Long Report: Heidi picked me up Saturday afternoon and drove
us down to Wrightsville Beach. We picked
up our packets, checked into our hotel (Blockade Runner – sketchy on the
outside, great on the inside) and then got a beer at the Lighthouse Beer &
Wine store before dinner. We were in bed early and both actually got a decent
night’s sleep which doesn’t always happen the night before a race in a new
bed. We were up bright dark and early as
the race started at 6:45 am. Our hotel was about 1 mile from the start so we
jogged down there for our warmup.
Everything was really easy and smooth.
So. Goals. I had picked 1:30 way back in the fall because
why not. My PR from the last time I
tried to race a half marathon was from the Disney Half Marathon in Jan 2010
where I ran a 1:25:52. Prior to that, I
had run a 1:31 at the end of a half Ironman and 1:33 in Sydney, Australia when
we lived there for 4 months and I wasn’t even truly training for the distance.
But a lot has changed since then and those times are in the past. 1:30 seemed like a really hard stretch goal
for me at this point and it was. When I
did pace work in my long runs I would sometimes hit that (6:52 per mile) but
often I wouldn’t. Or I could hit it, but couldn’t sustain it for a many miles.
Sometimes I was able to string together some miles that were under that pace.
My training definitely didn’t indicate that I would be able to break that 1:30
barrier, but it wasn’t going to stop me from doing what I could during my
workouts. I wasn’t frustrated or anything, it just wasn’t there. I average around 20-25miles a week – this is
not a lot, and I think I do pretty good with what I can get in. Having a half marathon in the spring is a
perfect goal for me because the distance scares me just enough. Anyone who has been around me for any length
of time knows I DO NOT like long distance races. I love 5Ks and the occasional
10ks. But those don’t scare me. Signing up for a half marathon would get me out
of bed and out the door when it’s 30 degrees and raining. Or out the door for a
12 mile run with 6 of it at goal pace. It’s not easy to train through a winter
but this was my way of keeping some semblance of shape.
I lined up with my athlete, Ali, who is a great runner and
was also trying to break 1:30. At first
we were right next to the 1:30 pacer, but he seemed a bit back so we moved up
so weren’t feeling so claustrophobic. The race itself was pretty
anti-climactic. We started off just under what would be 1:30 pace and I was
able to hold on until mile 9. I knew I was pushing it a bit to keep that up and
that’s when the wheels started falling off.
I had a pretty low point at mile 10 but was able to mentally get myself
out of it and rallied for the final 2 miles.
Rallied meaning I didn’t slow down anymore, not that I actually picked
it up :)
The finish was one of those cruel ones where you are right there but then
they make you run an little extra loop
to actually cross the line. My feet were
killing me by this time (I’m thinking I’m going to lose 2 toenails this time
around) and my quads were also screaming. My calves, which were always on the verge of
cramping the last 3 miles held out (thank you calves). My final time was right around 7:00 pace.
This was not an easy 7min pace with how I ended up running it. I’m pretty sure
had I gone out at that pace the whole thing would’ve been pretty comfortable,
but where’s the fun in that? Races are supposed to hurt.
I was able to pretty quickly find some friends and catch a
ride back to the hotel. I showered, ate
a little, then drove Heidi’s car back to the finish so I could catch her when she
finished the marathon (she qualified for Boston with over 10min to
spare!). Everything about this race was
easy, from logistics to the course – I have zero complaints. If you want a fast half or full marathon with
plenty of spectators and a nice venue, here it is. I would say most will admit that the course
itself is a bit boring, but most are also looking for a fast time. We both won beer growlers, which is quite a unique award. I doubt many people have their own growler that says 'Award Winner' on it!
After getting our awards, we packed up back at our hotel and
then filled our new growlers with beer at the Lighthouse Beer & Wine
Store. We were back in Raleigh just a little 24
hours after we had left, tired, happy, and glad to see our families.
1 comment:
I have graduated to your side of the camp. I run 3 mile runs, and haven't done anything longer in a while.
I think for a couple reasons. I don't get tired from 3 milers. I stay relatively healthy, so I can continue to run. Also long runs can get boring, and I mentally am not in the get more and more and more miles frame of mind. Not sure if that will come back, also not sure if I can stay healthy long being like that.
My last long race was a half Mary, and that distance ain't no joke.
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