speedvegan

Running through the finish

Chip Time: 1:53:28
Average Pace: 8:40
Overall Place: 598 out of 2521
Age Group Place: 31 out of 173

Splits (Garmin Data)
Mile 1: 9:06
Mile 2: 8:39
Mile 3: 8:29
Mile 4: 8:30
Mile 5: 8:33
Mile 6: 8:46
Mile 7: 8:41
Mile 8: 8:40
Mile 9: 8:48
Mile 10: 8:38
Mile 11: 8:41
Mile 12: 8:45
Mile 13: 8:33

Jet lag + dehydration * exhaustion is not a good formula for long distance running. I learned that lesson yesterday.

I didn’t sign up for this race before I left because I wanted to make sure I’d still be up for it after the long trip back home. Also, I didn’t know if our flight would be delayed (like last year), etc. That said, I left with the intention of running the race and training for it while away. And I did. With Geoffrey’s help, I managed to get in most of my training runs.

We arrived Friday night, tired and weary. We slept like logs through Saturday. I felt somewhat rested and decided to head over to the expo and register for the race. Looking back on it now, someone should have locked me up instead.

I woke up at 3am on Sunday and couldn’t go back to sleep. I took that as a good sign, thinking “at least I’m awake.” Surprise ! I can be a bit naive sometimes.

Don’t let the numbers fool you. Yes, I PR’d, but it cost me dearly. The run was painful, physically and mentally. I tried to talk to myself, count trees, light poles, all the usual motivational crap. My body just wasn’t cooperating.

Somewhere around Mile 8, a woman was giving out… beer. Really ? How about a barf bag ? Seriously. I felt nauseated the entire time, especially during the last 100 meters when the woman just ahead of me lost her gels. Ick. I was too dazed to even appreciate crossing the finish line, but something inside me was glad it was finally over. Another lesson learned. On the plus side, I still have all my toes.

I really earned this one