This course for some reason is always the course I run if I'm able to do one city race. It's the toughest because of the uphill and downhill for the layout of the course. The course was short at 5.99 rather than 6.2 this year. I think they moved it up this year or something. I actually ran past the finish line thinking we had more to run and it cost me 10 seconds, but no big deal 10 seconds is not important in a race. I was nervous and scared going into the race because of the Sciatic nerve pain I've had, and the fact I've done zero speed work for 6 weeks. I've really been in some serious pain the last 5 weeks to where I had some thoughts I didn't want to ever run again. I had three deep massages leading up to this fun race, plus tons and tons of stretching. I decided if I felt bad I would back off and run with my friend Barry on the blog.
| Miles | Type | This Year | Details
| Comment |
|
Mile 1 |
(downhill for .4 than uphill) | 6:35 | Just taking it easy very conservative. I was feeling out how the body was adapting to the first mile. No pain the first mile.
2008: 6:28
2009: 6:41
|
Mile 2
|
(uphill then rolling) | 6:26 | Decided to pick it up a little more but still conservative. I was in this race for fun and to not hurt, or try to push and win. Although, I was currently in 4th place.
2008: 6:16 2009: 6:38
|
Mile 3
|
(downhill) | 5:30 | Okay, decided to open it up a little more on the downhill. I past the third place runner at this point. Still no pain. At this point I felt I could catch the second place runner who was about 300 meters ahead of me.
2008: 5:31
2009: 5:33
|
Mile 4
|
(Flat) | 5:40 | 5:40 on this flat mile was slow compared to the last two years, but again being injured and not in race mode I really didn't care or was discouraged. I was glad to be out there running. This mile went well and again no pain. Was gaining on the second place runner who was 40 meters ahead.
2008: 5:28
2009: 5:30
|
Mile 5
|
(Mostly Uphill) | 6:15 | This uphill stretch is where I've been strong in the past. I was able to pass the second place runner and the leader was only 20 meters ahead.
2008: 5:57
2009: 6:14
|
Mile 6
|
(uphill) | 7:00
| I didn't have as much left as I usually do on this mile of the course. Definitely lack of training and fitness. I really slowed down and wasn't able to catch the leader even though I gained. Then when we turned I went right by the finish line and had to turn back to the finish line. I thought we had more to run because my garmin was at 5.99. Oh well no big deal.
2008: 6:14
2009: 6:29
|
All in all I'm happy. I really thought I was going to hurt or even if I didn't (as was the case) I didn't think I would run this well on a hard course. I'm very humbled for God allowing me to do well and stay pain free. He deserves the credit and glory. Where I go from here is where God wants me to race. I'm just not into running a lot of Marathon's anymore, and just want to have fun and run pain-free. I've had injures pile up to where my perception on running has changed.
You have to look at your life and find what that spiritual importance is. Running a better marathon time is not going to get me closer to God or really make me happy for the long term. Will see what God directs for me in the future.
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