When I signed up for this, the idea was that it would be a good opportunity for a long run. Nothing more. I didn't want to race. I didn't even look at my watch on the way up to the halfway point. Of course, with such a small race, there is always the chance of placing so that was in the back of my mind. Woke up at 1:30, got ready and headed to the starting line. Since the aid stations were self service, I filled a bottle with powerade and carried it in a fuel belt. The race started right at 3:20. Got a little over zealous at the start and had the lead for the first 1/4 mile. Seth Wold quickly remedied that and took off. Another runner passed me shortly after that and yet another during the little climb by the temple. The 3rd place runner missed the turn onto 900 West and came running back to me. Stuck with me for a few minutes then started to gap me. He missed the turn onto the trail and I yelled to get his attention. From this point he hung back with me. Maybe he thought I had any inclination of where we were going. I wrote down directions on how to get to the canyon so I was semi-confident that I could get us there. Unfortunately, the real life streets at 4:00 a.m. look much different than they do on Google maps. I knew that we jumped off the trail momentarily, turned on a street then got back on the trail. We missed the trailhead and I saw another one so we took it. That one took us straight up a mountain and it didn't feel right. Got to the top and we knew we were in the wrong place. We turned around and headed back down to where we were supposed to be. It was easy to find now because of the trail of headlights. I felt horrible. I didn't mind me getting lost but the fact that I took somebody else off course really made me feel bad. It only ended up being 0.4 miles but it cost us 4 minutes and we were in 3rd and 4th place before the wrong turn. All I could think about was I possibly cost this guy a chance to place. Despite the set back, it was kind of fun passing people along the trail. Got to the mouth of the canyon and the real fun began. I started to gap the guy I was running with and started to worry that I was pushing too hard going up the hill. Slowed a little and he passed me. We played leap frog a few times and I eventually got ahead of him for good. The best thing about starting so early is that it is too dark to fully understand what you are doing. I focused on 10 feet in front of me and just kept my legs moving. Short, quick comfortable strides. Got past a few more runners and could only see one more ahead of me. Was it possible that I had made up all of the lost ground? With about a mile to go I saw the leader coming back down. Shortly after that, I saw second place. As I got closer and closer to the top, I couldn't see anybody else. With 1/2 mile to go to the turnaround, a couple of guys went by me moving pretty fast. Where did they come from? Got to the top, ditched my headlight, vest and fuel belt. Seems like everybody else kept their reflective vests and headlights. It was still incredibly dark but I didn't want to deal with them once it got warm. Stayed about 20 feet behind the 4th place runner for the first 2 miles going down the canyon. I started to have the urge "to go" and saw a campground restroom so took advantage of it. This is just a long run after all. Came out and there was nobody in sight. Shifted back into long run mode and just held a comfortable pace. I really didn't want to blow up and have to walk. Still not over the Boston experience. My plan was to keep the pace under 8:00/mile for the rest of the race. Doing so would enable me to finish before any of the half marathoners which was my main goal. Pace was 7:30's coming down the canyon then slowed to 7:50 ish once I was out of the canyon. There was still nobody in sight ahead of me and couldn't see anybody behind. On the long stretches I thought I could see a runner coming back to me but soon realized that it was just the balloons at a mile marker or somebody out jogging the other way. With 1.1 miles to go I knew that I had made it and just enjoyed the rest of the run. Ended up finishing in 3:42:24 and 5th place overall. It was a few seconds slower than my Boston disaster but considering the wrong turn and bathroom break, it is technically faster. Maybe I have just become the 3;42 guy. Most importantly, the extra 4 minutes from going off course didn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things. I would have still finished where I did and the other guy came in a little later so my mistake didn't prevent him from placing.
Here is what I am taking away from this run. It is a fun event if you don't take it too seriously. It would be fun to run with a group of people. I can still actually cover 26;2 miles without having to walk. That was seriously in doubt. The extra weight has taken it's toll on me and I have completely lost my speed and I am o.k. with that. It can be somebody else's turn to chase PR's. I can have fun in events like this and pacing other races. Not sure what I am going to do about Huntsville. Anybody need a 3:30 pacer? | 