After a necessarily conservative progression into higher mileage after CIM, and a few good workouts the past two weeks I was looking forward to testing my fitness in this race. After making my racing comeback last July I didn't feel race-sharp until late September. I was expecting a little bit of a mental relapse and coupled with my atrocious training week coming in I set what I felt were challenging but conservative goals. I hoped I was in 1:22 shape, felt I was in 1:23 shape and set 1:24 as an A goal and 1:25 as the worst-case-scenario B goal since the scheduled workout for the day was 13 miles at goal marathon pace.
My strategy was to run the first four miles at 6:20 pace and reevaluate how I felt, either holding pace, easing off or speeding up 5 seconds per mile through the next four miles where another reevaluation would occur. I felt this would put me in great control of running near my fitness for the day.
Pre-race:
The morning was less cool than I thought it would be, perfect racing weather. Even though I got a ten minute run plus a few strides in I didn't feel warmed up at all. I couldn't get my racing flats tied comfortably either and spent too much time futzing with them. The race was supposed to start at 8:15 so I made my way over to the line... barely in time for the countdown. They decided to start at 8:10. Bad omen number one.
My strategy was to run the first four miles at 6:20 pace and reevaluate how I felt, either holding pace, easing off or speeding up 5 seconds per mile through the next four miles where another reevaluation would occur. I felt this would put me in great control of running near my fitness for the day.
Pre-race:
The morning was less cool than I thought it would be, perfect racing weather. Even though I got a ten minute run plus a few strides in I didn't feel warmed up at all. I couldn't get my racing flats tied comfortably either and spent too much time futzing with them. The race was supposed to start at 8:15 so I made my way over to the line... barely in time for the countdown. They decided to start at 8:10. Bad omen number one.
Warming up
Trying to get my head in the race
Trying to get my head in the race 
Mile 1 - 6:20.6
The first half mile was a little too crowded with the 10K and half marathon starting together. Fortunately I was able to dial into my pace right away. It wasn't hard but I wasn't feeling comfortable yet. The second half of the first mile I pulled away from a pack and very slowly worked up to another pack of about 5 runners. I was starting to feel a little more comfortable but still not feeling the race at all.
The first half mile was a little too crowded with the 10K and half marathon starting together. Fortunately I was able to dial into my pace right away. It wasn't hard but I wasn't feeling comfortable yet. The second half of the first mile I pulled away from a pack and very slowly worked up to another pack of about 5 runners. I was starting to feel a little more comfortable but still not feeling the race at all.
Mile 2 - 6:21.6
Well into the second mile we turned onto a bike path and hit the second mile mark. I was wide man out in a row of 6 and had to push a little before the turn to get clear. Just after the second mile the 10K split and I could see several half marathoners strung out along the path - everyone already running on their own.
Mile 3 - 6:16.9
My little surge at the end of mile 2 carried over into this mile and I knew it. Unfortunately I abandoned my race plan and focused on a woman about 20 meters ahead of me. Unfortunately she had also picked up the pace so I let myself get pulled into running faster than I knew I should have. Still, I was physically feeling quite decent now but my mind remained undisciplined.
Mile 4 - 6:15.4
Still feeling pretty good physically, I had no handle on the race so I just kept working on the woman ahead - I was slowly pulling her in. Toward the end of mile 4 I pulled up on her shoulder a couple of times before she surged again. At this point I figured she was in contention for top 3 women and I thought she may want to work together since everyone else was alone and there was a bit of wind. But apparently not.
Still feeling pretty good physically, I had no handle on the race so I just kept working on the woman ahead - I was slowly pulling her in. Toward the end of mile 4 I pulled up on her shoulder a couple of times before she surged again. At this point I figured she was in contention for top 3 women and I thought she may want to work together since everyone else was alone and there was a bit of wind. But apparently not.
Mile 5 - 6:21.6
Just after the mile 4 marker we turned onto a gravel road and came to the second aid station. She slowed to grab some water and I continued on. The loose gravel took some zip off the pace, but I was still cruising fairly comfortably. From here it was a good 120 meters to the next few runners so I tried to focus on my stride and keeping the effort up.
