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runners2017-09-20 01:15 pm
camper4lyfe) wrote in runners2017-09-20 01:15 pm
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I've never posted here before, so what better way than with a race report? I posted this to my other running group and decided I'd share it here as well.
Today was race #4, the Rochester Marathon, of the 4 race series I was registered for this year. It's something I wanted to run last year, but it just wasn't in the financial cards, and having completed it this year, that's a good thing. I wasn't physically prepared last year to do what I did this year.
Back in December of last year, I set a goal to finish this series in less than 8 hours. My ultimate goal was to run sub 2 hours for all 4, but I also knew that running a sub 2 in July would be a stretch, so I relaxed that a bit and just stuck with the overall 8 hours. January's race had me off to a respectable start with a 1:58-ish, and April's race just added to the cushion with a brand spankin' new PR of 1:54 and change (I don't remember exact numbers currently, and I'm too lazy to look then up). My plan was to build as much of a cushion going into July's race as I could, because I knew July was going to be purely about survival, as I don't deal well with heat, and that race is notorious for being hot. Needless to say, it was by far my worst race ever (though not my worst TIME). It ate up all of the cushion I had built up and then some, with a 2:12-ish finish.
For those keeping track at home, that means I needed roughly a 1:54 finish to hit the 8 hour goal. That 1:54 would also be a new PR. A PR that would have to happen on what would turn out to be a pretty difficult course.
I tell you that story to tell you the story of today's race.
The weather the last few days has been warmer than normal, and way warmer than I'd like. Yesterday morning I woke up to fogged up windows on the house, meaning high humidity and dew point. I had a bad feeling about the race because of it. However, after my taper tantrum on Friday, I wasn't going to let it get to me.
This morning, I awoke to the same thing. 60 degrees at 5am, and fogged up windows, and 60+ degree dew point. I knew as soon as I saw the windows that this was going to be a struggle, but again, I wasn't going to let it get to me, and I went about my morning routine.
Everything went smoothly at home and getting to the finish area, and I jumped on the shuttle to the start line without an issue. I was relaxed and felt pretty good. Jason found me as I was wandering around, and we chatted for a bit before I decided to jump in the porta potty line one last time before the start. I took care of my business and made my way to the starting area to find the 1:55 pacer to talk to him about his pacing plan (even paced gun time [which I still find really odd]), and took my place in line behind him, as I wanted to keep an eye on him but run my own race at the same time.
Ready. Set. Go. We're off. The course starts off on a pretty steep downhill, levels off a little, then drops down gradually for a couple times until you're down to Genesee River level, and you run on the boardwalk along the river until about mile 4, then you head up out of the gorge and back onto the streets. Miles 1 and 2 were on point for me. I hit the mile markers right on track. Miles 3 and 4 were essentially the end to my 1:54 race right along with the 8 hour goal. Those 2 miles are narrow paths and boardwalk, with no room to get around anyone, and I got stuck behind people that a) couldn't maintain a pace, and b) just blocked the walkway. By mile 4 I was 2 minutes behind my plan and my race goals went out the window. I resolved myself to just do the best I could with what the race gave me, which turned out to be less than I would have liked: congested course, high heat and humidity, and OMGHILLS. Kelly gave me a bit of a preview of the course, as she'd run it before, and warned me about a pretty good hill around mile 5, and boy was she right! I managed to keep chugging up that hill and crossed back over the river and headed back South toward the finish, passing her around the 10k mark. It was perfect timing because I was struggling with lead legs and just generally feeling pretty warm at that point, but I kept on trucking. I think I was around mile 8-8.5 when the 2 hour pacer passed me. I was a little deflated by that, as I was hoping to hang onto a sub 2, but since I hadn't been paying much attention to my watch or pace, I really had no idea where I was at as far as time goes. My goal at that point was to just keep running.
My "wall" happened around mile 11. I got cut off a couple times at a water stop and I wound up walking while I drank, as I was sweating like a pig and my legs were tightening up, so I wanted to make sure I got as much fluid and Gatorade into me as I could, because I did NOT want a repeat of my July half.
Mile 11.5-12 is the "beloved" hill. It's an absolute killer, especially that far into a race, and really tests your mettle. I walked it. I had almost nothing left in the tank. I found myself walking off and on a bit between mile 12 and 12.5, while I dug out a salt pill as I felt things "starting" to cramp (I'm really not sure if they were cramping or not, but I wanted to make sure it didn't).
I dug deep, sucked it up, and pushed my way through the last .5-.6 to the finish.
I've never seen a finish line that looked as good as this one. It meant I was finally DONE. I've been training almost constantly from November until today. I'm TIRED, and I'm so glad to be done.
Am I disappointed that I missed my 8 hour goal? Heck yes I am. I knew when I set the goal that it was a tad aggressive, but if it's not tough, why chase it, right? I'm coming to grips with it because I DID finish the challenge. It was a challenge that proved to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated. Not only was it challenging because of the physical aspect of running 4 half marathons in 4 seasons, but it was incredibly mentally challenging, keeping myself up for all of the training miles and long runs.
