Instead of Key Run #3, today I ran a half marathon. It really fits more into the Key Run #2 category, as my overall pace was 9'14" - faster, actually, than my tempo pace of 9'22" - 9'37". I did, in fact, PR, finishing in 2:00:55 - approximately 3.5 minutes faster than my previous PR at this same race last year.
But boy, did I run a terrible race! The temperature forecast for today had been climbing all week, reaching 67 Friday, 74 Saturday, and has since been revised to 77. However, it seems to actually be approaching 80. It was 62 degrees one hour before the start of the race. According to one of my marathon books, you lose 1-2% efficiency for every 1.5 degrees over 60 it is, and this decrement increases with race distance. You should take this into account when pacing yourself during a race. Did I do this? No.
I started squarely between the 2:00 and 2:15 pace leaders, as I was hoping to PR (under 2:04:24). I kept the 2:00 pace leader in my sights throughout the entire race. However, it was hot. There was some shade during the 2 mile downhill stretch through the park, but I arrived at Ocean Beach at mile 7, knowing there was no shade for the rest of the race, and not a breeze in sight. I knew there was no way I could keep my pace that whole time in the heat. I was pressing on at about 9'45" according to Nike Plus (which I now know was incorrect, based on the final mileage of 12.5). But the 2:00 pace leader was still within about 30 seconds in front of me. Luckily after a few miles on the shore, I finally entered a marine layer that provided some relief.
I was an unhappy camper by mile 9. Nothing was wrong. In fact, my massage therapist taped my hip Friday night and it felt great the whole race. I just knew I had gone out to fast and was struggling to keep up. I also over-consumed fluids. Somewhere between mile 8 and 9 I got some water when I really knew I needed gatorade, but I didn't think there was any at that stop (should have looked at the course map). Found the gatorade about 100 yards later, and had some because I needed to replace my salts. But then I could feel all the liquid in my stomach. Bleah. This prevented me from every being able to eat my food, which likely contributed to my tiredness.
Miles 10 - 13.1 were a struggle. I gave Matt the thumbs down at about Mile 11, and when he tried to run with me the last mile, I told him to leave me alone. There were runners collapsed on the side of the road in numerous places. In the last mile, when I usually pick up the pace, I was dropping to over a 10 minute mile. I knew I would PR by this point, so I had little motivation to push it. And I'm not sure I could have, frankly. Going uphill to the finish line the last half mile or so, I was dragging. People were passing me all over the place - and this never happens to me at the end of races. I really thought for awhile that my legs might stop working. I wondered why I had subjected myself to this misery. Finally I saw the finish line and managed to get there. As soon as I crossed I saw someone giving a runner CPR in the finishing chute.
I knew I had PR'd but was too tired to be very excited, and too shaken by all the medical emergencies. I am unclear how a person feels before collapse, so I have no idea how close I have ever been. I assume not close at all, but you never know. I really hope that everyone out on that course survived.
I am thrilled to have PR'd, but I think for my next race, I should try to figure out somewhere it won't be 80 degrees and sunny on race day. And I should learn not to push so much at the beginning of a race. Never having had a goal to PR before, I am usually very disciplined in my races with negative splits. I should have taken it easy. And I better learn to do so before my first full marathon May 1st! Otherwise that event will not be fun at all. Kind of like this one, and I would have traveled further and spent more money.
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