My training was crap all summer. Since May, I've done 100% treadmill work; my feet hadn't hit the pavement in five months. Even inside while on the mill, the heat and humidity are terrible. I've done only three long runs since my last marathon. Speed work, forgetaboutit; zero nada. So not being in optimal shape, I wasn't really ready to run this race.
I had actually passed on this half-marathon all four previous years it was held, regardless of my conditioning. The course goes over the Corpus Christi Harbor bridge, which rises 130 feet over half a mile. Once on the other side, there are three additional small causeway passings to climb. However, since the race is an "out and back", all these elevations are made twice, the second time coming back toward the finish. Running at marathon speed, they're bad enough; however I was really apprehensive about the risk of injury tackling these climbs at half-marathon pace. 
Over the last month, some local runners asked me if I was gong to enter, "Nope, out of shape and tough course." was my reply. Just last weekend, I was asked again, "Ain't gonna happen." But with just five days remaining, I changed my mind. The weather forecast showed a north wind, and a 64 degree gun time temperature. Having not run outside in five months, I acquiesced.
But even the weather wasn't that great. For a full marathon, that weather is terrible. For a half, it's fair at best. But the race starts at day break, and runs directly north for the 1st six-and-half miles. No problem there. But on the return, the wind would be at my back and the sun bright in a cloudless sky.
The day before I emailed a friend saying I expected to set a PR (Personal Record). I wasn't being sarcastic. In spite of being out of shape, a tough course, and only fair weather, I was confident I could beat the 1:32:59 PR half I ran last December. That course was flat as a pancake, but run in very hot and humidity conditions. Hills can affect you on any particular course section, but heat and humidity, that drains you the entire race. Just based on the north wind, I thought I could PR. I also had been doing well on my weight. Running short mileage twice a day, and a low carb diet over the last six weeks helped me drop to 180. That's about as light as I've been, but still way to heavy for the time I hope to run next marathon (more on that later).
Race morning about 700 runners queued up in the starting chute. About 325 for the complete half-marathon, the rest the 1st leg of two-person relay teams. Based on last year's results, I figured I could finish in the top 20 or so. Accordingly, I line up about 10 feet behind the start line. At 7:00 a.m, the gun fired and we were off.
I initially went out a little fast, hoping to build a small buffer before hitting the big bridge. I slowed slightly when starting the climb. Half way up, I slowed some more. Once over the the top, I strided down and crossed a second on-ramp getting to mile three. At that point, I knew a PR was out. I had no rhythm at all, my breathing was a little heavy, my legs a little heavy, and I was leaning forward to much. It was here that I was passed by another runner, a well known woman competitor; she used by be on the university cross country team. She was leading all females at this point. I said, "Good Morning, Looking good." as she went by.
Ten seconds later, a man came by. "Good Morning, Looking good. Running the full half or the relay?" He replied, "The full." "You look great." I encouraged. By mile four we crossed two more on-ramps, and I was ready to go home. Had my car been any where near by, I would have stepped off the course. Not that I was running that bad, I just didn't think I could keep my pace another nine miles. However, having had the gaul to stand at the front of the starting chute, I couldn't bear the humiliation of 200 plus runners passing me with a smirked. I just kept going.
A half mile later, another runner came along side of me. "Morning, How you feel'in." I asked. When he replied, "Quite Good." I detected the ooooo intead of uuuuu in the good. "Hey mate, you sound Australian." "Close, New Zealand." "My wife is from Sydney." I said hoping to start some small talk. His face slightly wrinkled in condescension, and then he slowly pulled way. However, by then I was actually feeling better. The course had flattened out and my stride lengthen. I hit the half way point in 46:16, a PR pace. But I was still doubtful I could maintain it.
Heading back into town, I got another boost. I was still running in the top 15 of so, and now passing the other 700 runners coming in the opposite direction. I didn't wanted to give the appearance that I was over exerting, which I was, so got more vertical and lengthened my stride a little. By mile nine, the wind was directly at my back, which made it much hotter, but also gave a little push. My stride was really getting long. I then saw the New Zealander had fallen from about 100 yards in front of me to 70. I began to reel him in. At mile 10 1/2, I passed him by, "How ya feel'in Kiwi?" "My wheels are falling off." Then I saw the the women's leader about 60 yards ahead.
As we went up the big bridge for a second time, I closed to within 40 yards. However, about half way up, I had to stop and walk. Well, I walked for about six steps, and then ran 50 yards. Walked again for six steps, ran 50 yards. A third time for six. Finally, I crossed the apex. Down the other side, and only a mile to go. The women leader was about 20 yards ahead and getting close. I'm not sure if she was getting tight, or just realized there wasn't another female within a quarter mile and she could cruise to the win.
Half mile out, I passed the other man who went by me in the 1st half. With a quarter mile to go, I passed the eventual female winner. So netting from the start, I didn't pass anyone and nobody passed me, which made me feel a little better about queuing up so close to the start line. With 200 yards remaining, I could see I was about a minute ahead of my previous PR.
I gutted it up and pushed across the finish line in a new PR of 1:32:41. I placed 11th out of 325 half marathoners, and I think I finished ahead of all 350 relay teams, except three or four. I also placed second in my division (male 40-45), getting a silver medal.
I think the most surprising result were my equal splits, just nine second difference: 46:16 first half, 46:25 second half. I felt so bad at mile four, I was expecting to slow about 2-3 minutes on the back end.
I'm still not in great shape, but not too bad considering I don't start new marathon cycle for another week. That gives me three more months to get into proper conditioning. Especially my weight.
