Before 2015, Rock n Roll was my annual PR attempt. 92-minute within reach—sub-90 if I made it "A" event. Then organizer changed the course that made 90-minute unrealistic.
After running Boston in April, I decided I didn’t need to run fast again. Speed work didn’t start ‘til 2 weeks before race. Then I caught cold.
My options to enhance performance were limited. I focused on resting and reducing body weight.
_initial goal
95~100-minute finish. Beer with Kurt and laugh about how old and slow we become. I ran 1.25-mi tempo 4 days before race. Body didn’t respond well to sub 7:00 pace. Kurt couldn’t race due to illness.
_revised plan
Sub-8:00 pace. Shoot for 100-minute finish. Go harder after mile 8 climb.
I set GPS to 7:45 pace.
_starstruck
Logistics went perfectly: parking, Omni hotel ballroom no-line bathroom, bag check in, national anthem, disposable cloths. I waited in corral 1, casually hanged my donation Big Dog fleece on the barrier, looked up, the guy in the thick jacket was recently retired Ryan Hall. I tapped his shoulder, but the horn sounded before I could say I was a big fan. We made eye contact a minute into the run, what came out of my mouth was “holy shit, I’m running with Ryan Hall.” Not my smoothest moment.
_smooth start
Ryan was smaller than the “white giant leading Kenyans” image in my head. He was in no rush and wasn’t in conversation mood. I was too excited to hold his pace and left him behind. I promised I wouldn’t pass 95-minute pacer before mile 9.
I hadn’t raced this fast for 12 months. The weather was beautiful though a bit windy. I was somewhat rested and mostly injury-free. I felt 9000 runners behind me. Green Silence were light and bouncy. I loved racing 21k.
Mile 4, Ryan caught me from behind, still wearing the jacket. Only 1 of his groupies hanged on. I chased. Heart rate rose quickly. I let go. “I run with Ryan Hall twice today!” I laughed as I watched the 2:04 marathon man jogging away.
_”If Trump can run for president, you can run a half marathon”_
That was the most interesting celebrity-related poster on the road. Charlie Sheen and Kim Kardashian seemed harmless now.
_going off script
I stuck to race plan up to mile 8. I wasn’t confident and bled speed through the climb. I struggled to hold 7:30 pace after the incline, unable to capitalize on short down hills.
My quads softened after the long downhill at mile 12. I hemorrhage speed. I failed to hold 8:00 pace half mile before finish when I expected to go anaerobic at sub 7:00. I was grateful my body did this well with poor preparation.
_#
GPS Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Distance: 13.28 mi
Time: 1:42:21
Pace: 7:42
Starting temperature: 39F (It felt like mid 40’s)
Chip
Distance: 13.1 mi
Time: 1:42:20
Pace: 7:49
Place: 509/9538
Winner Benson Chesang: 1:08:37
Ryan Hall’s US record: 0:59:43
_aftermath
Inner quads were unhappy immediately after the race. I walked it off.
One toe nail bled. Serves me right for wearing narrow shoes.
I had mixed feeling about the result: sub-8:00 pace was more than I deserved given poor preparation—yet I somehow I had my identity tied to 7-minute-mile. I looked up definition of "ego."
2 days later I watched Barkley Documentary with Irving runners and started to feel I shortchanged my running life by needing too much comfort. At the same time I felt I should take a long break from running for proximal hamstring strain and other injuries.
The end maybe near.
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