It’s
been awhile since I have blogged so here it goes. First off I have gotten off
blogging for awhile since I’ve been busy with either training, coaching or
work. I honestly think blogging is a perfect & cheaper type of therapy for
me. Especially since I had some personal struggles & demons I am trying to
overcome. Please continue to pray for me in that area. But I’ll conclude on
that at the end of this race recap.
Anyway,
though it was around 2 weeks ago I wanted to tell you my race day experience
running the Capital City Half Marathon on April 30th. This was my
Spring Goal Race this coming year. I had great training leading up to it and
Races that I ran to get me ready. I was much healthier this winter/spring and
ready to build towards Cap City
2
Indoor Track Races
January
28th Findlay Classic (Ran 3000 Meters 9:16, fast and I forgot how
dry indoor track was 😝
February
18th Kent State Tune-Up (Ran 5000 Meters 15:41, much better. Fastest
5k in 3 years)
Road
Races
March
4th Arnold 5k Pump & Run (First year doing the Pump & Run
portion, The pump went terrible. Only 9 reps of my body weight but I ran a 15:55
5k and terminated 😊 the competition in that race.
April
2nd Shamrock Shuffle 8k (5 miles) (Went with CRC Elite as a team
competition in one of the fastest races in the country. Ran 25:40. Short of my
PR by 10 seconds on the same course I ran 5 years ago. Felt great)
Those
were the races I ran this year I lead up to Capital City Half. I woke up
Saturday Morning around 5:15 to get my bagels and bananas to eat and drink a
cup of green tea. Gathered my stuff up and brought plenty of water and Spark by
Advocare and headed down to downtown. I knew that there was a great chance of
rain and thunderstorms but I thought they would come later but still brought
clothes and towels to put in my car when I got back from the race.
From
house in Gahanna I took I-670 into downtown and got off the 3rd
Street Exit. When I got off it was already full of traffic and it was only 6:30
in which I came down early to give myself plenty of time. I decided to park at
3rd and Gay Street and head on foot to Columbus Running Company
hangout at PurePressedJuicery (http://purepressedjuicery.com/) Thankfully CRC
had rented an area where group runners from all 4 stores can put their stuff
before the race and have an overhead tent.
Now,
Capital City Half also hosted the USATF Half Marathon Championships and I
wasn’t allowed in because I didn’t reach a time. I had to hit 1:08:00 or under
or know somebody for those elites who were on the chopping block or close. Another
reason I was motivated to run to show MS3 Sports I at least belong. I have some
problems with the organizers for some reasons I don’t want to get into
especially since their races are pricey. Anyway I was glad CRC that was a jog
to the starting line and it was also right at the finish along High Street.
When
I got there, I got my stuff organized and did a 10 minute warmup to loosen up.
I ran into some of my CRC Elite Peeps that got into the USATF Half Champs part
of the race and jogged with them for a bit. We were excited to go. Got back to
the CRC hangout at the juicery. I got my jersey on put Tiger Balm around my
hips and lower back (http://www.tigerbalm.com/us) and put on my
Adidas Adios Boost 3 (CRC Limited Edition) Flats and myself and the rest of the
group runners head to the startline at State and Front Streets. I saw my folks
there and they wished me luck.
After
a few strides, drills and stretches at an alley with other runners just doing
the Regular Capital City Half Marathon and Quarter Marathon race I got to my
place in the front with Cory and other runners as we were behind the
Elites/Professionals who were running the USATF Half Marathon Championship portion
of the race and they started right after the National Anthem at 7:55.
When
they took off the other runners doing Cap City Half or Quarter walked up to the
startline. I did a quick stride, I felt great ready to take this on and try to
catch up and pass as many of the Elite Women as I could. Quick prayer to myself
and we were off.
From
this Pic I went out like being shot from a Cannon. I did went out fast. I
wanted to run the first mile in the 5:20’s or 5:25 per say but my Garmin was a
little bit messed up even though I had a good signal before the start. It says
I was going out in 6:30s even though I was way out in front at the beginning. I
just wanted to focus on going thru Front Street and Nationwide Arena and
heading towards for the first mile.
Mile
1 was in exactly 5:00. I thought to myself (OH SHIT!!) I had to purposely slow
down a little going downhill on Vine. I bet the other runners ahead of me were
thinking what the heck is this guy doing he’ll crash and burn. But, I wanted to
focus ahead. It’s one the lessons I tell my Cross Country and Track Kids. Look
ahead, run your race and the rest will take care of itself. Still feeling
strong I turned on Olentangy River Road at Mile 2 in 10:23 (5:23 Mile).
Olentangy River Road was flat and twisty but I was looking ahead still.
I hit Mile 3 in 15:53 (5:30 Mile) Still felt
pretty good as I swerved along Olentangy River Road and turned right along to
continue to go under Woody Hayes Road as the race went through Ohio State’s
Campus. Ohio Stadium was just across the river from the course. Mile 4 I went
through at 21:28 for a 5:35 mile. I definitely wished I didn’t go out to fast
that first mile, but I turned to Lane Ave and went up a slight incline towards
High Street as climbed through campus. I was able to finally catch up to elite
women who had slowed down or decided that it may not have been there day.
