Woke up at 6:45. I felt ready, and confident for the half marathon today! I just kept focusing on getting ready for the race. Ate breakfast, and then Byron picked me up. Waited for the race for a while. Did a 1.5 mile warm up. And I felt ready! But a little nervous, and my heart rate was 60 this morning... Guess I was nervous!
Race Report-
Took off pretty well with the group. Just told myself to relax, and then the first mile was like 5:39. I just tried and stay with the group, and then they all took off. So I was with Paul for a little. And mile 3 I hit at 17:51. Goal time was sub 1:20. So I was on pace, and was ready to push at the end. And then we started down into Hell's hole. With lots of roll coasters... I was like I run in here all the time! So that got me going a little, and 2 people passed me, and then 2 DH kids passed me (Josh, and Jaren). Then at mile 5 I was still on pace, and Coach Holt ran with me, and gave me some motivation. I later then passed the 2 guys that passed me, but the 2 DH kids were still ahead of me.
After hitting the bridge I was getting back into gear, still hitting my pace. And I was making ground on the DH kids. I started to feel the pain, and knowing not to stop. So I was focusing on my form. And I could see someone making ground on me quickly. So I used that as motivation to keep going, and not get passed. And after a mile or two. Guess who it was?!?! It was Nick's Dad! I was like wow! He is one fast guy! And I ran with him for a while. Catching the DH kids. And at a point all 4 of us were stride for stride. Which was pretty cool.
After hitting mile 8. I wanted to start getting done, and knew I still had a lot of race to go. I was hitting my pace, but right about here is when I fell off a little on my pace. And I told myself to pick it back up, but it was just so hard keeping pace for that long. And I was like tempos are easy compared to this! So hitting mile 9. I was still with the group of 4 (including me). And I was leading for a while, because the DH kids would stop at every aid-station and get water. So I took advantage of these oppurtunties, and I would speed up just a touch. And it got them scared so them would quickly start sprinting back up to pace, which cost them a lot in the end! Suckers!
Hitting mile 9.5ish. I really started getting tired, Legs were numb, and my body was because of the tempature. Good weather though today. And I was still with the group, until mile 10ish. That's when I started to really loose my pace, and fall off... It was just so hard to keep going. And then this HUGE hill came out of no where... I really pushed up this hill, and got some ground on them again. I wanted to run with the group again, but they just kept speeding up. I just couldn't match their pace... My pace was really suffering now. I really started to dig a lot now. Hitting mile 10 I was hitting "the wall".... I really kept on trying harder, and harder, but no effect was happening....
Mile 11. My legs locked, and my whole body was numb. I could barely move my legs... This part really hurt me, because that's when the group took off, and since my legs locked. I couldn't catch up... The gap grew bigger, and bigger. I was going pretty dang slow on this part... Mabey at the fastest hitting a 6:50..... I was going sooo slow.... But I just wanted to finish right now.... I kept looking at my watch. Counting down, until I finished! :)
Mile 12- I could tell I was getting close to finishing. And I started to get my legs back slowly. And getting back to pace. And then I really started digging here, just wanting to get done with this! So I think I am done. And boom! I see Coach Holt yelling my name. And that gave my hope quick! And he said," I want to see a kick! Only 400 meters to go!" So I started to pick up my pace. And I was going, until about 200 meters. So I reminded myself I was almost done. I kept going, and then boom I finished. I felt terrible.... Legs hurting, brain hurting, body frozen.... I was all numb, and cold.... I thought I was going to die.... This was by far the hardest, or one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am pretty happy with my results! No pity parties today! But I feel great now! After eating, and sleeping all day today! I decided to entry my race into my blog! And thinking over, and over. It was a good experience what running is really like! I hit a 1:22. I don't know seconds... But I think it was in the 30's. I was pretty happy, until I realized I was the last Varsity boy to finish... So that kinda got me bumbed, and still is. But I gave it my all. I guess some people are better at things in life than others! But I am still going to work hard!
This was a great experience. Got me thinking about how bad running can hurt. And thinking that I am a 800 meter runner in track. And I just ran a half marathon!!! All I can say is that 800 meters is sooo short.... So on the test thingy this Tuesday. I am going to just go all out! I don't care, if I burn out. I am going to run fast!!! I believe in myself after this experience. I am pretty happy with my time, and placing. Abel, and Paul are just soo dang fast! This is their first years both of them. And they are either faster, or the same speed as me. And I have been running for 3 years now! And boom they are just as fast in a few months, but I know why. They work super hard everyday. They have a desire to run fast! They are great kids, and I hope we just bond more as a team. So we have a unbreakable team bond! Let's go get that title boys! :) | 