By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Triathlete
The Striders Classic is just that, a classic. It is an annual spring event that has been around for many years and is often used to test speed leading into early season A races, or to make a long run a bit more enjoyable by joining in the fun (or misery) with hundreds of other runners. Team OAM NOW triathletes Paul Raynes and Roxane Kippen raced the 5K while long-course triathlete Cheryl Sherwood and ultra-runner Erin Young took on the 10-miler.
The morning of April 11th was cool, but fairly calm, perfect for a running event. The sun was out and all were in good spirits awaiting the start. The 10 Mile Race began first, so Cheryl and Erin were off with the masses for their 10 mile social run. Five minutes later Paul and Roxane set out for their 22 minute 40 second 5K.
The 10-mile course was an out and back, but included about 7 miles of rolling gravel roads. Erin, after several weeks off from having a BABY, enjoyed the treat of running on gravel roads again. Being back in her running shoes and able to run with friends on a beautiful day brought her much happiness. Cheryl and Erin ran together for the entire 10 miles. Now that is team building!
The 5K course was mostly paved roads, with the exception of a short jaunt out on a gravel road to the turnaround point, before the return route to the finish. Roxane wanted to test her speed against her benchmark of 23:15 one month earlier at the Irish Jig 5K, and set out with an aggressive pace to see if she could hold it. Around mile 1, she could hear the quick footsteps of teammate Paul coming up from behind. From there, they exchanged positions a couple of times, with Paul leading the last mile and finishing just 2 seconds ahead of Roxane, which landed him on the podium with 2nd place in his age group. Roxane’s 30 second improvement from a month ago earned her the top podium spot in her age group.
Roxane attributes a time, just seconds away from her 10-year old PR (personal record) in the 5K, to an off-season focus on core strength. Improving her core strength has been a key component in the gains Roxane has seen in her running efficiency and speed. To incorporate this into your routine, check out some of Coach Mark Olson’s core training videos here.
Overall, the Striders Classic is a very well organized event. The finish line treats were excellent and included bagels, fruit, hot chocolate, and coffee. The results were displayed immediately on a flat screen next to the finish line and the awards were announced without delay. OAM NOW will surely take part in this race in future years. Thanks Striders for another great event!