I
turned on High Street to head back towards Downtown. Mile 5 was in 27:04 right
where I wanted. I thought to myself I can still make this a good race and run a
5:30 pace the rest of the way. I passed my CRC Elite teammate Jess Hoover, who
was in the USATF Half Championship race. She looked like she was struggling. I
quickly encouraged her and she did the same back as I tried to reel in (fishing
term) the elite women from the USATF Half Race that started ahead of us.
There
was a slight uphill going on High Street right inbetween 12th Ave
and where South Campus Gateway is where the restaurants are. After that it was
a slight downhill right before King Ave heading towards the Short North. Mile 6
I was in 32:33 much better than I thought as I kept passing elite women as
headed toward the CRC Short North Store before Buttles Ave. Some CRC Peeps
cheered me on as I was able to pass two other CRC Elite Women teammates from
the Elite Race in Emily Odle and Sammie Zisha right around where the downtown
Hilton Hotel was.
The
Course then made a left turn on Long Street heading east as I tried to keep a
5:30 pace and focus on what was ahead of me. That was my goal going in since I wasn’t
in the USATF Half Marathon Championship race, LOOK AHEAD, NOT BEHIND, & IT
WILL ALL COME TOGETHER. The Course headed South on 4th Street as
right along then is where on one side the Quarter and Half Marathoners ran and
the other part of the road along the right side were the 5k runners which to me
is why this race always seem like a Crowded Mess at times.
I
continued my focus as I headed down towards Mound Street then made a sharp turn
on Grant Ave to crossover I-70 toward Livingston Ave. Mile 9 was around 49:30.
Still on pace. With a right turn on Livingston Ave I headed towards 3rd
Street to turn South towards the German Village where Mile 10 was and around
Schiller Park till we head back towards High Street. This was very familiar since
it was part the Columbus Marathon Course. Since its familiarity I continued to
feel strong as I turned right towards High Street. Mile 11 there was in
1:01:00. I was just focus on my race thinking at that point, “I MIGHT DO IT. I
COULD WIN THE CAP CITY HALF MARATHON” But I had to remain focus as the course
went a slight uphill as a head towards Main Street to turn left and headdown
hill as I had one mile or 1.1 Mile to go when I hit Mile 12 in 1:06:20.
Honestly,
this was the toughest mile on the course. The Last mile to the body always
seems the toughest but that’s where adrenaline kicks in as your brain tells
your body to suck it up for one more. Now, if this were the course for the
Columbus Half Marathon part my finish would be different but it’s Cap City. The
Last Mile goes downhill on Main Street past the Scioto Mile as you cross Main
Street Bridge which is uphill and then you are around COSI and head towards
Rich Street where you cross another bridge then after you cross go uphill
towards High Street and turn right where you finish near Town Street.
That
last mile I felt terrible and I thought I was going to throw up. (I shouldn’t
took that Glu before the race 😝 ) But I was
almost there as I got uphill on Rich Street and turned on High Street to finish
in 1:12:41. It was a great time but I lead the entire Capital City Half
Marathon portion from Start to Finish and no other Male passed me. 2nd
place was 13 seconds behind me and I didn’t know it till I finished. I HAD WON
A HALF MARATHON!!!!
I
saw a few CRC Elite guys who ran the USATF Half Race and congratulated them.
When it started to rain. We went around
towards the Columbus Commons where my folks congratulated me. As it was raining
I wanted them to meet some of my teammates that haven’t met yet but they wanted
to get dry and I told me I would meet them later to take them out for lunch. At
around 9:50 the first thunder came and the Post Race Party had shutdown around
10. I saw Jason Montgomery and we head back to the CRC Hangout at PurePressed
Juicery.
The
rest of the race was cancelled. I felt bad for those who had finished at the
weather turned bad and the finish line area was becoming abandoned as myself
and others dried up inside the juicery for a bit till one of my friends drove a
few of us back to our cars. I celebrated the rest of the day with my folks and
CRC Elite Friends as the weather turned nice.
Looking
back, time wise it wasn’t what I wanted it to be but I realize Cap City’s Half
is tougher than the Columbus Half and they seem to add hills to it especially
at the end. I know my effort was there and it definitely showed. I probably
would have only beaten 6 or 7 guys in the USATF Half Marathon Race if I were
put into that. The Guy that won the USA HALF MARATHON RAN a 1:03:04 by the way.
Here
were those results:
2
times before I have come so close to actually winning a Half Marathon. The River
Run up in Cleveland in 2012 and 2016 when I was training for Columbus only to
get passed in the last few miles. To
have this victory in the City in which I now Resided and for how long that race
is put on is pretty cool.
More
importantly , this victory has taught me that no matter what I’ve been feeling
the last couple months with Stress at Work, Depression, and Loneliness and not
being where I think I should be in my life at this point with Work and
Relationships that I can persevere through any and KEEP ON RUNNING NO MATTER
WHAT. That’s the lesson I hope to continue with Coaching and what I try to give
to my athletes. There may trials and struggles but if you push through you’ll
see the results. Maybe not Today, Maybe not Tomorrow but it will eventually
come and people will take notice.
I
thank everyone for the Congrats and Support. Don’t know if I’ll do the Half or
the Full Marathon at Columbus this Fall but I’m going to give it my best
effort. Also, it is great to be blogging again. Thanks for Reading as
always!!!!
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