I have become an increasingly tardy blogger these days. Perhaps the hot weather that has zapped my will to run has even zapped my will to write about running. Also, this race--the Hottest Half--was timed beautifully with the beginning of the school year. This is a hectic time where I have to make the shift from 10 hour work weeks and afternoon naps to full time work and all that comes with it. My mind gets overwhelmed with all of the back to school details and by the end of the day it has just turned into mush. So enough of the excuses and on with the blog!!
I try to take a different approach to summer races and summer running in general. I run slower in the summer, it is just a fact. This used to freak me out and send me into a tizzy (I'm getting slower! Oh my gosh, I am getting weaker!! Ahh!), but every fall the temperatures drop and my pace picks up and I am a happy runner once again. Last year I started the Hottest Half with good intentions, but soon found myself defeated by the heat and turned the race into my own social run complete with pictures and visits with friends along the way. I decided that it might be a good day to go for a PW (personal worst).
I was happy to take a similar approach to this year's edition of the Hottest Half as well. I was excited about the race because I knew that so many of my running friends (frunners) would be there and that we would have a great time hanging out before the race and that there would be food and more fun after the race.
We arrived early, took our place in the potty line, and quickly found friends to talk and visit with. Frunners EW and Corina are quick with the camera and a flurry of pre-race photos were taken. A sense of dread took over as we lined up at the start, thinking of the many miles that lay before us and realizing that I was sweating before I even ran a step. I knew that I would not be setting any personal records (PRs) and felt content to take a slightly easier pace than I normally would.
Pre Race with Friends
About a mile into the race we crossed the dreaded Mockingbird Bridge...the "mocking" part is so true because the bridge bounces up and down and mocks every step. It will jump up to meet your feet on one step--surprising you as you are not expecting the ground to be so close and then dropping really low the next step--leaving you wondering if your foot would find the ground. The whole time I am thinking that my stomach was not so happy with me and I was thinking that a restroom stop might be in order. I was thinking that I would spend less energy just stopping early rather than worrying about it for a few more miles. So at 1.75 miles I get in the potty line...and I wait...and I wait...even thought I was not racing, it was disheartening to watch so many runners go by and I felt any progress that I had made slipping away. I finally got moving again, 5 minutes later, and felt driven to make up some of the time that I lost. Erik was super fabulous and waited for me during this extended pit stop.
5 minute restroom stop
There really isn't much to say about the race itself....it was hot and we ran. Erik and I made sure to get good drinks at water stations and we also took salt tablets along the way to make up for all that we were losing with sweat. We made up lots of time and began to catch up with some of our friends that had passed while I was delayed. We passed Mary and Debra who were out at the lake for training with Team Tri-Now. Poor Mary caught me off guard with a high five and nearly got punched in the nose! I was carrying a water bottle in my right hand and didn't know how to handle the bottle and a surprise high five. Sorry Mary!!
This is an out and back course and the leaders were starting to pass us now on their way back to the start. I always marvel at their speed and the ease in their running style, I wonder what it feel like to run so fast. The best thing about an out and back is seeing lots of friends along the way and this was the case here too. I was also happy because I knew that the race was more than half way finished at this point.
Heading Back
My next focus point was making it to the North Texas Runners cheering station at mile 11. I knew that Libby and the gang would be there with ice, gummy bears, and friendly faces. I slowed down for a bit, ate a couple of gummies, crunched some ice and talked with Greg and Libby. This was a real pick me up and I knew that the journey was almost complete. Libby tells the story from her side in her blog...check it out!
Give me gummy bears!!
The last two miles were crazy hard as I tried to maintain an even pace and finish with a little bit of grace. The heat was intense and I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. It was during this stretch that I had a great talk with myself--reminding myself that this was likely the hardest race of the year and that I do this race to prove to myself that I can be tough when necessary. I started running because I wanted to do something hard and this was as hard as it gets. The finish line was in sight soon enough and I ran it in as fast as I could.
I was okay with my time given the five minute restroom break and the intense heat. (Chip Time: 2:18:29 31st of 102 in my age group). This is about 20 minutes slower than my average half marathon pace but speed wasn't the goal today. This race is not and never will be about speed, speed is best saved for a crisp race on a November morning. The Hottest Half is about showing myself that I am tough enough to handle a challenging circumstance. Mission accomplished.
Erik and I cheered some more friends across the finish line and enjoyed a cold beer in the beer garden before packing up and heading to breakfast with our group of frunners. This was the best part of the morning and certainly the number one benefit of running. I have met some amazing people over the last couple of years and it is an honor to call them frunners...and friends.
(Special thanks to Corina, EW, and Libby for the great pictures)
