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March 12, 2006
Definitely Disappointed
I was definitely disappointed with how this morning's race went. There are plenty of factors that probably influnenced the ultimate outcome. I don't want to make excuses because that creates a crutch for bad races, but given the circumstances, I probably did the best I possibly could today.
This is a half-marathon that is run in my hometown. It isn't a world class event at all, but it is a big deal in the newspaper and the running community. I've wanted to win this race for almost as long as I can remember. Back in 7th grade when we had to run the mile once a week in gym class, I wanted to win this race. Now remember, I was impressed that I could run one mile in 6:35, not really knowing that the winner of this race would run thirteen of those miles faster than that. I still wanted to win it someday. Fast forward, oh, fifteen years, I still want to win it. The issue is that it gets a big draw of people within an hour who are getting ready for Boston, so there are always some people who are the real deal there.
Anyhow, I felt like crap yesterday. I got to bed early and slept very well and felt marginally better this morning. I did try to steam the mucus out of my lungs this morning since I could still feel some of it lingering. It was also damp this morning when I woke up, actually with periods of very heavy rain. I packed up and headed over to the race around quarter of eight, so I got there just before eight. My concern was finding a parking spot, but I parked in the same spot that I always do. I sat in my car for a long time to stay dry and warm. It was supposed to be in the mid-sixties today, but I don't think that it ever got there. The cloud cover and the rain seemed to keep the temperature down. I did a short, easy 12 minute warm up in the drizzle. I stopped under an overhang to hang out with some of the people from our group. While I was under it, it started to pour again. I had to run the short trip down to my car to get out of my warm-up clothes, change my shoes and socks, and grab my number. It was still pouring when I finished doing this, but a few minutes before the start, the rain let up.
I never felt really good during the race. I didn't take splits at the miles, but I do remember what the clocks showed at the two places that there were clocks. The first mile of the course is very downhill, which sucks lots of people into going out too fast. The next two and a half miles are relatively flat, then from three and a half to just after nine miles is a long uphill section. It isn't particularly steep, but it can really take it out of our legs. From nine to twelve and a half are running back down what you just ran up, and then there is the final climb to the finish line that is steep. I went through five miles in 31:30, ten miles in 64:20, and finished in 1:24:32 (chip time). The course was very slick and with my bad balance, that made me fall at six miles. There were two guys who I was running around and one of them had no clue about space. Anytime I would go to a side to try to get around him, he would go exactly where I was trying to get. Finally, this spelled disaster and I went down. I landed on my hands and didn't hurt anything. When I got up, I was shaking and had a hard time breathing. Right about then, I considered DNF-ing, but it was almost as far to the finish line and I wasn't hurt.
That guy would be right around me for the rest of the race. He did apologize and made sure that I was OK, but eventually he started to pull away. I went through periods where I felt really good and periods where I felt really bad. The really bad periods felt much stronger than the really good periods. I ended up fourth out of the women, in time 35 seconds slower than last year. Although deep down inside I wanted to win, the three ladies in front of me were all the real deal. I was very disappointed since I feel that I am in much better shape than last year and thought that I was in shape to run in the high 1:22s.
I went to lunch with some of the guys from the club. While I was there, J called and we did a little bit of post-race analysis. We both felt that I am in better shape than that time indicates. My workouts had all gone very well and there really hadn't been too many bad runs in the lead up. I am pretty sure that whatever I had last week is still here, since by the time I left lunch, I could hardly stay upright. I got home and after my shower ended up sleeping. I just got a little bit of an appetite, so I ate something. Before that, it took too much energy to even sit upright. I've been having chills and waves of nausea.
I guess that it isn't really fair to complain about this race because there are a ton of people out there who would be very happy with it. This race will be around for years and I have not hit my peak yet. I just hope to feel better tomorrow.
Posted by Blondie at March 12, 2006 07:16 PM
Comments
hey blondie. i'm sorry you're still feeling sick. that's very hard core to take a spill and keep on going. next year....all yours..!! congrats on your 4th place finish!!! fun times.
Posted by: Audrey at March 12, 2006 08:08 PM
Blondie,
Don't feel bad about feeling bad about this race. Sure, there are lots of people who would love your time, but that's not what you want. Strive for what you want and can achieve, and nevermind others.
Sorry you were dissappointed with your race. I hope things come together for you in a race soon. I always love reading your race reports when you're excited about the outcome!
Posted by: Meghan at March 12, 2006 10:08 PM