Let me just start out by saying my goal entering the race was to run 2:30. It was a pace that I felt my training gave me a chance to meet. What I hadn't figured into the equation was having an upset stomach for 2 days leading up to the race and the morning of the race. A lot of flu going around the Island right now so I felt like I have been fighting it off. Needless to say; I reconsidered my goals going in. Should I back down my expectations? Should I bag the race entirely? After much consideration and managing to keep down some fruit and cereal; I decided to go for it.
The race started out at 11:00 a.m. sharp. The first 10 miles are all pretty exposed to the ocean as you follow the coastline from Vineyard Haven through Oak Bluffs and into Edgartown. It's the most scenic part of the race by far but in bad weather years; it can be brutal. The weather today was perfect- for February. 37 degrees with a 15 mph wind coming out of the west. That makes it a cross wind along the beach. I tried reigning things in to start but still came through the first mile in 7:21. That was followed up with miles of 7:07, 7:17; 7:04; 7:14. At this point I've noticed that I'm feeling pretty good and I'm definetly not on 7:30 pace like I had planned. I tried not to overthink things at this point but started to get a sneaking suspicion that I was setting myself up for a tough second half.
The next two miles, according to the Garmin were 6:21 and 7:55. My guess is those numbers were a little off. I felt that I was pretty consistent through here so I'll average them out as 7:08's. My mind is telling me- O.K.; 1/3 of the race is over. Just stay relaxed and go with the flow. Next 3 miles were 7:22; 7:39 qnd 7:24. A slight hill on mile 9 accounts for the first mile of over 7:30 so I'm not too concerned. I've already taken my first gel and it's sitting in my stomach talking back to me. It takes me two miles befor I feel o.k. with it. My half way time turns out to be 1:12:44. I've managed to bank over 2 minutes from my goal time. I'm still feeling O.K.
I run my 11th mile in 7:49 which is slower than I would have liked and I'm suddenly being passed by by other runners. I get it into my head that I must be slowing down so I hook up with a small group as they go by me and stay with them for the next mile and a half. I am realy starting to struggle now. I check the Garmin and realize it's because the group I'm running with is doing 5:36 miles. Oops. Sadly the damage has been done. I'm feeling really fatigued. I take another gel and hope it helps. The 12th mile of my run was in 5:36 and the 13th ended up being 7:07 after dropping out of the group I had been trying to stay with. I know that I've made a big mistake by now but am determined to stay strong as long as possible. I come through mile 14 in 7:32 and 15 in 7:29. I haven't given anything back yet but I know it's coming. To make matters worse, my Garmin decides to go crazy on me and it no longer works, except as a clock. I notice this just as I get to mile 17 so I start using the lap feature. I'm now running on real familiar territory as half my runs are along this stretch of road. My legs are refusing to turn over and it's taking a boat load of concentration to keep going forwards with a purpose. I keep thinking about my tempo runs and fartlek workouts. This keeps me moving forwards. A couple of runners pass me over the last 3 miles but not as many as I feared. I kept hitting the lap button as I go by the mile markers but don't have any desire to see how much time I'm losing. I just keep thinking; it's almost over. Stay relaxed. Keep moving. My final 3 miles are 8:03, 8:04 and 8:03. I've managed to give up over a minute and a half over the last 3 miles so the 2 mile splits I missed had to be similar.
I take the final turn for home and realize that I'm almost there. I keep expecting the finish line to appear but some how this stretch to the finish has gotten longer since I've run it last. How is that even possible? As I near the finish line I realize that I will not be reaching my goal of 2:30. It was a close call but I missed it by 15 seconds. Right then and there I really didn't care. I was just happy the race was over.
It's amazing how short a time it takes to start feeling better after a race. within 5 minnutes I was walking back along the course and cheering for the rest of the field. The post race meal was great. Clam chowder and minestrone soup with fruits and cookies. I think the cookies are put out just for my wife.
Looking back I feel like I could have done better. Not feeling well leading up to the race and running way to fast for a mile and a half at mile 12 and 13 did me in. I also feel that it would have been a little easier if I hadn't run the whole race, besides those aforementioned 1.5 miles, alone. The part I'm most proud of was the last 3 miles. Even though they were my slowest and most painful; the fact that I stayed as controled as possible and didn't completely fall apart makes them the most satisfying.
Boston Qualifier coming soon!!!!! | 