Well it’s
been awhile but I want to post on my Half Marathon experience while it’s still
fresh in my mind and I wanted to mention all of the wonderful things I
experienced outside of my race while that is still fresh in my mind, too!!
It started this past Sunday Morning. I got up in
my usual routine with fruit and bagel, gathered my stuff and headed towards
Downtown Columbus. Arrived around 6:10 traffic was getting a little busy but
not too much due to the Police and Volunteers blocking up a few of the streets
and other runners walking towards Broad Street area. Though I got to my parking spot
right at the time I wanted on High and Gay Streets and walked over to the
Athletic Club near Broad and 3rd Street. I saw a couple of elites
that I knew plus some of my fellow CRC Peeps. I decided to do just a lite 8
minute jog with Brian, Scott, & Kari to loosen everything up. My folks were
there at the club on the bottom floor waiting for me. Talked to them for a bit
before going back upstairs to stretch, get ready, and receive final
instructions from the elite coordinator and helpers before heading downstairs
to go outside at 7:15. I gave my folks my bag and prayed with them (Psalm 23
& Our Father, I usually pray those before every race.) then went to the
starting line to do some strides.
Getting an
elite athlete entry had its perks. We got a tiny bit of room at the starting
line ahead of Group A and at least 2 porta johns for those times when we needed
to piss out the nerves. Little cool
in that morning but all I needed was a pair of old running gloves. After the
National Anthem at 7:25 the wheelchair racers had their countdown to 7:27 for
their start. Then came our start. AC/DC’s Thunderstuck was blazing in the
speakers. YES!!!!!!!!!!! This is from last year's race. I would just watch this video until 2:50 but it just show you how great the start of this race is.
They Countdown us to 7:30. The race was off with the fireworks of course.
The first mile was slightly uphillish on Broad Street so I wanted to go out a little conservative. Saw Cory move up so I decided to stay with him and Andy Schweitzer, I knew him from racing the Minister 10k two weeks ago where I out leaned him. Both of them wanted to break 1:10 so we stayed together for the most part. Mike Aldrink soon joined us. First mile was at 5:22 still going on Broad but the road was now becoming flatter. We slowed a little bit for the 2nd mile and hit the 2 mile in 10:48 (5:26 mile). At that point I decided to stride it out a little bit. Probably not a great idea but I wanted to hit a 5:20 3rd mile before going into the neighborhoods of Bexley. Mile 3 we hit in 16:06. Still looking good when we turned to do a square loop past the Governor’s Mansion. The group ended back going south on Drexel Ave towards Capital University. Mile 4 was at 21:28. The stretch on Drexel was about 1.5. We hit Mile 5 around 26:42. The 5th mile was one of our faster miles at 5:14.
The first mile was slightly uphillish on Broad Street so I wanted to go out a little conservative. Saw Cory move up so I decided to stay with him and Andy Schweitzer, I knew him from racing the Minister 10k two weeks ago where I out leaned him. Both of them wanted to break 1:10 so we stayed together for the most part. Mike Aldrink soon joined us. First mile was at 5:22 still going on Broad but the road was now becoming flatter. We slowed a little bit for the 2nd mile and hit the 2 mile in 10:48 (5:26 mile). At that point I decided to stride it out a little bit. Probably not a great idea but I wanted to hit a 5:20 3rd mile before going into the neighborhoods of Bexley. Mile 3 we hit in 16:06. Still looking good when we turned to do a square loop past the Governor’s Mansion. The group ended back going south on Drexel Ave towards Capital University. Mile 4 was at 21:28. The stretch on Drexel was about 1.5. We hit Mile 5 around 26:42. The 5th mile was one of our faster miles at 5:14.
Just after
Mile 5 we turned right on Main Street in Bexley headed towards Nelson Road to
Mile 6 where the Columbus Running Company was in charge of the water stop as
usual for the past 6 years. Matt Deleon was on the microphone there giving
play-by-play as I ran through in 31:58 right with Scott Meyers and we were
right behind Cory and Andy as Mike was fallen off a little bit. Got some
Gatorade on my gloves at the stop but after crossing the 10k line in 32:58 I
decided it was warm enough to toss the gloves so I can focus on the 2nd
half of the race.
I tried to go a little with Scott as we turned back on the other side of Broad going back uphill towards mile 7 and 8. The rest of the Half Marathon and Full Marathon field was on the other side as we started to go uphill. Some recognized me who were running. I even saw Jamie Duling and Matt Howard, 2 of my buddies from college who were running the full. Give me a good boost up that hill and back towards downtown. Mile 7 was in 37:20. Still on pace but I ended up losing Scott as he tried to make the effort to go after Cory. I still passed one person. I hit Mile 8 in around 42:42 as I passed Jesse Armbruster and saw J.D cheer for me.