Mile 6 - 6:39.7
I knew this mile would be a bit slower as we hit an overpass into the wind across I-80. I didn't think it would be this slow, though. The Garmin measured this mile a few hundredths long, though. During this mile we started the first of many brief annoying route sharing with the 10K participants.
Mile 7 - 6:20.4
Okay, that's better. I was starting to work pretty hard in this mile, particularly on a 1/3 mile stretch on a severely crowned road. This stretch really fatigued my legs for some reason and really made my feet feel awkward, a remnant of not getting my laces tight just right I assume. Although I was still too far away and too tired to make a move, I noticed I was making decent progress on the guy in front of me, even though the next woman had taken off. Coming off Mace Boulevard my left calf started feeling excessively fatigued - but at least in a new location than my ongoing issues. This one was very high and lateral, no doubt due to the crown of the road. Should have taken the sidewalk.
Okay, that's better. I was starting to work pretty hard in this mile, particularly on a 1/3 mile stretch on a severely crowned road. This stretch really fatigued my legs for some reason and really made my feet feel awkward, a remnant of not getting my laces tight just right I assume. Although I was still too far away and too tired to make a move, I noticed I was making decent progress on the guy in front of me, even though the next woman had taken off. Coming off Mace Boulevard my left calf started feeling excessively fatigued - but at least in a new location than my ongoing issues. This one was very high and lateral, no doubt due to the crown of the road. Should have taken the sidewalk.
Mile 8 - 6:18.4
This was the mile I realized I wasn't going to have enough in the tank to finish out the race at this pace. Nonetheless I pressed on in pursuit of the next runner. This mile took it's toll on me with lots of winding and rolling bike paths against the 10K participants. And yes, I'm using the term "participants" on purpose - the runners who would know which side of the path to move to and stay on were long gone. I finally caught the next runner just before mile 8 and pressed on. Toward the end of this mile my new calf strain was becoming more pronounced. Grrr.
This was the mile I realized I wasn't going to have enough in the tank to finish out the race at this pace. Nonetheless I pressed on in pursuit of the next runner. This mile took it's toll on me with lots of winding and rolling bike paths against the 10K participants. And yes, I'm using the term "participants" on purpose - the runners who would know which side of the path to move to and stay on were long gone. I finally caught the next runner just before mile 8 and pressed on. Toward the end of this mile my new calf strain was becoming more pronounced. Grrr.
Mile 9 - 6:30.7
After pressing for another half mile, I backed off the pace a bit the second half of this mile hoping to settle into a pace that I could either use to recover before a final push or at least salvage my B goal should recovery prove elusive. Two guys who ran a very smart race flew by me here and the guy I passed in mile 8 was hanging on, happy to see that I was starting to struggle, too. I was becoming more concerned about my calf but I honestly believe I wouldn't have fared any better had I not had the distraction. My mind was clearly not ready to race even though I was trying to will it there.
After pressing for another half mile, I backed off the pace a bit the second half of this mile hoping to settle into a pace that I could either use to recover before a final push or at least salvage my B goal should recovery prove elusive. Two guys who ran a very smart race flew by me here and the guy I passed in mile 8 was hanging on, happy to see that I was starting to struggle, too. I was becoming more concerned about my calf but I honestly believe I wouldn't have fared any better had I not had the distraction. My mind was clearly not ready to race even though I was trying to will it there.
Mile 10 - 6:19.5
I was still trying to push with the footsteps slowly closing behind me, but I knew we weren't running this fast. The Garmin confirmed this was several hundreths of a mile short. I was starting to get rattled with the 10K walkers on the path and not knowing exactly when we'd hit the last overpass...
I was still trying to push with the footsteps slowly closing behind me, but I knew we weren't running this fast. The Garmin confirmed this was several hundreths of a mile short. I was starting to get rattled with the 10K walkers on the path and not knowing exactly when we'd hit the last overpass...
Mile 11 - 7:11.0
At this point I was pretty rattled and pretty much done racing and it didn't register that this mile was long and made up for the short previous mile (average for the two was 6:45). I saw 7:xx and put myself on autopilot. Still, my pursuer did not move. It was becoming downright infuriating at this point. Where the hell is that damned overpass???
