Nice morning for a race, do doubt, with Gwen, it was going to be hot the last few miles with the late start and not cold up the canyon.
PreRace Stuff and Plan: As my first post knee surgery half marathon was the SLC half, 2:31, wanted to do a little better today. My thoughts, hold 9 min miles for as long as possible, then hang on pace to the end. Changed pre-race routine, normally, have a protien bar and a banana. Today, had a chocolate protein shake and a sobe before the start. My energy level seemed up today. Maybe stick with this routine. Syvlie is always low key before the race, cannot get her to talk about the race, never know what she is thinking. As this is the last year for Sylvie in her division, did not expect her to place in her division. ( I was wrong)
PreStart: Looked for runners I knew, talked to Queen Josse for a couple of minutes, recogized no other runners. We made about 5 potty stops a mingled around for almost 90 minutes before the start. The start at Hobble is always late. Normally, I will line up in the first 5 o 6 rows, today, told Sylvie I was going to line up about 2/3rds back and kissed her for good luck.
The start: First time Hobble has had chip timing, good thing, runners seemed to be less inclined to crowd towards the front, reduced slower runners, like me, crowding towards the front. Starting 2/3rds back, does cost time, even with chip timing, lost about 30 seconds to stop and go, weaving, etc., the first 2 miles. Runners were great back in the pack, chitty chatty Cathies about boy friends, kids, etc., not about running.
Mile 2: 7 seconds over 9 minute mile pace, picked up the pace the next mile to get back on 9 minute miles, mile 4, 22 seconds to the good of 9 min miles.
Mile 3 thru 8, runners were great, course was warming up, no specific issues, only runners stopping for nature calls. Mile 8, 22 seconds over 9 minute miles
Mile 9: 1:22, 1 minute over goal pace, started thinking about survival mode. Now, realizing I have not ran 9 minutes miles for more than a 5K this year, was in the danger zone.
Mile 10: The wheels start coming off up the "big" hill. Call it big only because it is the biggest on the course. The only time walked, walked 12 steps up the hill and kept moving. *Note, about mile 8, started the hip hop with runners ahead of me. Positive road kill to the end, 32 with 2 runners passing and passing 34. Hip Hop: Runners stop and walk, I pass them, they pass me back, etc. until they can no longer hang on to pass me back. Survial mode starts at 10.5, back off into get to the finish mode.
Mile 11 thru the sub-division, passing runners like heck stopping for water and rest breaks.
Mile 12: can feel the finish coming, caught a young lady, her goal was to break 11 minute miles, said she was not going to stop, told her to hang on to me, dropped her at 12. 5 and started my kick to the finish, passed 5 runners on the grass to the finish.
Summary, went into survival mode too soon, did not trust my cross training as an measure of fitness for running, may have knocked off a couple more minutes. Very good lessons learned, hard effort, very happy with the effort level, hanging onto the pace. Surprised Sylvie with my time.
Sylive, has a blog, does not often blog - she is gutsy, ran a 1:50,. took second in her division and moves to the 55 to 59 division in a couple of weeks, just in time for St.George, she has a good shot at placing at STG.
Straley brothers, running buddies, seen them at the awards, took 1st and 2nd in their respective divisions, great grand master runners.
Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out | 