I tried to go a little with Scott as we turned back on the other side of Broad going back uphill towards mile 7 and 8. The rest of the Half Marathon and Full Marathon field was on the other side as we started to go uphill. Some recognized me who were running. I even saw Jamie Duling and Matt Howard, 2 of my buddies from college who were running the full. Give me a good boost up that hill and back towards downtown. Mile 7 was in 37:20. Still on pace but I ended up losing Scott as he tried to make the effort to go after Cory. I still passed one person. I hit Mile 8 in around 42:42 as I passed Jesse Armbruster and saw J.D cheer for me.
The course ended up taking us to Bryden Road past Grant Medical Center towards Mile 9. I ended up in 48:09. I was starting to slow down a little bit and the gap in front and behind was starting to slow and I was alone for a little bit. Also, I started to feel a little light headness as I turned on 3rd Street and went down towards the German Village. Ended up running Mile 10 in 53:39 for a 5:30 mile. At that point I wanted to see if I could possibly beat my 3rd best half
marathon time which was 1:10:39 since my 2 other
best were 1:10:20 & 1:10:23.
The 11th
mile went around Schiller Park I saw Beth & Sharon at the 10.75 mark as I
turned on Deshler Ave to go back up North on High Street. This year the cheers
along the Half Marathon Course were louder than before it seemed loud to me
since the last few miles I had a little bit of light headness and stomach
issues. I hit Mile 11 in 59:09. I wanted to stride up on High Street with that
little uphill towards Main Street where Mile 12 marker was. I hit Mile 12 at
1:04:40. Pretty much from Mile 9 marker to Mile 12 I averaged a 5:30 pace while
I was in the Low 5:20’s the first 9 miles or averaged 5:21 per mile at that
point at Mile 9 so I fell off then.
After
crossing Mile 12 I just decided to finish strong the last 1.15 mile and run it
just below 5:20 pace. Was very thankful I got to the last turn to Nationwide
Blvd on the left and saw Catherine trying to cheer me on as I turned uphill to
go down towards the finish at the Arena. I really felt nauseous sprinting
towards the finish but I was able to run my 3rd fastest half time
ever in 1:10:38. Pic is from my mom camera. Some how this ended up blurry.
After finishing I put my head the giant plastic trash can but was able to regain my thoughts and receive my medal and get a pic. My folks were outside the gates and I was able to get my warmups back on and the guys and I took a team like pic.
After finishing I put my head the giant plastic trash can but was able to regain my thoughts and receive my medal and get a pic. My folks were outside the gates and I was able to get my warmups back on and the guys and I took a team like pic.
As Elites
we were able to receive another great benefit of having our own area of one of
the Arena District buildings where we got fruit, granola bars, water, gummies
and were able to stretch and get a quick massage. My buddies and I also
received $13 dollar vouchers to Sunny Street Café next door and got a good
breakfast before we cooled down for a very slow 1.5 mile.
Afterwards,
I went up to the Mile 26 marker where CRC people were cheering on the finishers
of the full marathon, I bumped into a lot of friends and acquaintances during
the morning. All in all it was a great day.
Nationwide Children's Hospital also had Children Patient Champions Miles. They dedicated each mile to a certain child with disability or illness and that is very cool especially seeing pictures like these.
Very uplifting. Last Sunday was a great day for everyone involved. I got to see some old friends and current ones, my folks were there and I ran a great time.
The only thing I could critque myself is the fact that I missed out again on breaking 1 hour and 10 minutes for the Half Marathon. Last couple years I have come so close.
2008 Kentucky Derby Half Marathon 1:10:23
http://results.active.com/events/kentucky-derby-festival-marathon-mini-marathon/half-marathon-awards
2008 Columbus Half Marathon 1:10:22 (Personal Best)
2010 Columbus Half Marathon 1:10:56
2012 Kentucky Derby Half Marathon 1:10:39
2012 Cleveland River Run Half Marathon 1:10:00 though I had my watch at 1:10:59 and pretty much led the entire race until mile 11 but the course was point to point
and now
2013 Columbus Half Marathon 1:10:38
To me it's a little heart breaking. I've come so close so many times though the last miles seem to get the best of me in the last couple races. I think I'm at a point in my career where I don't care if I run a faster marathon. I can be happy with a 2:34 Marathon time. I just want to hit that under 1:10 barrier now while I'm at the peak of my career. I might have to relook at my training. Look carefully at my diet and what I'm putting in that causes my cramps in the later miles.
This race however wasn't a total shame I'm still happy that I ran what I did at my age. Now I have a great group of guys I can train with that still want to hit the pavement and I give them a lot of credit for how I did this past Sunday. Also to great group of people in the CRC, the Central Ohio Running Community, My Family especially, People at Church whom I grow to, and other friends that want to see me hit my goals both in Running and Personally.
"The only limitations you will ever have are the ones you put on yourself" - Kristinna Habashy
Thought this was a good quote. I'm not close to my limits yet.
Those days like this past Sunday and everything I saw remind me why I love doing this and how I love the sport!!!
That's my two cents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
