As long as we learn lessons from our races, they are a success right? After 18 half marathons I am definitely still learning them.
This week has been a little nuts for me. I had the stomach flu on Tuesday (which caused 2 unexpected days off), then continued to be very busy at work, then flew down to Pasadena Thursday night with Kristin to attend the RRCA Coaching Conference for two days (learned so much! Lots of posts to come.), sat through 18 hours of class, then flew home late Saturday night to get ready to wake up early for Sunday’s race.
Lesson #1: sometimes the best idea might be to stay home, get some rest and run later.
I had a headache all day Saturday and think I was slightly dehydrated after not drinking enough water in class and having a couple margaritas with dinner on Friday night, and having the stomach flu earlier in the week. I tried to drink enough water, but being in a class room setting and flying on an airplane made it a little tough.
Lesson #2: don’t start any race, especially one that is warmer than you are used to dehydrated.
I had a hard time sleeping Saturday night, but got up with my alarm at 5am and got ready. I met some teammates at 6:15 to carpool up to Davis and the ride was very easy and we got there in no time. We found parking easily, went and got our bibs and shirts very easily and had lots of time to spare. This was a big team race so we had the team tent there which is so nice to leave your stuff at and have a meeting place.
It was really windy and already in the low 60s, completely opposite of the cold rain I ran through for 20 miles the weekend before. California needs to make up its mind! I know I don’t fair well in the warm weather, especially when I haven’t had any time to acclimate to it, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it. At least I had dressed the part this time in shorts and a tank top.
Lesson #3: when it’s warmer than you are used to and you already aren’t at 100% maybe you should adjust your goal.
I wasn’t dead set on PRing (1:42:37) at this race, but my last couple PR’s have come during the early spring and during marathon training so I was hoping to do well. I really want a new half marathon PR, but I know that’s not going to come easily and conditions need to be right. I was hoping for one of my faster half marathons since I have been working at the track and on my tempo runs, plus I have had some long runs lately.
We lined up to start the race and were off! I had to weave quite a bit at the start but eventually found my pace and I was feeling good. I felt comfortable and was actually pulling myself back most of the time. The course weaves through Davis and into some parks and on bike paths. It was pretty flat overall but there was a terrible headwind a couple times in those early miles. I had fun seeing my teammates out on the course and just was trying to find my zone.
Mile 1: 7:50
Mile 2: 7:44
Mile 3: 7:46
I continued to feel pretty good and kept having to reign myself in when I would see 7:3X on my garmin. I was just cruising along still trying to find the zone and lose myself in my running head.
Mile 4: 7:50
Mile 5: 7:53
Mile 6: 8:05
I knew I had started to slow down a bit and I was ok with that, it was getting pretty warm and the sign was shining a lot. I wasn’t having as much fun here and got a side cramp somewhere in here also. Around mile 8 I just started feeling really bad. I couldn’t take deep breaths and my body just wanted to stop. I knew at this point that I was going to pay for going out at that pace thinking I could PR or close to it after the week I had and especially on that day, but I just kept running.
Mile 7: 8:04
Mile 8: 8:27
Mile 9: 8:36
I was seriously considering just pulling out at this point. I felt terrible and did not want to run anymore. I was tired and hot and getting goose bumps (not good) and we were now running into a really strong headwind for miles on end. I was just over it. I kept on running though and the miles would tick by, although very slowly.
Mile 10: 8:27
Mile 11: 8:42
Mile 12: 8:49
Finally it was the last mile. I had a couple teammates in my sites and had been weaving with a couple as well which is always a great boost. I switched my watch over and saw 1:38:XX and new I just needed to come in sub 1:50. I pushed it as much as I had left in my legs (which wasn’t much) and finally could see the finish line. I gave it what I had, crossed and just felt terrible.
Mile 13: 8:32
Last .22 (per Garmin): 1:43 (7:36 avg)
Gamin time:
13.22 miles/1:48:26/8:12 avg pace
I grabbed a couple bottles of water and drank them slowly so I wouldn’t feel terrible after them. I had something to eat, chatted with my teammates about their races and started feeling better.
I ran this race stupid, I should have known that with all the other variables this week I should start off slower and just see how I felt. It’s not that my time was a bad one, it’s just how terrible I felt that makes me the most unhappy. I would have been much better off just started at marathon pace and going with how I felt as the race went on, but that’s easier said than done right? I definitely learned my lesson!
Overall this was a great race. I love the small town race feel that it has and I love the city of Davis. The tech shirts were great, the course could definitely be a fast one, and the support was great too. I would definitely recommend it.
Still a great race! Nice work
I’ve had this feeling after many races. Sometimes, even though you know better…well I think it’s what makes us marathon runners.
I completely understand about being unhappy with a race based on how you paced yourself and how you felt. Well, you learned a lot of lessons. Hard ones, but worthwhile. Hope you’re feeling better soon and you’ll knock ‘em dead at your next race.
