Big D Half...A Little Good, Plenty of Bad, and All Kinds of Ugly

The Big D Half Marathon was on Sunday, April 10....but it felt more like June 10. So much for the summer acclimation process, right? When I ran on Tuesday morning it was 39 degrees and when this race started on Sunday it was in the upper 70s with fierce humidity and a stiff wind. Welcome to springtime in Texas! I am starting to get a little bit bitter about all of the weather misfortune that I have had this year. Five half marathons so far in 2011 and 4 of them have been hot and humid. The other one, on New Year's Day, was 25 degrees. Give me 25 degrees.

I had been so tired in the week leading up to the race but I took an extra rest day on Thursday and felt really good coming into the race. I felt great until I stepped outside...even then I did not realize how challenging the day would be. We arrived at Fair Park in plenty of time to talk with lots of running friends and hit the restrooms. We have made lots of friends over the years and this might be my favorite part of running. As we stood outside the Cotton Bowl waiting for the starting gun the race announcer warned us "it is very warm and humid, you will want to adjust your expectations for this race." Ugh....words you never want to hear. Soon enough the sun came out from the Cotton Bowl and I could feel the heat warming the air. I really felt for the people would would be running the full marathon. I can't think of a worse day to take on a marathon. It should be noted that the St Louis marathon was stopped due to conditions very similar to the ones we had here on Sunday.


Runnin' Friends--Thanks for the pic EW!

Erik and I decided to hang together and it was a good thing....it was another race that took all of Team Kennemer. We got off to a good start, but I was afraid to check my watch for pace. I had a feeling that it would be utterly deflating because I knew that the pace would not reflect my perceived efforts. This course is pretty, but fairly hilly--as far as Dallas goes (elevation gain of 340 feet according to Garmin). After a slight downhill we hit White Rock Lake around mile 4 and this is where the marathon split from the half marathon. Just before then I noticed a runner who was visually impaired running with a sighted guide. They were very inspirational and I was even more inspired when I saw that they were continuing on in the full marathon.

The whole "adjust your expectations" thing really started to come true after mile 6. I had come here with hopes of a new PR, then those hopes shifted to a 2 hour finish, then I started to realize that I probably would not make 2 hours today. I could feel my energy waxing and waning, sometimes I felt like I was hitting my stride and sometimes I was thankful to be moving. I took my time and walked the aide stations and used them as a chance to grab a little bit of recovery. After we left White Rock we headed into the hilliest section of this race. There were some really tough stretches and it was challenging to keep my mind pushing forward. My legs were just so heavy! The heat was really taking its toll. At this point I could see that my pace was slowing and I began to accept that this would be one of my slower races, much slower than the 2 hour (or faster) half I had become accustomed to.

Fortunately the course went into a slight downhill for the last few miles and Erik and I just dug in and got it done. The wind was my frien-enemy once again because it was so hard to run into it, but so hot when it was behind me. I usually train shorter runs without music and carry my iPod on long runs. Sometimes I don't use it and sometimes I turn it on in the background. It is not something that I feel like I HAVE to have, but is nice if it is handy. I have given a lot of thought to the music/non-music debate because I am a music therapist and understand the science behind the use of music with physical activity. Personally, it is something that I have chosen not to rely on as part of my routine. Sunday was a whole different story--I can honestly say that I used the heck out of my music in those last couple of miles. I found the songs with the beats per minute that I needed and let them carry my legs (entrainment to you music therapy types out there). I don't know if it has ever been a more valuable tool to me. I am glad that I was able to use it when I needed a big boost. The last mile seemed really long, but we managed a strong negative split (maybe the entrainment worked!) and I feel really good about it. There is always a little more to give no matter how wasted I feel.

Here are the splits (this is where the "ugly" comes in):
Mile 1 9:22
Mile 2 9:06
Mile 3 9:03
Mile 4 8:35 (thought I was hitting my stride!)
Mile 5 9:11
Mile 6 9:20
Mile 7 9:55
Mile 8 10:04
Mile 9 10:14
Mile 10 10:03
Mile 11 10:18
Mile 12 10:05
Mile 13 9:46
last .25 8:51 (Garmin measured 13.25, I didn't run the tangents very well!)
Total Time: 2:07:16
Avg Pace 9:36
23 out of 203 in Age Group
I was surprised to see that I did so well in the age group placings. It looks like everyone was running a little bit slower today!

