All Smiles with Lesley
I had some big hopes coming into this race--because it was my 4th time to run it I felt very familiar with the turf. I have run very well here in the past and even clocked a 1:52:50 here last year. The course is not the easiest as it is fairly hilly in the middle (hilly by our flat Dallas standards anyway). However, these hopes began to shift a little bit as the weather forecast became more clear. I am starting to thing that we have somehow angered the running weather gods. I had beautiful runs during the week in temperatures that were in the 40s, but by the time Sunday came around it was 65 degrees and very humid again. This seems to be a pattern for 2011, maybe 2012 will bring us some better luck. I knew before we even started that a super speedy race was probably not in the cards (it was 50 degrees and perfect in 2010 when I ran that 1:52) as I am just not as fast when the temps and humidity creep up. It is all good though, right....gotta remember the big picture here....the "m" word...
Pre Race with EW & Mark O.
I ran into so many friends before the race and even smiled for a few pictures. EW and Mark O. are handy with their cameras and I found them at the bag check tent. I also ran into Lesley here as she was preparing to pace another one of her runners to a PR. I told you--one is never really alone when so many runners are gathered! I lined up between the 1:50 and 2:00 pace groups and listened to a beautiful rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner". Then the announcer proclaimed "we are the Dallas Running Club and TODAY WE RUN!" (call me a dork, but that gives me chills every single time) and the starting gun fired. The beginning of a huge race is always a little bit tricky and I just focused on making progress without tripping myself or anyone around me. My legs already felt heavy and I just focused on forward progress, good form, and a consistent pace.
Splits:
Mile 1 8:56
Mile 2 8:44
Mile 3 8:34
Mile 4 9:00
The first four miles are fairly flat and my pace seems to reflect that. It seems clear to me that the first four miles were when I was "adjusting my expectations" for the day, accepting this as a training run, and trying to settle in on a pace.
The biggest climbs and rolling hills came sometime between miles 4.5 and 8 and I feel fairly pleased with the consistency of pace for miles 6 thru 8:
Mile 5 8:47
Mile 6 9:08
Mile 7 9:07
Mile 8 9:08
This is when things really started to feel hard for me. I remember yanking of my cap(which I wore because light rain was in the forecast)and realizing that my sunglasses went flying. I had them on top of my hat in case the sun came out (thankfully it never did), but I had to turn back for a bit to look for my glasses--which were nowhere in sight! A kind runner behind me had spotted them and pointed them out to me. I had no idea what my hair looked like at this point, I just knew that it was a smothering kind of hot under that cap and I needed some fresh air on my head.
Mile 9 9:25
Mile 10 9:01
Mile 11 9:09
I tried to focus on how this was the third anniversary of my first half marathon (first one in 2008) and how far I had come as a runner. This was half marathon number 29 for me in just three years! I also tried to focus on how the increased workload of marathon training has caused my legs to feel extra fatigued. This half marathon was proving to be super challenging to me....reminding me that even though it was my 29th, it is still a long way to run and that I should always respect the distance.
I was taking a little more time at the water stops because I was feeling so hot, but snapped to attention when the 2:00 pace group passed me. I suddenly had a new focus--catch that group and don't let them get ahead again!! This is reflected in mile 12:
Mile 12 8:59
But I began to feel the fatigue again by 13...not so sure what happened here...
Mile 13 9:27
Needless to say, I couldn't keep ahead of that 2:00 group...but I dug deep and sprinted it on in past the finish line. I desperately wanted that sub 2:00 finish and I was so very close!
Official Time: 2:00:04
If you know anything about me, you know that I am a perfectionist and am my own harshest critic. Initially I felt very disappointed with my finish time not just because I finished just above 2:00, but because I had to work so stinking hard for that 2:00:04. However, I soon got over that and moved on with a few lessons learned...one, always respect the distance and two, focus on the big goal here (that "M" word again) 2:00 is not a bad time for a training run!
After I finished I stood and the finish line and was humbled by what I saw. Dallas is lucky enough to be a city with a chapter of the Back on My Feet
organization. BOMF is a great charity that "promotes the self-sufficiency homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem." As I stood at the finish line a BOMF runner came through--hugs were exchanged and tears were flowing. It was hard to contain my own emotions...what a powerful thing this running stuff can be!
Post Race with Cat & Daniel
I had a great time hanging out post race and ran into several friends including Mark L. and his son Cairo. Cairo is fifteen and decided to train for this half marathon with his dad. He had an amazing first run (sub 1:50 and beat his old man!) and will be back for more, no doubt about it! Read about Cairo and Mark's race here. I also ran into Texas Independence Relay vanmates friends Cat and Daniel and enjoyed a delicious Mexican food feast with them after the race. Like I said, one is never alone as long as there are frunners around!
There was little time to lick my wounds because a big marathon training milestone was coming up the very next weekend--the Fort Worth Marathon 20 Miler. Stay tuned...report coming soon!
(Thanks to EW, Mark O., and Lesley for the pictures)
Nice report! You are going to be so well prepared for your marathon!
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