A First Half Experience

“All endeavors call for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hour’s toil. The fight-to-the-finish spirit is the one characteristic we must posses if we are to face the future as finishers.”

-- Henry David Thoreau

“Shape the last plan”. I guess that’s what I did when I decided to register for a local 13.1 for the hell of it. I’ve been using an extended version of Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 Half Marathon Training program since December of last year to train for the Divas Half being held in North Myrtle Beach next month. It was time to bump my long run above the twelve-mile mark (the plan peaks at 12 miles) and I figured if I must go the distance, I might as well make it worth my while. Also, my current local route was logistically challenged and running on my treadmill for that amount of time was something I wasn’t looking forward to doing this time around. So, I decided to register for the local Palmetto Half Marathon held in Columbia, SC. It was a good choice for several reasons, but two reasons that were most important to me was the timing of it. By running this race, I would have more than four weeks to recover before my goal race and I would know where I stood in my training. Good idea, huh? I’m glad I made that decision, because I was prepared for it! Well, I can say that now, but the week prior to the race, I didn’t exactly feel that strongly about it. Let’s go back to that moment in time, but before I do, maybe I should give you guys a little background info about my running history.

I started a C25K program back in early 2010 as a way to spice up my workout program. I love strength training and doing a lot with weights, but like most people know, cardio is what increases fat loss. And although I had already completed P90X, which is actually designed for muscle building, not weight loss, I needed to do something else to break through the fat plateau and spice things up. A friend of mine suggested an app for my iPhone that would help me get into running—a great way to get leaner. I completed that program three times before I switched to Jeff Galloway's Easy 10K app. This was also the time I got more involved in the Runner’s World Online Beginner’s Forum (RWOBF) via facebook and another group Black Girls Run! (BGR). I was a member of RWOBF for months, but never participated in the conversations. Over time, both of these groups inspired me to get more serious about running and to recognize that I was a becoming a runner. So the need for a challenge grew, along with my confidence, and I began looking into goal races and a different training program.

Back to the Race Report

Taper week prior to a big race does a number of things to runners. Everyone has some type of psychological experience (nervousness, fear, euphoria, etc.) specific to him or her. I think I had a mini meltdown that week. It wasn’t so much about the lack of mileage I was putting in that week, or how I should tweak my diet the next few days so that I would be able to go the distance without bonking. My issue was my inability to believe that I could actually pull this thing off. Yeah, I know. I trained for months for a big race – remained relatively injury free (I suffer from minor joint pain), strength trained, ran 4 days a week with an average of 21 miles, etc. I even completed the required 5K and 10K races in great time. So what was the problem? Me. All confidence just flew out the window that week. Phantom pains occurred. The idea of a DNS crossed my mind. I even searched the 5-day forecast looking for a freak thunderstorm to head this way. LOL! I can laugh at my silly behavior now (I am as I write this), but somehow I made it through that fog. By Friday I was ready to go pick up my packet and get this thing over with.

Race Day

Well, it ‘s no surprise that I didn’t get much sleep the night before. However, I was smart enough to make certain that I got more than the recommended eight hours of sleep throughout the week and head to bed very early on Thursday night. The morning meal was nothing new of course. I ate my usual oatmeal-banana-blueberry combo, had a cup of coffee, and took my morning Emergen-C. I also drank another 6oz. carton of coconut water and said a prayer before I left the house. The race was scheduled for 7:00am. I left early enough so that I could be there an hour before the start and to also beat the traffic. It wasn’t a huge race, though. Between the races (half/5K/kids race) there wasn’t quite 2,000 people registered to run.

As soon as I arrived, I drank a few more ounces of water, made a stop at the ladies room in the host’s building, and did one last check of my gear. Once back outside I began searching the crowd for anyone I knew. At that time I didn’t, so I went ahead and decided to do my warm up jog and stretch. Fifteen minutes prior to the start, the race officials got on the P.A. system to give us the pre-race pep talk, prayer and basic logistical reminders. By this time, I had found several friends from my BGR group who were also running their respective race. It felt good to see some familiar faces and to feel the camaraderie. Then the 10-minute countdown began. Everyone began lining up based on their pace. I was in the back of course ahead of the walkers. My goal for this one was to basically finish it. I was treating this one as my weekend long run and really wasn’t looking to complete it under any particular time, but refused to be out there forever trying to finish this thing. After reviewing the course several weeks prior, I didn’t think I would be, but Columbia, SC is notorious for rolling hills, so I knew I had to pace myself accordingly.

And So It Begins

Mile 1-2: It came fairly quickly even though I was only fifteen seconds ahead of my goal pace. This portion of the course leads you onto Clemson Road outside of the Village at Sandhills mall (where the race begins) and onto an overpass and downhill via an exit ramp. I had to slow down a little so that I didn’t allow the slope to create unnecessary momentum for me. Not a good thing for the knees of course. It could be at one’s advantage to ride the descent, but it was not a good day for me to test out that theory.

