place behind a barn. The tachycardia disappeared (pulse back down to 120) and I was able to run some very tired 6 minute K’s, until another tachycardia hit at kilometer 13. I crossed the finish line at 1 hour, 42 minutes and 24 seconds (I think), tachycardia persisting, Wife and Daughter both worried. They had checked with the medical people and knew no one had been wheeled out on a stretcher, but were still relieved to see me.

Me? I was just plain frustrated and extremely tired. It’s rare that my tachycardia last 30 minutes, and I’ve had but one during a race, and for only 2 minutes.

I finished 590th. Third to last. 592 were in my category. Room for improvement. Or maybe, no more 15K races.