Post race I was talking to a 46 year old runner, who ran 1:28:30, placing 8th. We were the same height, looking eye to eye. I asked him how much he weighed, expecting him to say about 170, maybe 165. He said, "155". That's where it's at!.
I've said 100 times, I'm too fat. Well better said, I'm way too heavy for the times I want to run. Most of these guys are 120-150 lbs. I'm not going to get that light. But I need to lose at least another five pounds. Preferable eight. I would really like to get down to 170. Well, 11 weeks of hardcore training coming up, maybe.
But even the weather wasn't that great. For a full marathon, that weather is terrible. For a half, it's fair at best. But the race starts at day break, and runs directly north for the 1st six-and-half miles. No problem there. But on the return, the wind would be at my back and the sun bright in a cloudless sky.
The day before I emailed a friend saying I expected to set a PR (Personal Record). I wasn't being sarcastic. In spite of being out of shape, a tough course, and only fair weather, I was confident I could beat the 1:32:59 PR half I ran last December. That course was flat as a pancake, but run in very hot and humidity conditions. Hills can affect you on any particular course section, but heat and humidity, that drains you the entire race. Just based on the north wind, I thought I could PR. I also had been doing well on my weight. Running short mileage twice a day, and a low carb diet over the last six weeks helped me drop to 180. That's about as light as I've been, but still way to heavy for the time I hope to run next marathon (more on that later).
Race morning about 700 runners queued up in the starting chute. About 325 for the complete half-marathon, the rest the 1st leg of two-person relay teams. Based on last year's results, I figured I could finish in the top 20 or so. Accordingly, I line up about 10 feet behind the start line. At 7:00 a.m, the gun fired and we were off.
I initially went out a little fast, hoping to build a small buffer before hitting the big bridge. I slowed slightly when starting the climb. Half way up, I slowed some more. Once over the the top, I strided down and crossed a second on-ramp getting to mile three. At that point, I knew a PR was out. I had no rhythm at all, my breathing was a little heavy, my legs a little heavy, and I was leaning forward to much. It was here that I was passed by another runner, a well known woman competitor; she used by be on the university cross country team. She was leading all females at this point. I said, "Good Morning, Looking good." as she went by.
Ten seconds later, a man came by. "Good Morning, Looking good. Running the full half or the relay?" He replied, "The full." "You look great." I encouraged. By mile four we crossed two more on-ramps, and I was ready to go home. Had my car been any where near by, I would have stepped off the course. Not that I was running that bad, I just didn't think I could keep my pace another nine miles. However, having had the gaul to stand at the front of the starting chute, I couldn't bear the humiliation of 200 plus runners passing me with a smirked. I just kept going.
A half mile later, another runner came along side of me. "Morning, How you feel'in." I asked. When he replied, "Quite Good." I detected the ooooo intead of uuuuu in the good. "Hey mate, you sound Australian." "Close, New Zealand." "My wife is from Sydney." I said hoping to start some small talk. His face slightly wrinkled in condescension, and then he slowly pulled way. However, by then I was actually feeling better. The course had flattened out and my stride lengthen. I hit the half way point in 46:16, a PR pace. But I was still doubtful I could maintain it.
Heading back into town, I got another boost. I was still running in the top 15 of so, and now passing the other 700 runners coming in the opposite direction. I didn't wanted to give the appearance that I was over exerting, which I was, so got more vertical and lengthened my stride a little. By mile nine, the wind was directly at my back, which made it much hotter, but also gave a little push. My stride was really getting long. I then saw the New Zealander had fallen from about 100 yards in front of me to 70. I began to reel him in. At mile 10 1/2, I passed him by, "How ya feel'in Kiwi?" "My wheels are falling off." Then I saw the the women's leader about 60 yards ahead.
As we went up the big bridge for a second time, I closed to within 40 yards. However, about half way up, I had to stop and walk. Well, I walked for about six steps, and then ran 50 yards. Walked again for six steps, ran 50 yards. A third time for six. Finally, I crossed the apex. Down the other side, and only a mile to go. The women leader was about 20 yards ahead and getting close. I'm not sure if she was getting tight, or just realized there wasn't another female within a quarter mile and she could cruise to the win.
Half mile out, I passed the other man who went by me in the 1st half. With a quarter mile to go, I passed the eventual female winner. So netting from the start, I didn't pass anyone and nobody passed me, which made me feel a little better about queuing up so close to the start line. With 200 yards remaining, I could see I was about a minute ahead of my previous PR.
I gutted it up and pushed across the finish line in a new PR of 1:32:41. I placed 11th out of 325 half marathoners, and I think I finished ahead of all 350 relay teams, except three or four. I also placed second in my division (male 40-45), getting a silver medal.
I think the most surprising result were my equal splits, just nine second difference: 46:16 first half, 46:25 second half. I felt so bad at mile four, I was expecting to slow about 2-3 minutes on the back end.
I'm still not in great shape, but not too bad considering I don't start new marathon cycle for another week. That gives me three more months to get into proper conditioning. Especially my weight.
Post race I was talking to a 46 year old runner, who ran 1:28:30, placing 8th. We were the same height, looking eye to eye. I asked him how much he weighed, expecting him to say about 170, maybe 165. He said, "155". That's where it's at!.
I've said 100 times, I'm too fat. Well better said, I'm way too heavy for the times I want to run. Most of these guys are 120-150 lbs. I'm not going to get that light. But I need to lose at least another five pounds. Preferable eight. I would really like to get down to 170. Well, 11 weeks of hardcore training coming up, maybe.
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