Miles 2-4: Once we got off the exit ramp, ran through a short distance of Two Notch Road, we finally settled into the scenic/residential areas of the course. By this time I had taken advantage of the two fuel stops along the way – making sure to walk as I drank the water. I have yet to perfect the run-and-pinch cup maneuver. Many of the residents here had made their way outside to watch us run by and provide encouragement. One lady chose to relocate her treadmill closer to the entrance of her garage and run on it as we passed by. It was comical. She yelled back to a couple runners ahead of me that she was getting ready for next year’s race. Ha! We all get inspiration from somewhere.

Miles 4-6: Somewhere between the 5^th and 6^th mile, the first of the elites began to emerge, running in the opposite direction. The course loops around in the Wildwood area, so it was inevitable for us to meet. I was totally impressed. I’ve only had the pleasure of watching them from behind as they lead the pack along the course in other races. It was great to have the chance to actually see them face-to-face, gliding by like gazelles. Boy, are they fast! Speed is definitely something I will be working on once I build a more solid foundation and get leaner.

Miles 6-8: I’m feeling pretty good at this point. Probably a result of the Clif energy gel and Gatorade I consumed a mile back. I also began to pick up the pace just a little -- passing a few folks that went out too fast at the start. I’m so glad I took the advice from fellow runners and did not make that same mistake.

This was the most scenic portion of the race. We ran along huge private ponds and more gorgeous homes. Somewhere along the way I got my picture taken again with the water in the background. It is definitely one of my favorite shots.

Miles 8-10: We’ve begun to run back in the opposite direction from which we came. I’m starting to feel a little tightness in my right calf.  It’s nothing new for me, but for my body’s sake, I opted to walk a little more frequently just to play it safe. There were still plenty of hills to return to on this run back to the finish and I didn’t want to risk not being able to remain strong at the end.

Miles 10-12: When I saw the 10-mile marker, a feeling of relief came over me. “It’s about time!"  The field of participants and spectators had thinned out by this stretch of the course. I’ve slowed down my average pace a bit by taking walk breaks. I wasn’t having an increase in calf pain. This discomfort was coming from further up. My quads were not happy. They were really feeling the burn right about now! Guess I wasn’t the only one, because two other runners had begun following my run/walk technique and we pretty much stayed lined up next to each other for the remainder of the race.

Then comes the part I was both dreading and hoping for...

Miles 12-13.1 (FINISH): I HATE EXIT RAMPS! That pretty much sums up how I felt going up that thing. It was only a short distance, but it felt like Mt. Everest to me. The gentleman running beside me kept encouraging me to keep going. “We’re almost there”; “It’ll all be over soon”. It sure felt good to have someone run alongside to help give you that extra boost. Once we reached the top of the overpass, I did a final check on my Garmin to determine the half-mile mark. Due to the location of the finish line in the open shopping area, we were unable to see it amongst the buildings, but once we turned that last corner, that big arch shined brighter than a a lighthouse beacon -- guiding us on home. This is the moment I decided to pick up the pace and get ready to smile for the cameras.

Those Finale Meters...

It’s a wonderful feeling to run through cheering crowds of friends, family, and other runners as you make your way towards the end. It’s an even greater feeling to have your name announced to the world as your cross over that finish line into volunteers waiting to place YOUR medal around your neck. That moment is something to relish. Especially when it’s your first big major racing accomplishment—one you never thought, years ago, you could achieve. It’s a moment in time I’ll never forget and one I hope to repeat as much as possible. So yes! I will run another and another and another…

I may not be 100% sure of what the future holds for me in several areas of my life, but one thing I do know for certain is that I will be out there running and proving to myself that I am capable of doing whatever it is that I set my mind to do. I am becoming the best of me, and it’s only going to get better!

FINAL REFLECTIONS:

Post Race: Recovery has been better than I expected. Once I returned home, I took an ice bath for the muscles and began replenishing my body with what it needed via coconut water, a protein supplement and more vitamin C. I put on my compression gear and ate a good meal. At some point I took some Motrin, found sleep and took a much needed nap. The next day was pretty much the same routine. I didn’t do any post race recovery walking/jogging or other workouts because I wanted to assess how my body was reacting to the stress of the run. So I mostly just moved around more, not allowing myself to stay idle on the couch for too long. It wasn’t until Monday before I did my 30-minute recovery walk, yoga session, and foam rolling. By Tuesday, I was hardly feeling any lingering muscles aches or pains. This is the type of recovery I was hoping for.

Happy Running!

Race Results --->    http://www.strictlyrunning.com/results/12phm.txt

Place -- 862/933
Div/Tot -- 93/101
Sex/Tot -- 454/511

Chiptime -- 2:42:39.70

Guntime -- 2:43:28.10

Pace -- 12:29 min/mi

Race Training Plans:

Hal Higdon's Novice 2 Half Marathon Training (modified)
P90X2 by Beachbody

Race Statistics:

Weather -- Temp 46F (at start), Humidity 86%, Winds Calm, Sunny

Mile Splits --->  Garmin Connect Information

Goal 2012 Races:

Divas Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach, SC - May 20, 2012 (registered and look to PR)

Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, SC - October 21, 2012 (will register)