March Madness Half Marathon
Alarm went off at 5:50, got dressed and headed out the door. Pavement was wet but the skies in the city didn't look to bad. Fingers crossed on no rain. Got in about 1 mile of running with some pick ups, mainly running to find a bush here and there.
Turned out the weather stayed dry through pre race, about 10 secs before the gun goes off its starts to sprinkle and the wind picks up. Took the first 3 miles out in 6:40-6:50, feeling very strong on the downhills and uphills. Didn't want to get my hopes up though as the last 5K of the course is brutal.
At times found a few people to run with, but small race and being towards the front you don't have a lot of company. At the half way mark, was on pace for 6:59 average with my goal being 7's flat. Tried to stay positive and just focus staying in a rhythm as the real nasty hills approached. Found a mini pack of ladies to run with, it was #11, #12, and #13 overall battling it out so I tucked in and watch them battle back and forth.
As we approached mile 8, picked up the pace as it tends to be one of the fastest miles on the course, 6:36, I was hoping that was enough time in the bank for the last 5K on-slot. Turned the corner to head up the wall at mile 9.5 and it just killed me, like it does every year, tried to keep my head up and pump the arms....step by step made my up. Mile 9, was 7:32, not good. Heading in the sub-divisions posted another slow mile at 7:22 in the short-steep hills. By this time, my hip flexors were screaming at me, I was suffering so bad, that I didn't even notice the sprinkles had turned into a complete downpour. Big Chubby rain.
Went right through the Mile 11.5 aid station passing on the fluid, historically I always get water and walk for a few secs here, I didn't want the temptation so ran straight through.
Gutting out last 1.5+ heading up the hill to the finish, what felt like a sprint, was 7:07 with the hills and turned up the gas with .1 left as the road flattened out.
I was a mess at the finish line, several volunteers rushed to see if I was okay. Kinda "out on my feet" look, and was hacking up a storm. Stumbled through the chute, grabbed a water, and went right to the car.
Turned out it was a complete downpour and about 40 degrees, went from warm to freezing in about 3 mins. Sat in the car and waiting for my GF to finish, just shivering with the heat on full blast.
I did set a PR, improving 3" per mile or about 40" overall at 1:32:37
No warm down or stretching, sitting in a car and then drove to Dad's for his retirement dinner/bday dinner.
Comments
A PR is always good, especially considering the hills, weather, and agony at the end. Way to go! Good boost to your confidence to start the season?
Great race! How did Karin do?
That is an awesome read! Tough as nails through the end. Congrats on that one, for sure!
Hayes isn't kidding about the wall at mile 9.5 and also a few more around mile 11 and 12. This race makes Boston look like a flat and fast! Plus the weather is usually pretty bad.
I'm pretty disappointed I didn't do the race this year but I was thinking of you guys when I was on on the treadmill.
Congrats to Karin for her PR as well!
@Rich Karin Pr'd by 3 or so minutes just over 1:41XX
@matt you missed an epic morning....brutal weather
@all thanks for reading....
Like Linda said, great read. I felt like I was there with you running side by side. A wall of a hill at mile 9.5? I would say the race is appropriately named.Congrats on a PR and muscling through in such tough conditions. Way to keep the finish line volunteers on their toes!! Big congrats to Karin too!!
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