It is HARD to adjust your goals even if you know you should. Hopefully you don’t think about it too much and just roll with it. Your body clearly was not at 100%!
Can’t wait to hear about the coaching seminars.
Your race sounds like my long run yesterday. Except for much faster.
It is tough to gut one out like that when you’re guts aren’t into it. Good job!
I think you started at the right pace. I’ve always been told that one should start a race at the past PR pace. You would have had no problem running that, had you had an easier week, without being sick, etc. So don’t beat yourself up, just run another one before Boston:)
it’s still an awesome you ran. i love it when racers stick it out when the going gets tough. mental grit.
i can’t wait to read about the coaching stuff. way exciting!
You really pulled through and should be proud of that!
Easier said then done is right. It is so difficult to start out slow and then pick it up. Takes so much restraint.
way to pull off a strong run on an “off” day!!!! love that medal! i’ve had runs when i started getting goosebumps because i was over heated. that’s pretty scary stuff! glad you didn’t get sick or hurt.
with my run today being in the snow the entire time, i have such a hard time imagining a “hot” day.
I’m glad you finished & were okay. Being sick is no fun & trying to run during is even worse! Hey you still ran pretty well though! I got goosebumps last summer on one of my half marathons and that feeling is the worst! Rest up & feel better!
Winter races are always kind of scary because of all the bugs going around. Your time totally rocks in my book, though!
I’m sorry to hear that the race didn’t go as well as it could have. Like you said, you just never know how a race is going to go until you toe the line and start actually running. And it sounds like you started off fine, I think your pace at the beginning was good. I try to base all of my runs on heartrate, so as long as your heartrate wasn’t higher than usual, I think you were safe to run the mile pace that you did early in the race.
I’m not sure if the side cramp and feeling bad at mile 8 related to being a little dehydrated like you mentioned? Do you take endurolyte caplets on your runs? I think those may help to relieve symptoms that you describe above. Maybe it was unavoidable because you were a touch dehydrated prior to the race.
I wouldn’t beat yourself up over it, sounds like your running pace automatically adjusted when you started to feel worse later in the race – and there is no way to know that you were going to feel bad later on in the race when you first started the race. The main thing is your boston marathon training seems to be going fine, I bet you will get your half marathon PR maybe in a race in early to mid March (if you are going to run a race then), because you will be in phenomenal shape then. Nice work gutting it out at the end!
I’m sorry you felt like crap, but your time is still great! Feeling like that and still getting that time is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Aron – we all do this sometimes. You didn’t do it in your A race, or even in your B race – so chalk it up to experience. And btw – that’s pretty damn fast for a race where you felt so lousy!
I’m sorry you were feeling so terrible, but you should be happy with your performance! Sounds like you need a week at home and to catch up on some sleep, what a chaotic few weeks. Great work on the half, you still kicked butt even though you felt so icky!
Aw, Aron, tough day out there! I know I’ve done that – gone out with a PR in mind even though I should have known better given the circumstances. It’s just hard to let go of that goal sometimes when we feel like we “SHOULD” be able to do it – in ideal conditions.
Way to hang in there and finish with a very respectable HM, but I kow how crummy it feels to finish with a disappointing time AND feeling like crap.
Brush yourself off and I know this week will be better!
CONGRATS on #18, you half marathon machine!!
awww, sounds like a rough lead up to this one. still a great race though!
So sorry Aron! Nothing is worse than racing when you feel off. Especially when keeping a normally easy pace is so difficult. You still did amazing though, and should be proud of yourself for sticking it out and finishing!
congrats on finishing esp when feeling so lousy. you had a crazy week leading up to a race so don’t be hard on yourself. best part is that you learned something.
I’m impressed you stuck with the race, finished and still posted an awesome time. I know how tough it is to endure a race that you’re not performing to your capability in. I’ve learned to cope with these races by doing exactly what you’re doing and reflecting on what went wrong, what lessons I learned and what to do better next time! You’re a rockstar runner and you will get that halfm PR super soon. I know it.
Very impressive all things considered! You did awesome! Hope you are recovering well and staying hydrated!
Despite its difficulties, you pulled out a great race performance!
I cant believe you ran a race AT ALL, when you had the stomach flu only days prior. That already leaves you dehydrated (and all sorts of messed up). Then the traveling, the conference, etc? you are crazy
bummer you didn’t have the race you wanted but you still pushed through and finished! considering the week you had (and the warm/windy race conditions) you should be proud of yourself! i like to think of these kinds of races more as mental training than physical anyway : ) i looked for you out there but you must have been a ways ahead of me!
i think it’s kinda good that you went out aiming for a PR. you gave it your best effort and reigned it in when your body said “mmmm yeah no, not today”.
in the end, still a good long run!
Great job all things considered although I know there is nothing worse to a runner than finishing a race and feeling defeated. I think you ran smart once you realized what you were up against.
Hope you got some rest Sunday night.