Pre-race: One of the more competitive half-marathons in the
area, it draws about 500 people and the winner is routinely around 70 minutes
when the weather is good. It's run on a
super flat course out and back course (less than 100 feet elevation gain) but
the island can be notoriously windy. I was feeling pretty good going into the
race. My training was going well especially
with my new track club workouts but I haven’t raced in over a month so I was a
little unsure of how I was going to do. I
decided to set a good goal of 1:25. If I
ran under 1:30 I would also meet the race’s ‘A’ standard and get a gold finisher
medal (oh boy!). I’ve been having some issue with my stomach but it seemed ok
that morning.
The first 5k (20:11, 6:28 pace): By the time the race went
off at 11 it was steady winds, full sun (zero clouds) and unseasonable, for me,
warm temps. I love starts at longer
races, way less jostling for position and sprinting. Plus this is a more ‘serious’ race so people
know how to act. After about a mile, I
got settled in the front of the chase pack of about 10 guys. The lead pack had 8 people in it (including
the woman’s winner) and they were off the front much faster. I was feeling really good and took some water
at mile 3 which made my stomach a little sloshy.
5k through 10k (20:36, 6:37 pace). Started getting a little hot now and the wind
was in my face which was enough to slow me down a little when it gusted. Plus I was starting to feel all the little
bumps and inclines. Still felt good
though and I was hoping that I could gain my time back once we hit the turn
around. I was planning on eating some
chomps at mile 5-6 but my stomach wasn’t going to have it so I skipped. I put some distance on the chase pack and
started to catch some people blowing up from the lead pack.
10 though 15k (20:24, 6:33 pace). Hit the turn-around at 43:08 and was happy to
head home. When I turned home I realized
that while the wind was in your face going it was much much worse going
back. I ended up with a steady in your
face head wind of over 10mph the whole way back. Took some water at mile 8 and ended up
catching someone from my age group who was seriously suffering.
15k-finish ( 25:52, 6:44 pace). It blew up here. My pace dropped and I was over heated and
ready to be done. Just did my best to
keep trying to push it as best I could.
I did manage to catch another runner, my buddy Ray who got spit off from
the front pack (he did manage to win his 45-49 age group). With a mile to go I
did my best to push it in and not let anyone catch me. Finished the last 0.1m strong and was happy
to be done.
Finish: I was
completely gassed at the end. Probably the worse shape after a race in a long
time. I also got a sunburn,ick! I was
having issue breathing and my chest was tight and I wanted to die. After a few minutes I was up moving around
and was feeling better. Talked to Ray a
little at the end and we both agreed it was a tough race. The winner came in a relatively slow 1:19 and
many people I ended up with big positive splits (bigger than my 1 minute) so I
felt good that I could hold on as best I did. Many people that ran this race
last year were a couple minutes slower this year as well and I beat some people who as of recently
have been running better than me so that got me jazzed up .
I’d like to blame my lack of drinking (only hit 2 water
stops) and not taking my gu as part of the reason for my missing my goal but
that’d be disingenuous. I doubt 100
calories and another 12 ounces of water would have saved me in a 90 minute race. It was warm, very sunny and I was not acclimated
that well to the conditions. Plus I
doubt my stomach would not have been happy about it.
Got second in my age group and scored a sweet pint glass! All in all not a bad day even though I really
missed my goal and it kinda got my excited to race again. About a mile form the finish 
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