Of Mice and Marathons

AM: Detroit International Half. 14.6 miles total.

It was a cold morning. Around 34 degrees but it felt colder. Race was at 7:00AM, so I had to get up at 5. Megan and I drove down and found a place to park, which was quite easy. Did an easy 16' warmup with two strides. Probably should have done 20' or 25' as I used to, but I've been trying to warm up without doing too much for a half. I have done as much as 3 miles and that might be too much.

Goal was sub-1:20, which I knew wasn't out of the question but difficult. Figured I would start around 1:21-1:22 the first mile or two and work down. I figured 1:20-1:21 low was probably an accurate assessment of fitness, but I am also not doing the same sort of workouts I usually do.

It was extremely congested at the start and the C coral was full of just-barely-sub-8' pacing and starting line selfies (the starting line area was packed with non-racing people as well). I decided to butt my way forward as far as I could go without looking suspiscious. It makes you look like a jerk, but it is annoying and dangerous to have moving at too disparate of speeds. It was still too congested, but I forgot what it is like to be at a relatively big race (just under 10k just for the half).

First few miles were pretty slow. First 5k around 19:20-19:30, which was not making me happy. Most of the first miles were dark enough I couldn't see my watch that well and I wasn't taking splits anyway. My legs felt like they wouldn't turn over. Breathing felt like harder marathon effort. Honest hill around mile 3 going over the bridge and you get it back on the other side. I started to pick up things after that and got rolling okay.

Miles 4ish to 8ish were in Windsor, Canada. It was a nice area. Very metric. Looked a little different than my hometown of Windsor Maine.

The tunnel coming back was weird, hot, and creepy. Nice downhill and then a slight uphill for your efforts in the fart steamy air. Around miles 8 or 9 I tried to push because I knew I was probably in the 1:20 range. Passed a few people and worked on passing a few more in the final 5k, which I did. Around mile 11 my quad started to give out, which is rather strange as my quads are never an issue. Started to lose my legs at the 13-mile-mark, but made a decent attempt to kick. It's a long finishing stretch. Not Boylston street long, but long.

Did not cool down as my quad was painful (I think it is just a cramp). I did walk a bunch in the cold with my lips turning blue and teeth chattering because I have no sense of direction and couldn't find Megan.

Splits from Strava (even though they are likely not completely accurate):

6:06: 6:13, 6:19, 6:04, 5:47, 6:03, 5:58, 5:52, 6:06, 6:06, 5:59, 6:04, 5:58, 5:33 pace for partial

Satisfied with my time, which is 3 seconds slower per mile than a 10k 4 weeks ago. Lots of work to do, but I had a good time and raced fairly well.

PM: 16.1-mile ride. HR 126.

A good portion was on single track. It was cold and very beautiful and I had fun.

Lunch: 4.4 miles, averaged 10:14. HR 125.

Sore. Like, pretty much marathon sore. I think the downhills did it. I just don't run that hard downhill these days. Or any downhill really.

PM: 4.1 miles, averaged 9:49. HR 122.

On further reflection, there was also some concrete mixed in, especially on the downhills. That and a lack of a cool down would do it. Ouch.

AM: 5.6 miles, averaged 9:52. HR 129.

Still very sore.

PM: 4 miles, averaged 9:55. HR 127.

Lunch: 7.5 miles, averaged 8:38. HR 141.

PM: 4.25 miles, averaged 9:26. HR 128.

Less sore today. Took some pain reliever last night. Bike is in the shop getting some more aggressive tires for the Bloomer Cyclocross race this weekend. Still trying to decide about the ride for tomorrow night. Mostly the call was based on my running legs as I don't want to further put them in a recovery rut. They should be okay as long as I don't go hard. I will likely do it for some social time even though many guys likely won't be out there with the race. I am not taking the race that seriously, but I plan to compete the best I can. Just not interested in any sort of taper or anything. This will give me a way to approach my next cross race, which will be the first part of November if all goes well.

Lunch: 8.3 miles, averaged 7:52. HR 153.

Did some running near campus to get in a little elevation gain and change of scenary. Not sure why I didn't continue this practice when I started it when school began. 

Hamstring kertwanged me a few times (lower hamstring area). I felt it ping when I picked up the pace a bit yesterday but thought nothing of it. It stopped but given that its a runner's (second) Achilles Heel, it's somewhat worrisome even though not constant.

PM: 4.3-mile ride. Equipment failure.

Picked my bike up after having new tires and some other stuff done and the electronic shifting wouldn’t work, so I was stuck in gear spinning out. Stopped and called the shop and brought it back in. Was really looking forward to the Thursday ride too. Hopefully I’ll be able to race Saturday. If not, I’ll really not be happy.

AM: 4.2 miles, averaged 9:40. HR 126.

PM: 6.2-mile ride to pre-ride the course. HR 141.

Got up early and got a short run in before helpging set up for the Bloom Cyclocross race. Waited to hear about my bike. Took a nap in the afternoon and got the call that it was good to go, so I skipped my run to pre-ride the course.

AM: Bloomer Cyclocross Race - ~12.5 miles total

This was my first bike race. I have been told that runners make strong cyclocross riders and at first I thought the discipline was goofy, but have grow quite curious and I think I am pretty hooked. It's very difficult and breathing wise feels like a very hard 5k-4-mile race.

I warmed up with one lap of the course and some around the parking lot and we lined up. I was freezing as it was cold and slightly rainy and I don't have proper cold weather biking gear (way too much money on bike stuff this year). I was second to last going through the grass sections on the first lap, but then quickly started to pick people off.

I wiped out several times on muddy, grassy turns as my bike skills are not very good yet. The discipline involves a bit of getting of the bike and running, so I think I was strong in these areas, but I lost a lot of time falling and not being able to shift very well late in the race as my right hand was numb. I try to push quite hard the second and third laps. My breathing was highly elevated and I was sucking air at the finish. It's basically supposed to be akin to cross country running. It was really hard, but I had a ton of fun. I am signing up for at least one more race this season, and I will likely approach next fall a little more seriously depending on my running goals and schedule.

PM: 7.5 miles, averaged 8:43. HR 139.

I was planning to run, so I snuck this in after watching some other races and going back to tear down. I saw many elite guys who are incredible athletes. Many of them would be really strong runners.