Publix A1A Half Marathon in Fort Lauderdale.
1st time running a Half Marathon. 1st time running a race of any distance without "going #2" beforehand. 1st time running a race of any distance with a negative split.
Last night, spouse and I had the traditional pre-race pasta dinner at Il Mulino, with Michael from the blog, and our friends Scott and Diane.
About the race. Alarm went off at 3. They wanted us at the VIP parking area near the finish line at 4:30. Since we were staying north of the race course, essentially on the race course, and the finish line was to the south, that meant that we had to drive all the way around and then double back to the finish line. Michael was staying right near the start line. We drove all the way there, then spouse and I rode the bus to the start. This is a really well run race. It is a bit pricey, I think, but in this case, you get what you pay for. The shuttle from start to finish and back again was set up really well. There was only one thing that they got comically wrong. Before the chute at the start line, on the sides of the road, there is a grass strip, a sidewalk and then a row of port-o-potties. Guess when the city decided to run the irrigation for the grass strip? It was really funny. @ 1,000 people waiting to use the bathroom screamed at the same time.
When I saw Michael at the start, I told him I was nervous about not "going" before the race. It was too late to deal with at the moment. So I just figured that would be a problem during the race, and then I would figure it out. It was a bunch of worry about nothing. It never came close to being an issue.
A guy did the national anthem on saxophone, and then we were off. I almost always go out too fast. So I was grateful for the big crowd at this race that slowed us down for the first mile. I stayed with Michael for the first @2.5 miles. I told him I thought the pace felt fast early on. Maybe it was just the extra work of fighting through the crowd. But at around 2 miles, it felt slow. So right before the Las Olas bridge over the intracoastal, I started picking it up. I didn't see Michael again until he finished his race. The run down A1A was just a few minutes before sunrise, and it was great. Then we rounded the corner into Sunrise Blvd. and the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. It was still incredibly dark. For some reason, I got even faster through here. By the time I exited the park, I had caught up to the 1:40 pacer. I decided to chill out behind that crowd for a while. Seriously, why do poeple run shoulder to shoulder with the pace guys? You are allowed to be just behind that guy, you know. They ate up the whole road! I stayed in this spot for a while. The sun had risen by this point. We split off from the full marathoners near the 9 mile mark, with a short loop back. There was a guy playing Green Day in a reggae style at the turn around. I figured after the short loop, I would see the 3:30 pace dude, and I did. I didn't see Michael after him. So I thought that was a good sign. I thought he was ahead of pace guy, and still on his way to hit his goal.
Around mile 10, I still had a lot to give. I felt like I was easy cruising, and not racing anymore. So I hit the gas pedal again, and passed the 1:40 pacer and his wall of humans. Still felt too easy for a race, so I decided to hold off my " big kick" until crossing Las Olas @ mile 12.5, but still hold the new pace, and don't get passed back by any of the 1:40 guys. When I got to Las Olas, I chickened out of kicking. But then I started passing some people, just by nature of the new pace. One of those poeple didn't like that, and tried to pass me back. Well THAT wasn't happening, so that's when I kicked. He didn't get me.
I have finished a few marathons, where the half marathoners have eaten and drank everything, leaving nothing for the full marathon runners. This was my big chance to be that kind of jerk. After finishing I ate and drank everything they had to offer. Multiple times. Water, tacos, beer, muffins, Sports drink, beer, bananas, beer, chocolate milk, beer, bubba burgers, beef jerky, beer, I'm sure I'm forgetting something. I kept changing my look to go back to the beer truck. It was really funny. Then I went back to the car to change, because I hate hanging out in wet clothes. Then I went back to raid the finish chute some more, and cheer for Michael as he came in. So when I saw super tall dude from the start line that was right in front of us come in, and I saw 3:30 pacer guy come in, I was kind of bummed, that he missed his goal. As it turns out, only by 30 seconds, or so, but still. I got some decent photos of him coming into the finish. Then we grabbed his stuff from the UPS trucks, and hung out for a while. We had to go at least ankle deep into the Atlantic. It was a great day weather wise. Dry, by Florida standards.
I like this distance. My legs feel really good even the next day. I could get used to this. I was stunned to find that I ran the second half of the race faster. I was 47:12 (7:36 pace) through 10k. There is a fun quality to this spot I am at right now. Like, if I get too obsessed with times, and PR's, there is no fun. And if I run too slow, there is no fun. Right now, this is fun. Michael, let me know where you are racing in Florida next year, And I'll try to get there again. Really good seeing you again, and Good luck in the Non-Easter-weekend 2021 Boston Marathon.
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