Fried. That's how I feel after today's race. Woke up to nice cool 50 degree temps without the promised clouds. Since the sun was up by 5:30, I knew the 7am start time wouldn't save us from the sun today. Got to the start fairly well rested, hydrated, and feeling ready to go. I was secretly still hoping a sub-3 was in the cards but figured I'd slow when the heat started hitting and was aiming to get beneath a 3:05. Thinking back, the fact that I was milling around at the start in shorts and a t-shirt comfortably was not a good sign. Splits according to Garmin. Most were a bit short from the actual markers it seemed.
- 1 - 6:44 - downhill start onto the flats in the city.
- 2 - 6:55 - out of the city to slight uphill
- 3 - 7:12 - more upill
- 4 - 7:02 - welcome to the rollers. They continued to the end.
- 5 - 6:55
- 6 - 6:56 - Despite dumping water on my head at the water point, I'm still warm
- 7 - 6:56
- 8 - 6:53
- 9 - 6:47
- 10 - 7:25 - Took in an accelerade gel. Legs aren't feeling too peppy already. Not good.
- 11 - 6:46
- 12 - 7:10
- 13 - 6:54 - Grateful I've reached halfway. Wondering how I'm going to run another 13 like this. Legs just aren't responding.
- 14 - 6:56 - Shade of the front half is nearly completely gone. Direct sun the rest of the way.
- 15 - 7:02
- 16 - 7:07 - 2nd Accelerade gel, needed badly.
- 17 - 7:17
- 18 - 7:31 - Lost some focus here...feels like 10 min miles but I'm not looking at my watch. Just trying to press hard enough and still survive.
- 19 - 7:17 - Passing some half-marathoners felt good. Most were walking :)
- 20 - 7:20
- 21 - 7:20
- 22 - 6:57 - Steep downhill. Couldn't even hit my 6:50 pace. Personal cheering section here (Dianna).
- 23 -7:33 - Start of the long final uphill. Adopted the gasp to scare people out of the way.
- 24 - 7:56 - Finally too the top. Through some neighborhoods where folks sprayed us with hoses. Felt wonderful.
- 25 - 7:32 - Trying to push with whatever I've got left
- 26 - 7:18 - Nice downhill grade. Unfortunately my legs were so wobbly by now that the left cant to the road made taking full advantage nearly impossible.
- 26.2 - 2:55 - Did managed a flailing sprint to the end, made easier by the downhill. Another finish where the volunteers watched with worried looks for a few minutes.
So, not the sub-3 finish I was looking for. Not even the 3:05 I'd set as my backup. It was a 3+ minute PR from last November and my placing was about where I figured it'd be based on the last couple years results assuming a 3 hr finish time. I've no clue what any of that means right now. I do know I don't run nearly as well in heat, and as I write this I can literally *feel* the sunburn (despite the sunblock...must've been the water showers I was taking!). Also, the hills were just brutal. Okay, maybe just brutal to me. It felt like the first 16 miles or so were just up and down. Honestly, but just after halfway I was just trying to hang on and it was a long slog to the finish. Best part of the day? The slice of ham and pineapple pizza I had at the finish area! Oh, and the Top 20 shirt was a nice touch too. Adrenaline 8 - 210.59 miles. | 