If I can stay healthy. I was supposed to run the McDonald’s Half-Marathon on Saturday morning (about 24 hours from now), but I came down with a virus attack on Wednesday night that was no fun. I feel like I’m getting better, but we’ll see how ready I am for this. I started back at Capital One this Monday, so I’m guessing the air really hasn’t treated me well. At least today was a nominal holiday.
In the past, I have shared links and pictures of some of the major races I’ve done. I’ve actually done very well (better than expected, probably) with my last 2 races, which was supposed to build up for a really good race on Saturday.
Back in late August, I ran a half-marathon around Ashland. I’ve done it each of the past 4 years, and the one thing about it is that it is always hot. This time, the temps were almost reasonable (low 60s to start), but by the time I finished it was around 80 with high humidity. The shorts were not dry, needless to say, which you can see in these pictures (not that I want you to look — I really don’t like how I look in them, but I will share as I always share them).
My time was just a few seconds over 2:05, which is exactly where I wanted to be. Not blazing, but the one good thing was that I pretty much nailed every mile between 1 and 10 within 15 seconds of each other (between 9:29 and 9:44). That’s incredibly even pacing, even with water stops and the occasional hill, and I really didn’t try too hard to match it. I didn’t realize that happened until after the race — I just knew I wanted to keep the early miles around 9:40. Then, I had plenty of energy to crank the pace over the last 3.1 miles, while everyone else was fading. I only got passed by 3 people that entire way, so I’d say that is executing race strategy (although I will also admit it was not a full-on race, as I knew I wasn’t going to set any records).
One of the cool things about local races is that they are starting to share video of runners crossing the finish line. So even if you couldn’t be there, you can see me finish (in the red tank top, coming into view at about the 6 second mark). I look pretty whipped.
OK, that was longer than I expected. The other race I did was really good — a 10-miler starting and finishing at the Virginia State Capitol. My strategy came together well here, too. Weather was perfect (low 50s to start). I went out at 9 minute miles for the first 5 miles (actually 9:04, according to the race organizer), which put me in 401st place of 708 finishers. But this was also one that I expected to speed up, to around 8:45 average pace (there’s a massive hill just after mile 9 that really tests you).
But there was a problem — I actually finished at an 8:33 per mile pace. Which is awesome! Believe me, I was feeling jacked after turning in such an average pace on the finish. And that 8:33 pace actually meant I finished the last 5 miles 296th place, for an overall placing of 343 (top half) in 1:28:08.
Once again, the pictures aren’t great looking. And there is a finish line view of me as well. Once again, I’m in the red tank, crossing about 7 seconds into the video in a crowd that actually held me up (no need to push it — I had already set a record at the distance, although this was only the third time I’ve raced 10 miles).
In so many ways, my training says I’m ready to do some solid racing tomorrow. But this bug has me worried. We’ll see how well I do, and how the weather cooperates. Have a great weekend.
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