always yield positive results. So, here I was, getting ready to “wing it” for 13.1 miles and see what happened.
The Start: I lined up in Corral 8, towards the back and thought about my approach. My goal was really just to beat my worst Half time (2:20:34) and I thought I could finish around 2:10 or 2:15. I knew this wouldn't be a PR, but I figured if I could maintain somewhere around 10 minute miles I would be okay with that. I also decided, much like last year’s marathon, that I wanted to have fun and enjoy the experience. My corral finally got up to the start line and with the horn I was off. I was pretty much in the middle and looked for Julie at the start, but couldn't see her.
Miles 1-5: Heading down the first mile was pretty cool. It was a downhill slope, so it made it easy to kind of find a groove fairly soon. I hate races that start off with an incline. Someone made the comment about being able to see the city differently while running as opposed to driving and I couldn’t agree more. I felt like I was at a good pace, my breathing was steady and I felt good, better than I normally do on the first mile. Shortly after Mile 2 a guy asked me how I liked my HydraQuiver Double Barrel and I had a short conversation with him about the benefits. (I had both bottles, one with water and one with Nuun fruit punch water, which was more than I needed for the Half, but it saved me from crowded water and Gatorade stops). Anyway, that was another reassuring moment, being able to have a conversation on a hill and maintain my pace. Somewhere during Mile 3 (again on an uphill) one of my Ragnar teammates tapped me on the shoulder and said hello, which made me smile and kept me going. And right around Mile 5, a pacer for someone else, who was riding a bicycle, told her runner to “slow your pace down a little” which actually made sense for me as well. Splits: (9:25; 9:30; 9:34; 9:32; 9:12)
Miles 6-10: Halfway through Mile 6 I took a short walk break for a gel. (Vitamin Shoppe isn't currently carrying Honey Stinger Vanilla, and I didn’t plan well enough to restock my CarbBoom! gels, so I for this race I went back to my old choice of GU Vanilla Bean. I had 2 of those, and 1 CarbBoom! Strawberry Kiwi that I saved for last.) I started up running again and was pleased that it felt like I got right back into the groove. I saw a spectator with an Ohio State sweatshirt, so I yelled, “Go Bucks! O-H!” and he shouted back “I-O!” which kept me smiling. Up around the corner after Mile 6 I was chugging along and heard someone shout my name from the sidewalk. I looked over and saw another Ragnar teammate who was out cheering on runners. It’s definitely pretty cool to hear your name when you aren’t expecting it. After that I was just cruising along, enjoying the scenery and not really much to report, other than the fact that I pulled 2 sub-9:00 miles! I was pretty excited about that. Just before Mile 10 I was headed uphill on Wewatta Street and I took a walk break about halfway up the hill for my last gel. I then saw some photographers, so I definitely had take off and run up the hill to get past them before some water to wash down the gel! And then down the hill past Coors Field and down Walnut. By this time, my legs were feeling pretty tired, but I know once I hit 10 miles, there was only a 5k to go, and I know I can run a 5k, so that kept me going. Splits: (9:18; 9:28; 8:52; 8:40; 9:44)
Miles 11-13.1: The Mile 11 sign was at the end of a short out and back on Larimer Street, so it was kind of cool seeing other runners making the turn, and I knew that sign meant only 2 more miles. My right knee and hip started aching a little bit, which in the past has happened about this point in the Half, so I wasn't overly concerned. I knew it was as much my lack of training catching up with me as anything. Then Mile 12, just one more mile. Just keeping forward progress, and suddenly I see the park, and then the turn for the finish line. I make the right turn and pick up the pace and hear Brett, Mona and Julie yell my name. I look over at them and smile and that boosts me across the finish line. Splits: (9:36; 9:41; 9:56; and .1 = 8:12 pace)
I have to say I loved the course. I tackled the hills with no real problems, tried to enjoy the scenery and accomplished my goal of having fun. Running past the Pepsi Center, Sports Authority Field at Mile High and Coors Field was awesome, though it would have been cooler to get a little closer, and I would have liked to actually run on the path around Sloan’s Lake instead of on the street, but logistically I know those things weren't possible. The crowd support was awesome, there were some creative signs ("Run Faster! Ebola is coming!" and "You'll all survive the Zombie Apocalypse better than we will!") and there was just a great energy through the entire course of the Half.
I have now completed nine Half Marathons since I started taking running seriously back in 2010, with this one ending up being my 4th best (only 10 seconds slower than the 3rd best!). Unless I schedule another on before then, it would be kind of cool to run my 10th one on the 10th Anniversary of Colfax.
I will finish by noting that I have always been one to admit that I don’t work out, I’m a runner. That changed a few weeks back and while I hadn't done the proper amount of running to train for this, I have been eating cleaner and working out twice a week, as well as swimming once or twice a week. This race validated what I've often been told - cross-training can be beneficial to the runner. I do like working out and plan to start to add more running back into the mix and hopefully get faster in the coming year.
Overall, a great race for me, I exceeded my own expectations and once again realized that it is within me to accomplish what I set out to do.
