Rock n Roll Half Marathon—Humble Pie 3/22/2015

The fast course I loved was no more.  The new course involved multiple climbs, which required pace management.

[2015 course]

"A" race was Boston on 4/20/2014.  I had 29 days to recover and was on week 11 of training program for.  Body parts were tired and tight the day before Rock n Roll but improved by race morning.  I decided
1.  go for PR (7:03 mile/min pace)
2.  not to dig too deeply.

Garmin 310xt was set at 7:00 pace.

_fast start
The start was awesome from corral 1.  Last time I ran this well was 2014 Rock n Roll.  I ignored the electronic pacer and kept up with the few runners around me.  I was way over my limitation, but this was a “C” race--might as well confirm the boundary.   Today would be a success if I could hold a decent pace ‘til 10k mark. 

 [I was 5 seconds behind the leader]

Mile 3.  Garmin said 70 seconds too fast.  I throttled back. 

Mile 9.  I kept pace but was laboring by this time.

Then wheels fell off after the climb.  I didn't struggle.  I watched people passing me during the final 5k.  I held 8 min/mile but felt much slower.

I came in 4 minutes behind goal, similar to Cowtown but with very positive split.

Rob attempted 90 min finish.  Missed it by < 1 min.  He improved a lot last year.

_#’s
place: 226 out of 8486
5 k  21:11
10 k  43:07
10 mi 1:11:30Pace:  7:17 min/mile
Chip Time:   01:35:18
Clock Time:  01:35:23

_aftermath
I was disappointed about missing the goal but proud being able to predict the outcome at mile 2.  Hopefully this little fun wouldn't cost many minutes at Boston.

I was happy for Rob but disappointed to miss post-race brunch with Casey.
Bumping into Kurt was a nice surprise.  We laughed at our very positive splits over a beer.

_3 hrs after the race
I finished installing motion sensor light in the garage before enjoying tofu Korean noodles with a Cousera game theory course.  I planned chores before meeting Penny and Kelsey for dinner: laundry, Cayman PCM file display issue, uploading jukebox, troubleshooting USB audio, resolving Rakuten issue, cleaning up living room, maintaining swimming pool.  Life goes on.  I could keep only so many balls in the air.

I possess too many possessions.

Father started a new round of chemo.  I wanted to know how he was doing.

Cowtown 50k became half 2015 3/1/2015

I fit Cowtown 50k into my Boston Marathon training program, which was going well except an ankle tenderness from stepping into a hole during an easy run. 

I tapered for the 50k.  Using the extra time that week, I replaced my 2006 Acura with 2014 Porsche and 2012 Civic.

_canceled races
The weather turned wintery on Friday before Sunday 50k.  All races except half marathon were canceled.  Long distance runners were invited to run half.

[Fort Worth photo]
The shortened distance was what Casey hoped for after the Asia trip.  I met Casey for lunch Saturday; he got my race packet.  I slipped on a film of ice outside Zoe’s Kitchen restaurant. 

_plan
I made the race a long tempo session.  I set GPS to 7:20/mile.  I’d hold that pace ‘til the base of Main Street climb at mile 9, then play by the ears.  I gave myself permission to take SAG wagon or become a water station volunteer after mile 9.

I realized my wallet was missing during the hour drive to race.  Apparently it fell out of the sweatshirt front pocket after Saturday lunch.  Driver’s license replacement and identify theft became a dark cloud hanging over my head for next 10 hours.

_half marathon
I saw couple hundred runners in front of me.  Everyone was nervous on wet pavement and slush.  The pack slowed to take the first corners.  No one hopped on the sidewalk.  The first miles were draining.  The runners spaced out after 5k.  I left room in front of me so I could see what I stepped on.  My weak ankle was unhappy but in a non-painful way.

5k time check ranking: 300

I identified a group of runners with reasonable footing preference.  I stuck with them for next few miles.  Running through stockyard was always fun.  The wet brick surface provided excellent grip.

10k ranking: 292

Main Street had little ice.  I practiced taking water.  The climb loomed.  A few runners surged to bank time.  Couple college kids faded.

I felt confident at mile 9.  I threw away the T shirt and exposed my shoulders to cold air.  I took the hill conservatively.  I lost 400 feet on the climb to electronic pacer.  A dozen runners passed me; some breathed heavily.
“Hold back.  This is just a training session—don’t dig.”

15k ranking: 296

I opened up after the climb and steadily took back lost ground.  Icy patches were well-sanded.  Thank you, race organizer.

20k ranking: 267

I was hoping to have someone to race against for the finally stretch.  None came.

21k ranking: 265

Chip time: 1:36:24
Official Pace: 7:21 / min
GPS Pace: 7:19 / min

Total Finishers: 6571
Men: 3143 (02:09:45.40 avg)
Women: 3428 (02:28:59.94 avg)

_post race
I made it home with barely sufficient petro.

[2 miles left]

After failed attempt to recover the wallet at Zoe’s Kitchen, I tried to accept the overhead associated with lost wallet.  I focused on the long and late lunch of firepot with lots of vegi. 

I had a full afternoon planned: cleaning swimming pool, reading Cayman manual, laundry, fixing shower leak.

Stopping the leak went unexpected well.  Then I found the lost wallet in an unexpected corner in my garage.  Never been so happy to see my driver’s license since I was 17!

Dinner at Densetsu.  The sushi and company were great.