1.11.2009

Southern California 1/2 Marathon AKA My Last Race...

in the twenties. I have the Carlsbad 1/2 in a couple of weeks, but by then I'll have aged up and be in the 30-34 age bracket.

My plan was to run a good 10 miles, then run/walk the last 5K, depending on how I felt. I mean, I had to run 10 miles on the weekend anyway, why not do it on a course I knew was assisted. And if I had to plunk down a few bucks, why not?

So here we are. Flat course? Check. Fluid stations every 2 miles? Check. Wind gusts up to 45 miles an hour? Check, well maybe not 45, but probably 20.

I ran 10 miles in under 2 hours, about an 11:22 pace. Not too shabby for me. I ended up with a time of 2:30:32, giving me a 11:30 pace for the race. Only 2 seconds per mile slower than my first 1/2 marathon. I think I would have been faster if it had been a nice, calm day. Not one with gale force winds.

Somethings I learned during this race.

Even on race day those first 2 miles are a bitch. I tried to keep up with the sheriff's recruits, but they picked up the pace and I knew when to cut my losses and run my own race.

I don't think of my weight when I run, unless it's to wonder if the people I pass are berating themselves for letting someone like me pass them.

I wish I could bottle the feeling I had during mile 8. It was awesome. I felt like I could do anything. Of course by mile 9 all I really wanted was for the race to be over. I felt better at the end of 10 miles.

One thing is for sure, I needed new shoes. I stopped by Roadrunner Sports and picked up some new Hurricanes. I love those shoes.

4 comments:

Aka Alice said...

LOL...I have those same thoughts when I run.

Great race. I'm hoping the Santa Ana's will have left by next weekend. Although there shouldn't be as much wind on the coast...but still. Running in the wind is like running uphill...which I haven't trained for.

I think we would run the exact same race. My first two miles are turtle-slow!

Al's CL Reviews said...

I'm glad you have those thoughts.
I always think that "you runners" who run farther distances than I, have the whole run easy.

Glenn Jones said...

Great job in less than ideal conditions! The winds, heat and lack of humidity were killer!

Viv said...

Great race Yas, I am so behind that you have since PR'd :LOL!Looking forward to hanging with you chickie!