4 Seasons Challenge, I'm coming for revenge in 2019.
Today was race #4, the Rochester Marathon, of the 4 race series I was registered for this year. It's something I wanted to run last year, but it just wasn't in the financial cards, and having completed it this year, that's a good thing. I wasn't physically prepared last year to do what I did this year.
Back in December of last year, I set a goal to finish this series in less than 8 hours. My ultimate goal was to run sub 2 hours for all 4, but I also knew that running a sub 2 in July would be a stretch, so I relaxed that a bit and just stuck with the overall 8 hours. January's race had me off to a respectable start with a 1:58-ish, and April's race just added to the cushion with a brand spankin' new PR of 1:54 and change (I don't remember exact numbers currently, and I'm too lazy to look then up). My plan was to build as much of a cushion going into July's race as I could, because I knew July was going to be purely about survival, as I don't deal well with heat, and that race is notorious for being hot. Needless to say, it was by far my worst race ever (though not my worst TIME). It ate up all of the cushion I had built up and then some, with a 2:12-ish finish.
For those keeping track at home, that means I needed roughly a 1:54 finish to hit the 8 hour goal. That 1:54 would also be a new PR. A PR that would have to happen on what would turn out to be a pretty difficult course.
I tell you that story to tell you the story of today's race.
The weather the last few days has been warmer than normal, and way warmer than I'd like. Yesterday morning I woke up to fogged up windows on the house, meaning high humidity and dew point. I had a bad feeling about the race because of it. However, after my taper tantrum on Friday, I wasn't going to let it get to me.
This morning, I awoke to the same thing. 60 degrees at 5am, and fogged up windows, and 60+ degree dew point. I knew as soon as I saw the windows that this was going to be a struggle, but again, I wasn't going to let it get to me, and I went about my morning routine.
Everything went smoothly at home and getting to the finish area, and I jumped on the shuttle to the start line without an issue. I was relaxed and felt pretty good. Jason found me as I was wandering around, and we chatted for a bit before I decided to jump in the porta potty line one last time before the start. I took care of my business and made my way to the starting area to find the 1:55 pacer to talk to him about his pacing plan (even paced gun time [which I still find really odd]), and took my place in line behind him, as I wanted to keep an eye on him but run my own race at the same time.
Ready. Set. Go. We're off. The course starts off on a pretty steep downhill, levels off a little, then drops down gradually for a couple times until you're down to Genesee River level, and you run on the boardwalk along the river until about mile 4, then you head up out of the gorge and back onto the streets. Miles 1 and 2 were on point for me. I hit the mile markers right on track. Miles 3 and 4 were essentially the end to my 1:54 race right along with the 8 hour goal. Those 2 miles are narrow paths and boardwalk, with no room to get around anyone, and I got stuck behind people that a) couldn't maintain a pace, and b) just blocked the walkway. By mile 4 I was 2 minutes behind my plan and my race goals went out the window. I resolved myself to just do the best I could with what the race gave me, which turned out to be less than I would have liked: congested course, high heat and humidity, and OMGHILLS. Kelly gave me a bit of a preview of the course, as she'd run it before, and warned me about a pretty good hill around mile 5, and boy was she right! I managed to keep chugging up that hill and crossed back over the river and headed back South toward the finish, passing her around the 10k mark. It was perfect timing because I was struggling with lead legs and just generally feeling pretty warm at that point, but I kept on trucking. I think I was around mile 8-8.5 when the 2 hour pacer passed me. I was a little deflated by that, as I was hoping to hang onto a sub 2, but since I hadn't been paying much attention to my watch or pace, I really had no idea where I was at as far as time goes. My goal at that point was to just keep running.
My "wall" happened around mile 11. I got cut off a couple times at a water stop and I wound up walking while I drank, as I was sweating like a pig and my legs were tightening up, so I wanted to make sure I got as much fluid and Gatorade into me as I could, because I did NOT want a repeat of my July half.
Mile 11.5-12 is the "beloved" hill. It's an absolute killer, especially that far into a race, and really tests your mettle. I walked it. I had almost nothing left in the tank. I found myself walking off and on a bit between mile 12 and 12.5, while I dug out a salt pill as I felt things "starting" to cramp (I'm really not sure if they were cramping or not, but I wanted to make sure it didn't).
I dug deep, sucked it up, and pushed my way through the last .5-.6 to the finish.
I've never seen a finish line that looked as good as this one. It meant I was finally DONE. I've been training almost constantly from November until today. I'm TIRED, and I'm so glad to be done.
Am I disappointed that I missed my 8 hour goal? Heck yes I am. I knew when I set the goal that it was a tad aggressive, but if it's not tough, why chase it, right? I'm coming to grips with it because I DID finish the challenge. It was a challenge that proved to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated. Not only was it challenging because of the physical aspect of running 4 half marathons in 4 seasons, but it was incredibly mentally challenging, keeping myself up for all of the training miles and long runs.
4 Seasons Challenge, I'm coming for revenge in 2019.
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