After Action Report (AAR): Roll for the Roses 10K Inline Event

6/30/2019

I Did a Thing!

On, Saturday, 6/29/2019, I completed my first inline event! Yes, it was a race. For me, finishing is my winning. Not only did I "win", but I got my best time to date for the distance. I completed 6.23 miles in 50:24, which gives me an average pace of 8:05 minutes per mile. Success!

Here is the actual rose I received for completing the Roll for the Roses.

Why I Picked This Event

In previous blog entries, I have outlined my 3 phase inline marathon training plan. To help measure my progress and stay on track, I included 4 key events in my plans. Completing this 10K skate was the second key milestone in my overall plan. Here are those 4 milestone events:

5K Run in April: Get in Gear 5K - Complete!
10K Skate in June: Roll for the Roses - Complete!
13.1 Mile Skate in August: RBC Race for the Kids Inline Half Marathon
26.2 Mile Skate in September: Northshore Inline Marathon

My Goals and Objectives

For this particular event, my primary goal was to finish the event. I estimated that I could finish in about an hour given my times on previous 6-ish mile skates. I exceeded my own expectations by finishing in less time than anticipated.

Above and beyond just plain finishing, I had a few more objectives:

Become familiar with the process of signing up, checking in, starting, and completing an inline event.
Experience the difference between inline skating training and competing in a race.
Assess the state of my inline skating skills and fitness level prior to the inline marathon.
Identify my strengths and shortcomings so I can modify my training for future events.
See the type of gear and techniques used by other skaters as I plan for longer events.

Here's my pre-race picture. My artist husband made it ready for my inline skater trading card. (Sure. That can be a thing.)

My Preparation: Training

I signed up for this event since it was nearby and fit in well with my overall inline marathon training plan. To get ready, here's what my physical training looked like from the beginning of May through the event:

Skated on predominantly flat, paved outdoor trails 3 times per week for distances of 3-6.5 miles per skate.
Cross trained (walking, running or weight lifting) 1 time per week.
Incorporated rest and recovery activities including yoga and foam rolling 1-3 times per week.
Took 2 inline skating lessons to improve my stride, general skating technique, and speed.
Did a 3-mile skate 3 days before the event, then rested and did lighter activity (walking, yoga) until the event.
At the 11th hour, practiced two different ways to control speed while going down hills as not to crash and burn spectacularly in front of many, many people.

Here I am pausing after an inline skate lesson and before a 3 mile skate.

My Preparation: Planning

As the event drew closer, I thought about logistical planning. The day before, I picked up my bibs (numbers) and t shirt. That same day, I drove the course. In retrospect, I should have done that WAY SOONER to get a handle on the terrain.

I figured out core logistics of parking, getting to the start line, and getting from the finish line to where we parked. I also enlisted my husband to be my road crew. He drove us to the event, kept us on time, got us parked, helped me pin on my numbers, and brought my shoes to the finish line. He executed all of the plans to get us where we needed to be, when we needed to be there that would have stressed me out on the day of the event.

I drove the course the day before and realized it was hilly enough that I needed to make sure I knew how to slow down.

What Went Well

The event itself went well. I achieved my primary goal of finishing, and even made good time through it all. My nutrition and hydration worked and I didn't feel dehydrated or have what I will politely call "gastro-intestinal distress" on the day of the event. I achieved a personal best time, and I felt good after I finished (perhaps partly because I got to stop skating after doing many, many hills). Post event, I ate a good meal, did some yoga, took a power nap, soaked in Epsom salt, and iced my left knee. Now, a day later, I'm only a little bit sore, which is encouraging.

I also realized how supportive people are at these events. There were some professional inline skaters at the front of the pack, then people who were more recreational. Along the whole course, people were encouraging. This included volunteers directing us the right way, police officers directing traffic, people who passed me, the water station helpers, and people not in the event who were just skating or running by. Everyone had words of encouragement to share. As I was struggling up the last, ridiculously long hill, I heard "almost at the top," "only 1 kilometer to go," "looking good," "you got this," and "you can do this!" That type of support in the moment makes all of the difference. While I pride myself of my ability to power through adversity, voices to help cheer on the voice in my head telling me I'm going to make it help. It also gives me faith in the goodness of the world.

Here are my race day stats from Runkeeper. I use Runkeeper to track all of my skating and running activity.

What Could Have Gone Better

While I did drive the course, I drove it the day before the event--which didn't give me a lot of time to course correct my training. During that drive, which was almost an afterthought, I realized that there were a fair amount of hills on the course. I was worried about going down the hills and not totally losing control. I knew how to ascend hills, and though I was not very efficient in doing so, I knew I could complete the course as long as I could navigate downhill stretches.

In retrospect, I would have checked out the course earlier and trained accordingly. I definitely made up time from climbing the multiple hills by doing a little faster downhill afterwards. The last hill was very, very ugly. I definitely need to do more, different terrain so that isn't such an effort--or a surprise.

I was not prepared for the hills. I definitely need to practice going up long hills as well as fine tuning my skills descending hills.

Lessons Learned and Next Steps

My next inline event is the first Saturday in August in St Paul. Here's how I will change my current training plan to be more successful in that event:

Today, more than a month ahead of the race, my husband and I drove the course. I looked at the route to get a sense of elevation, and also used Runkeeper (which must think I'm the fastest cyclist ever) to map out the route and gauge the elevation. I for sure need to get better at long hill ascents and descents.
I scouted out several places where I can practice ascending and descending hills and marked places to park near each. Navigating elevation changes will be a weekly practice.
I have an upcoming skating lesson, and we'll focus on going up and down hills.
I'll be sure to work in more interval training (going faster, then slower, then faster again during some of my outdoor skates) to help increase my endurance and speed. I know the uphill portions killed my time, but I'm also not particularly fast in general. Working on my endurance, and form, will help me be more efficient and quicker.
I'll fine tune my hydration and nutrition plans for a longer race. On a longer race, I need to be more planful about eating before and during the event and managing hydration above and beyond water stops on the course.
Switch from my current wicking tank top to wearing a biking jersey because, pockets.
Transition to sleeker knee pads to help with my speed, while still protecting my knees.

Here's how much time I have as of publishing this blog entry to train. NO PRESSURE!

What Do You Think?

How have you trained for athletic events? Include your thoughts in the comments.

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