Executive Summary - 8th OA, 1st AG, new Half Mary PB of 1:19:40. PERFECT day for racing.
Much longerer, boringer version (stop reading now! You’re still here? Don’t say I didn’t warn ya…)
Ever since going 1:20:5x back in aught-nine, I just assumed that “all” I’d have to do to break 1:20, would be to run a little faster (BRILLIANT!), or find a faster course.
Tried the run faster on the same course bit. FAIL.
Tried the run on a faster course at Hyannis this past Feb. FAIL. Headwinds and stitches said “you’ll have nothing and like it!”
Would the 3rd time be the charm? (SPOILER ALERT - YES!!)
Sat afternoon/eve - 3 for a PB ™ in effect. 1 x 21st Amendment Black IPA, plus 2 x DFH 60’s w/ dinner. I heart 3 for a PB!!!
Sun am, dark:thirty. Ugh. It’s dark out. Get up, slug down an Ensure, feed cats, let dogs out, dress, pack, and head out. The race website said to get there early, since there would be long lines at registration. So, I got there early. And cruised thru registration in < 5 mins. Now I’ve got tons of time to kill.
Hanging back at car, notice something off in the distance - a hot air balloon! How cool is that? I took a pic, but it’s a crappy iPhone, so you can’t even see the balloon. But trust me, it was there.
Weather is PERFECT. Upper 40’s at this time, sunny w/ cool, dry air, and just the faintest hint of a breeze.
I’ll save you the DaveRochian pre-race BM details… other than to state, that’s probably the only thing I can beat DaveRoche at.
On a scale of 1 to 10, my body’s Fight or Flight response goes to 11.
Race start - I line up in the 2nd row. It’s not a particularly wide start chute, and for some reason, the 5k race is going off WITH the half mary. OK?
And they’re OFF!! Immediately I notice that apparently everybody thinks they’re in the 5k today. Dumbasses. I’ll be seeing many of you later…
Goose - you’re gonna do WHAT?
Maverick - I’m gonna hit the brakes, he’ll fly right by…
So I slow to a more sane 5:50-ish pace, vs the sub-5:30’s that everybody else seems to be throwing down at the moment. Bless you, Garmin.
Net rolling/up for the first 2 miles, then about 5 of net-down and flat. Time to make the donuts here.
Keep the per-mile pace in the 5:5x range, until I get to mile 8, when the few late hills start to arrive. Compared to my normal run routes, these are nothing, but after having been spoiled all day by relative pancake-flatness, I’m feeling 'em.
Oh crap!! 6:12 and then 6:19 - I hope I didn’t just chunk my shot at < 1:20 here. But then - yay, downhills! 5:59.
Legs are feeling weaker, and I hit an aid station for the first time all day. Take just a swig of Gatorade, but spit most of it out. Hoping I can psych out my “central governor” w/o having to risk gut issues from actually consuming anything. It seems to work.
Where the F is the mile 11 marker?? God, I’m dying here - it’ll be just another 13-ish minutes when I get there… wait, what’s that?
The 12m marker!!! Oh, thank you Sweet Baby Jeebus!!! I think I can hang in for another 6-7 minutes, but it’s gonna be close…
You can see the finish line area from about a half mile away. But, it’s like one of those horror movie hallway scenes, where it keeps stretching out further, and further, and further…
Pace is just barely sub-6 for this last mile, but it’s all the “kick” I have right now. See the clock, YES - I’m gonna make it!!!
Upon ceasing running, I find my L knee is REALLY sore, and I’ve got some lovely hotspots in various places on my feet.
I walk/hobble around to the back of the school, to hit the post-race food and drink.
BIG UPS to Taconic Road Running Club, for the growlers of Captain Lawrence ale they had in a cooler at their tent. You guys & gals RULE.
There’s nothing better than a few RecoverWrongs after a day of racing.
Garmin had the run at 13.2m, which makes sense, since it was nearly impossible to run all the tangents, due to traffic.
Here’s the Strava file, for those interested:
http://app.strava.com/runs/22163673
Very psyched to set a run PB at the ripe old age of 46.
Next up - NYC.
If I can make it there…
