A few weeks ago, while talking about my season with my coach, I mentioned there was a relatively flat, low key, trail half-marathon* that I was interested in (for a good cause, friends involved, etc). I felt that it would motivate me on my long runs leading up to the race and would be a nice, supported, training run - no pressure, no nerves, just fun. He agreed, and I signed up.
Fast forward, and I found myself lamenting the decision. Part of the reason I love running long in the winter months is that you can sleep in, enjoy your coffee, and there is no rush to get out the door, or even set the alarm. The 6:30am wake up call on a Sunday was rough. I also was a bit worried about the distance. My long runs have been topping out around 10 miles or 90 minutes, and haven't included much race-pace-tempo anything until last week. I got overwhelmed with a last minute work trip to NYC at the end of the week, didn't have a chance to talk strategy with my coach, and in general wasn't too sure what was going on (directions? race start time? clean clothes? gloves? all small details that were dealt with between 7am and 7 30am Sunday morning).
I figured a progressive tempo run may be a smart approach. The plan was simple: Run to the turn around (on the out and back course) SUPER comfortably. On the back half*, slowly pick up the pace every mile, with the last 5k as close to half marathon 'goal pace' as possible. I was realistic that half marathon 'goal pace' right now is more about a FEELING than the number and whatever the numbers revealed would not impact my confidence or goals in March.
Well, in short, this approach went out the window before the race even started. I was cold, the start was crowded, somehow I found myself only a few feet back from the starting line, they announced a 'wave start' that I didn't really understand and, in general, I had no clue what was going on. So off I went.
Rather than giving a play by play, I will just say, I am SUPER pleased with the overall pace, level of effort and how my body feels today. After a quick look at my splits, you will see that I ran the half marathon* precisely the opposite as I had planned/hoped. I went out quicker (but it felt good! ha), decided on the fly the maintain the pace vs. back off, and simply accepted the fact the last few miles would likely be a struggle.
Overall Time: ~1:36:46 (7:59 pace for 12.14 miles)[edit: updated as per unofficial results]
7 57
7 44
7 54
7 41
8 02
7 47 Gu at roughly mile 6
8 01
7 56
8 06
8 04
8 23 *longer walk break at water stop
8 28
With 7 weeks to go until the National Half Marathon, based on what I have done up to this point and the work I plan to put in moving forward, I am very happy with where I am at. Dan and I indulged in a Silver Diner feast after the race, and I can't remember the last time I have been so incredibly happy with a choice.
Some notes for my own memory: The last few miles also included some nasty little inclines on the locks back up to Carderock. I power walked all the water stops. Took a Gu at around mile 6. Had planned to take the 2nd around mile 10, but by then it had become very clear the course was going to be quite short, so decided to hold off on the 2nd Gu. In hindsight, it may have helped get me legs keeping moving those last few miles.
*A note on the distance. This race was clearly short. It has been confirmed at 12.14 miles, and the race organizers are admitting fault. Honestly, as this was a training run for me, I could care less. In fact, I felt a small sense or relief as I felt like jumping to 13.1 miles from 10ish could be too much at once. If this race was more important to me, I would of course be quite upset. And clearly, NO, I will not say this race was a 'PR'. The race says the turnaround point was incorrect, which is definitely true. But from the first mile marker, the distance was off. I would say the mile markers were already about .3 ahead of my Garmin by the turn around, but then between miles 6 and 7, it became quite clear the turn around was wrong.
However, after the Mile 11 marker, there weren't any more until the finish line. It was obviously VERY CLEAR the course was short, as no Mile 12 or 13 mile markers were placed on the course. Seems it could have been an easy fix (go and move the turnaround), especially as the start was delayed a bit to let late-comers get to the line. Just a thought.
Fast forward, and I found myself lamenting the decision. Part of the reason I love running long in the winter months is that you can sleep in, enjoy your coffee, and there is no rush to get out the door, or even set the alarm. The 6:30am wake up call on a Sunday was rough. I also was a bit worried about the distance. My long runs have been topping out around 10 miles or 90 minutes, and haven't included much race-pace-tempo anything until last week. I got overwhelmed with a last minute work trip to NYC at the end of the week, didn't have a chance to talk strategy with my coach, and in general wasn't too sure what was going on (directions? race start time? clean clothes? gloves? all small details that were dealt with between 7am and 7 30am Sunday morning).
I figured a progressive tempo run may be a smart approach. The plan was simple: Run to the turn around (on the out and back course) SUPER comfortably. On the back half*, slowly pick up the pace every mile, with the last 5k as close to half marathon 'goal pace' as possible. I was realistic that half marathon 'goal pace' right now is more about a FEELING than the number and whatever the numbers revealed would not impact my confidence or goals in March.
Well, in short, this approach went out the window before the race even started. I was cold, the start was crowded, somehow I found myself only a few feet back from the starting line, they announced a 'wave start' that I didn't really understand and, in general, I had no clue what was going on. So off I went.
Rather than giving a play by play, I will just say, I am SUPER pleased with the overall pace, level of effort and how my body feels today. After a quick look at my splits, you will see that I ran the half marathon* precisely the opposite as I had planned/hoped. I went out quicker (but it felt good! ha), decided on the fly the maintain the pace vs. back off, and simply accepted the fact the last few miles would likely be a struggle.
Overall Time: ~1:36:46 (7:59 pace for 12.14 miles)[edit: updated as per unofficial results]
7 57
7 44
7 54
7 41
8 02
7 47 Gu at roughly mile 6
8 01
7 56
8 06
8 04
8 23 *longer walk break at water stop
8 28
With 7 weeks to go until the National Half Marathon, based on what I have done up to this point and the work I plan to put in moving forward, I am very happy with where I am at. Dan and I indulged in a Silver Diner feast after the race, and I can't remember the last time I have been so incredibly happy with a choice.
Some notes for my own memory: The last few miles also included some nasty little inclines on the locks back up to Carderock. I power walked all the water stops. Took a Gu at around mile 6. Had planned to take the 2nd around mile 10, but by then it had become very clear the course was going to be quite short, so decided to hold off on the 2nd Gu. In hindsight, it may have helped get me legs keeping moving those last few miles.
*A note on the distance. This race was clearly short. It has been confirmed at 12.14 miles, and the race organizers are admitting fault. Honestly, as this was a training run for me, I could care less. In fact, I felt a small sense or relief as I felt like jumping to 13.1 miles from 10ish could be too much at once. If this race was more important to me, I would of course be quite upset. And clearly, NO, I will not say this race was a 'PR'. The race says the turnaround point was incorrect, which is definitely true. But from the first mile marker, the distance was off. I would say the mile markers were already about .3 ahead of my Garmin by the turn around, but then between miles 6 and 7, it became quite clear the turn around was wrong.
However, after the Mile 11 marker, there weren't any more until the finish line. It was obviously VERY CLEAR the course was short, as no Mile 12 or 13 mile markers were placed on the course. Seems it could have been an easy fix (go and move the turnaround), especially as the start was delayed a bit to let late-comers get to the line. Just a thought.
Sigh. I heard about this whole short course thing. In any case, I'm glad you got what you needed out of the race and that you're comfortable with and confident about where you are!
ReplyDeleteThis race always seems to be somewhat problematic, last year it was held on 6 inches of snow and ice.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it worked out well for you! Looks like you are where you need to be at this point in the season.
I'm sorry I couldn't come and swim and hear about all of this, but looking at your splits, it looks VERY solid, especially based on all your *but this happened* points. nice job, lady.
ReplyDelete