Well the short version is that I came down with some weird stomach flu or bug thing on Friday night and I'm still not over it here on Monday night. So I didn't feel good going into the race and it pretty well went down hill from there. I had a few miles where I felt good, but for the most part I felt bad. If it was a normal 4 mile day I would have skipped it. So I took my humble medicine and came in with a 3:42 finish time. On a good note, my legs are feeling good today. It is the benefit of not being able to run hard. Longer Version The weather was actually almost perfect - mid 40's up to the low 50's, reasonable winds, an a chance of rain. I didn't feel good with this stomach thing but I decided to press forward with an attempt at a 3 hour race, why not? I was in the B corral so I didn't have to weave around people much at all in the first miles. I was actually right on pace for the first 4 miles. Unfortunately, things went south from there. Everything I ate or drank upset my stomach more and more. I really started thinking of stopping, and when I saw my wife and kids at mile 12 I was really tempted to do so since they were just a block from our house. But I just took a minute with them and told my wife that the race might take a while and that I wanted to take the pain and get the finishing medal that I had paid for. So I tried to maintain a reasonable pace as best I could. Often I just had to stop by the side and let my stomach calm down for a few seconds. It was frustrating watching so many people pass me so early in the race as I paused. All in all, I was at least able to maintain a reasonable pace when I was running. I passed the half at 1:39, I think. From there, it was just a matter of hitting the hills as well as possible and counting down the miles. I felt good through some of the hardest part and bad through some of the easiest parts. I lost a couple minutes in the last half due to some walking, but not as much as I would have thought. Mentally I just wanted to finished, which I did. Aftewards I got my track suit on and tried to warm up in the CNN Center food court, but I just couldn't. I just sat there for an hour shivering, trying to take in some water to rehydrate. I was planning on taking the train home, but I really didn't want to passout or puke in the train. So I finally had to ask a security guy to call my wife to come and get me. They were very nice and watched me while she got through traffic and got me. It was a long morning. But I finally got home and took some aspirin. The one I took before the race ran out and I was running a little hot. All in all, the day was a very humbling and a little embarrassing. I am very disappointed that I wasn't able to attack this tough course and give it my all to see what time I could do. I guess I can take away from the day that it made me appreciate how it feels to run when I feel good.
After an hour's rest in bed I got my butt up and out the door for my daughter's birthday bowling party. We had a great time and that made the day all better. If you read this poorly written race report, you deserve some award. :)
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