Well, I would be thrilled to have gotten this time if I had gotten 1st place. As it is, I got second, so it's more like satisfied and hungry for more.
It was dry when we started, but starting raining soon after we started, rain, hail, snow, and I am sure there was some clear parts (perhaps 30% clear?)
The McMillan calculator for my past two races indicated 1:24:17, but its easier to pull off a good 5k or 10k than a 1/2, I've been concerned about my endurance. Goal pace was 6:26.
1 - 6:02 start off in fourth place, taking it easy, Ted Lebow gave me my 1/4 mile split at 6:40 pace, so I picked it up a bit. Travis was pacing me, and was a bit ahead. By the first mile mark MaryAnn is ahead by about 5 seconds.
2 - 6:23, more on target, MaryAnn now ahead about 10 sec, I decide to let her go if she's not going my pace, I figure I'll reel her in later. She ran a great race last weekend, but it was a 1/2 and I figured that would leave her vulnerable due to lack of recovery
3 - 6:18
4 - 6:23
5 - 6:15
6 - 6:18
7 - 6:17
8 - missed the mile marker
9 - 2 miles in 12:44, MaryAnn is about 20 seconds ahead, I pick off one guy between me and her
10 - 6:22, it feels like I am slowing down quite a bit, the river trail is a choppier experience than the road
11 - 6:29, first mile off pace, starting to feel the race, I've needed to go to the bathroom since mile 9, trying to surge to catch MaryAnn, but she's not getting closer, Travis is harrassing me in all the best ways a pacer should
12 - 6:34, "show me the way to go home" I wish I had been stronger in this mile, if I had cut the gap in half I could have been in striking distance. grr.
Last 1.1 in 6:52, what pace is that? Ok, it's a 6:15 pace, I saw the clock with 10 seconds to 1:23 but couldn't quite get there in time.
So, a good re-debut into the the 1/2 marathon world. I faded but not as bad as I could have. I am happy to be a minute lower than the prediction, even with the weather. 1/2 marathons hurt. This race put my stomach in a post-race funk, I still feel out of sorts.
Thank you to Luz for the screams, the hot chocolate, the umbrella, and the blanket. Thanks to Smiths, Marriott and Costco for sponsoring my bathroom facilities, and a big thanks to Travis for pacing me so well. He's in great shape, he could have gone perhaps 3-5 minutes faster without sticking with me. Run13 puts on a good race. Started on time, was very organized, the awards ceremony, while not glitch-free, was not of the painful variety.
I am not sure if I should be eating right now. Perhaps I'll eat an orange.
