The Mizuno Half Marathon is the first race where I met Yiu
Kit Ching last year. She had run a 10k
the day before, and I was somewhat out of shape after plunging myself mouth-first
into the holidays after Yokohama, but I won that race in 1:22:55. Then she beat me in the next four times I
raced her, up until December, where we both posted PRs in the Shek Mun
10k. So our rivalry is making us both
better, and I came into this race 2-3. I
also come in with the momentum of two big half marathon PRs. But she is the terrible combination of a
strong runner and a great race tactician and the local favorite, so I knew she
would fight for the championship.
Meanwhile, I had the runs the night before the race and poor
sleep. I felt ok race morning, though I
earned four stars, and was afraid that my antidiarrheal medicine, which I
normally take before a half, would not be enough because it didn’t seem to be
working.
The first 15.5k of this race is large hill rollers. Not ideal course for a half marathon
championship if you ask me, but no one did.
Coach Paul advised me to push the last flat 5k hard, and to be in the
lead (without YKC drafting) before the last big uphill (which was about
14k). The course record was 1:19:30, so
I thought if I got 38:30 for the first 10k (hilly and net up) then did 3:45/k
(6:00 pace) the rest of the way I could shave 15 seconds somewhere and get the
course record. Unfortunately I split
38:30 in correctly while running, thought it was 19:45/19:45, obviously it is
NOT.
First 5k: 19:44 (last year was 20:22, so right where I
should be) I lead up the first uphill which is so steep and quite
ridiculous. My breathing was so hard 1/3
the way up so I backed off, YKC caught up, I let her take the lead and followed. We were about 4:00 at the 1k, just
right. I let her lead for the next k,
just drafted off her and other guys, let her pull me along. Then I led for the 3rd k, then she
led again starting 4th k and I was just fine with it. I felt like I was not mentally sharp and just
waking up, but I also felt it was smart to let her be the one to push the pace. This 5k is net uphill but lots of rolling
Second 5k: 19:18, YKC led most of this, there was a long
downhill that she just hammered from 6-7.5k and I just tried to stay close,
knowing it was going to get both of our legs very sore, then there is a flat
bit out and back. She seemed to rest
here, I take the lead, we turn around then face the same hill we just screamed
down. She catches me (she is so smart,
taking a breather before the big hill) I almost let her go on this hill, but I
keep in contact with guys who are between her and I and just will myself to
keep with her. The hill ends at about
9.5k, and I am up with her by the 10k mark.
Third 5k: We have a
short out and back (perhaps a k each way), and I surge at perhaps 10.5k and try
to catch up to guys ahead of us, simultaneously trying to bring distance
between YKC and I. At the turnaround she
is perhaps 4-5 seconds back. So by 11k I
am leading by 5 seconds! Now it is rolly but downhill for a while, and I push
the pace, running scared because she pushed the last downhill hard, and the
next uphill I am supposed to be in the lead and alone. I feel good, though. As I incline, though I am feeling fatigued
and feel like I need to go to the bathroom!!!! So distracting. The 15k mark is somewhere before this crests
hill and I got 18:02
Fourth 5k: About a minute before cresting the hill I hear in
my mind, “Charlie, we’re going to candy mountain, Charlie! Charlie, come with us to candy mountain!” This is from a silly viral video on youtube
my kids made my husband and I watch over Christmas. It reminded me of my kids and made me smile
and I made it over my candy mountain. Then there is the terrible starting hill in
reverse, which is pretty much too steep to fully take advantage of, I am just
trying to get back into sub 3:45 pace.
By the flat part I get to 3:45, hit a water stop, then there is a short
hill at around 17k then we hit the finish line (but have 2k out and back). I hear them announce me and then announce Yiu
Kit Ching so I know she is close (it has been over 5k since the last turn
around and since I have last seen our positions). I am so tired but tell myself I don’t have to
run the last 4k faster than her, just as fast as her. I see the clock and realize I had done some
miscalculations and would not be able to break the record which is a bit
demoralizing. When I am up the hill to
the flat dyke 2k out and back my watch says I am at 3:50/k pace, so I lost time
on the hill, and YKC is close! I try to
inch that pace down, and it gets to 3:47 eventually. I see her at the turnaround and she is
perhaps 10-15 seconds behind. I need to
push! My time for this k is 19:01.
Now just 1.1k to go.
At about 800m to go I tell myself to try to run a 2:30 800m, like I do
on the track. This did not happen, but
it was good to try :D I ran 3:41 pace
for the last 1.12k per my watch. I see
the clock register 1:20, and the official time ended up being 1:20:10. Yiu Kit
Ching finishes about 15 seconds later with a PR. A PR on this course is super impressive. She and I both fought hard.
I gave two interviews within the first few minutes of
finishing the race, and I was supposed to run 8 more kilometers. I ran straight
to the bathroom, and had the runs so had to hit a portapotty a couple more
times, but then ran more than 5k straight at a fast pace 4:35/k.
So in retrospect, it was a solid race. I raced well.
I didn’t get the best time result, but that was a combination of not
feeling my best and a tough course. Glad
it is over and I posted a good time for 2013. Unfortunately, there are not many
good ½ marathons in Hong Kong and I don’t think I will race another one before
my two spring marathons.
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