Mile 12 - 6:54.7
Having already thrown in the towel and shut the poorly operating mental machinery down there's really not much to say about this mile. 10K walkers. Strollers. Underpass, not overpass. Whoop-de-freakin'-do. The punk in the shin-length basketball shorts finally passed me right at the 12 mile marker and mercifully left me to whimper in the final mile in peace.
Mile 13.1 - 7:23.7 (6:39 pace)
There are two things worth mentioning about this mile:
1) Coming off the bike path onto the city streets the course was poorly marked for the first time or I was totally out of it (or both) and I cut about 5-10 meters off a corner before someone snapped me back to reality making my miserable finishing time even more pathetic since I cheated to get it.
2) I did not get passed by the woman I left back at the mile 4 aid station. But it was close.
The festive finish chute (is it Easter already?)
Hauling my sorry gut the last few meters
Final time was 1:25:12.1. It was a soft year as I was 16th overall, 15th male and 3rd in the M30-34 category. Unfortunately I assumed I was out of the age group awards and took off for breakfast. Looks like I have a phone call to make tomorrow. Hopefully I can get the medal - they were quite lovely. Had I known the guy who passed me in the last mile and beat me by 20 seconds was in my age group I may have found another gear. Maybe not, though. Who the hell my age wears basketball shorts past his knees with shaved legs to run a 1:25 half?
My grandmother said with my hair I looked like her sister Theresa who recently passed away. Apparently it's time for a haircut and to loose about 200 pounds.
Me, Grandpa Lester, Erin
Grandma Mary, me, Grandpa Lester
It was really nice to see my grandparents and have a nice breakfast with them. My grandma went to the T-shirt table and conned / annoyed her way into six participant shirts because my grandpa was born in Davis and walks around town every day.
My comeback isn't progressing as quickly as I had hoped, but I'm grateful every chance I get to run and have my wife and family share these times with me. Time to refocus for Napa.
5 comments:
I wouldn't worry about this. In fact, I see a lot of positives in it. First, it was not a goal race, it was a race run as a workout...and it was a good workout. Second, you wanted to run your marathon pace, and you did. It was a 1:25, not a 1:30. Third, you did it even though you did not feel so good physically and mentally, and had lots of people in your way on the course. That's a good sign. And fourth, you got a hug from Grandma at the end! Not a bad day at all.
I was watching for you, and I think this is VERY impressive, and even more than that...I learned so much. I did the 5K, and as old and slow as I am, even I knew that the strollers and walkers were going to be a problem. I was celebrating my 50th birthday, and new race category!!
I think I saw the guy in the long shorts. Ha! Your pace was amazing anyway.
You are an inspiration!! Davis was gorgeous...and yeah, about those balloons!
Ms. V.
Sorry you didn't have the race you were hoping for. Sounds like you held 6:20 pretty well until you threw a wrench into your race plan by chasing a skirt. Great.
Still, way to go BTTW 'Sister'. For that alone, I'm proud of ya. And congrats on placing too. Be sure to show us a pic of the "lovely" medal should you get to pick it up. You'll get 'saggy shorts' next time.
That was a good test Sky. I'm wondering do you think you would have maintained 6:20s more easily had you not sped up in the 2nd and 3rd miles? And without the wayward mile markers and complaining calf?
You're probably only a race or two away from a 1:22 or quicker.
That was funny about the bloke with the shin-length basketball shorts. I have the same problem with grey-haired ladies wearing long tights on hot days.
Save the haircut for the marathon. I remember having hair that long in, oh, 1978.
Thanks for the positive feedback everyone. After being way too conservative in my first two half marathons I've been too aggressive in the last two, so I'm still figuring out the distance.
Ewen, I definitely think I could have maintained 6:20's if I didn't push so early. I still felt fairly good, but it was a little too on the edge and I knew it. I also would have had to taken my Gu and some fluids, though and not had my calf bother me - but fortunately these are all clear, tangible things that are easy to fix the next time I go out.
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