I believe that there is a lesson in every race and this race held many of them. I think that the biggest reminder is that you really have to adjust your expectations and work with the situation that you are given. Sounds like a good metaphor for life and something that I deal with frequently in my work with kiddos who have special needs. I have a pretty big goal on my mind, and I am still working hard to get there. This race reminded me that it is going to take more than one try to achieve that goal. I am starting to see that it might take me all year to reach that goal, and that is okay. I am having so much fun getting there (okay, so maybe hot races aren't that much fun but you know what I mean).

On another note, the weather that was too hot for running was perfect for having lunch on a patio with Cat and Daniel--new friends that I made at the Texas Independence Relay. And my only expectation there was good food and good company--no adjustments needed.

I Came, I Ran, I PRed...Big D Texas Half Report

Sunday April 11, 2010 was a great day! I had been enjoying a good weekend of productive rehearsals with the Metropolitan Winds when race dawned early on Sunday morning. After all of the chaos of Cowtown, I was determined not to get caught up in another traffic snafu so we left the house super early. My mind was set at ease when we arrived at Fair Park and did not encounter any lines when entering the park and parking. It was somewhat odd being in Fair Park without the State Fair being there. The race started near where Big Tex usually stands, yet he wasn't present for the festivities. Wouldn't it have been cool if he had given us the "ready, set, go"?

Because we were super early, we had plenty of time to mill around, complete all of the prerace rituals and find our friends Liza, Vi, and Ben. The weather was a little warm for running and the humidity was fairly high. However, the running gods were looking out for us as the sun never did break through the clouds.

The start of races are always hectic and make me a little nervous. It is tricky to pass the people who are slower than you while trying to move out of the way of those who are faster. I just know that I am going to trip and fall on my face one of these days. This race was no different, but things thinned out pretty soon and we were able to settle into a pace. The pace that we settled into was a little quicker than we usually run, but at the same time it didn't feel impossible. Erik, Vi, and I all started together but began to pull apart after 3-4 miles. I started to feel a little bit uncomfortable with the pace that Erik set and fell back just a little bit. He was almost always in my line of sight and I was only 10 seconds behind him for a good part of the race.

The course was quite challenging--downright hilly for Dallas--but I really enjoyed all of the scenery. I saw parts of Dallas that I have never seen before. There were parks and cute neighborhoods and now I know how close White Rock Lake is to Fair Park. I saw some amazing homes along Swiss Avenue and a one-room church near Fair Park. The crowds were thick in some places and it is always great to hear the cheers. Somewhere around mile 7 we hit an amazing hill--not quite as big as that hill in Austin, but still pretty formidable. A guy just over my shoulder was huffing and puffing and moaning. I worried for a bit about my mental game and tried to get away from him.

I felt challenged the entire way, the hills and humidity were quite a combination. I am not acclimated to the warmer temperatures yet, but I guess that warmer weather is inevitable. I checked my pace as I hit the mile markers and after a while I knew that I was on a pace to beat my PR from White Rock (1:57:18). I kept reminding myself that it was mine for the taking, to just keep on running and with each mile my excitement grew. By mile 11 I was certain that I would PR, I just didn't know by how much. I think that I have gotten much stronger mentally in the final 3 miles. I try to think of it as a 5K and just keep going. Those miles were my worst when I first started running half marathons. It just goes to show you that running is just as much a mental game as it is physical. Good training pays off.

Erik, Liza, and Ben were waiting for me at the finish line and I think that Erik was quite surprised to see me so close behind him. I finished about 53 seconds behind him, the closest ever for a half marathon. I was even more stoked to look at my watch and see 1:54:51!! I never dreamed of a sub 1:55 race! Did that really just happen?

It was my first time to run the Big D Half and I really think that it might be one of my favorites. Certainly I am biased as it was my best half marathon race yet, but I think that there is more to it. I loved starting at Fair Park and running through some of Dallas's oldest neighborhoods. There was lots of food and free samples in the automobile building when the race was finished. The medals and t-shirts were not fancy, but it didn't matter. The race had a really nice, friendly feel to it. This one is a keeper for future race calendars.

So there you have it, half marathon number 12 is in the books. That makes number 5 for 2010, putting me half way to my goal of 10. I am thrilled beyond belief with my new PR. I went on to play a wonderfully fun wind ensemble concert at the Meyerson that night. Looks like there is something to that music and running combination! I just wish that the runner's lifestyle and musician's lifestyle were a better mix. Sunday was a very long day--up at 5:00 am and to bed after 1:00 am, but I wouldn't trade a second of it. I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to take part in two very fulfilling activities.

Next up, Heels and Hills Half Marathon on May 2. I am looking forward to it as the course is much flatter than the Big D course. Dare I dream of a new PR so soon? Only time will tell....