Cowtown Half: #workharder

Cowtown Half is one of my favorite races and it is a highlight of my racing calendar.  I haven't missed a year since my first time running it in 2009 and boy, do we have some stories together! That first time is still one of the coldest races I've ever run. Then there was the year of the terrible traffic, when I kicked Mr K out of the car on the freeway so he could get to the marathon start in time.  Two years ago there was snow on the ground and I hit the "peak" of my running plateau.  And then last year...the year that I ran 1:49:55 and after five years got that 1:50 monkey off my back.  It really has been the best of times and the worst of times, all rolled into one race.

I didn't really know what to expect this year as I had a strong running base, but had not done any consistent speedwork.  I certainly had not been working as hard as I was last year when I had that magical race day.  The Cowtown isn't the easiest course, but I knew that anything was possible - a glance at my race history confirmed that.  The weather was just perfectly chilly and the wind was fairly low, so I decided to give it a shot and see what happened.

When in Cowtown...

One of the reasons that this race is one of my favorites is because I get to see so many of "my people" there. Mr K and I were in corral 2 and we got off to a smooth start, I love it when that happens.  I also love it when they play Bruno Mars as I run out - showtime!!  Mr K slipped away fairly quickly and I went about the business of settling into my race.  Cowtown is a favorite because it always seems like such a community event.  I spotted Stude (The Encourager) around mile 2 and he shouted "Last 4 Fast Four, MK." I gotta tell you, this bit of encouragement might have saved my race because I'm not so sure I would have pushed as hard without the reminder.

I passed the first 5K in 27:29 with an average pace of 8:51 and I saw Marlon somewhere after the 5K mark.  I met Marlon years ago on Daily Mile and then later in person when we were in OKC for the half marathon.  He was running the marathon and went on to have a strong day.  I stuck with him for a little bit as I know that he is such a strong runner and would set a consistent pace, but eventually I lost sight of him.  Not long after that I spotted Jessica (of @JessRunsBlessed fame).  She had a great day too!

I have a fever.....#cowbell

The 10K mat was somewhere in here and I crossed it in 55:14, average pace 8:53 - nice and consistent.  I saw Ninja just before the turn on Exchange Street.  It was just for a split second, but it was so nice to see one of my tribe and I knew that he got up early and made a long drive to be there to cheer everyone on.  That always lifts my spirits!  That turn on Exchange Street is my favorite part of the race, it is hard to top that view of the Stockyards and the crowds there are so spirited.  It passes by way too quickly and then it is back to work.

I was running pretty even splits, but I just wasn't "feeling it." It was like I couldn't quite settle into the race and lots of little things were annoying me.  My pace slipped a little bit in here and I worked to refocus before we got to the big climb up the Main Street bridge.  I knew that as soon as I got over the hill it would be time for "last four, fast four." Years ago I discovered that the easiest way for me to get up that hill is to run it one lamppost at a time.  It is just so much easier to focus on the increment right in front of me rather than look all the way to the top.  I think that is a great metaphor for life too!  About halfway up the hill I spotted Tini who gave me a huge cheer and a big high five - she is the best!

Mr K had another strong day! (Pic: Andy W)

Now it was time to get to work on a strong finish, time to focus and see if I could save my race.  My pace had started to slip a bit before the hill and I knew that this was my chance to regroup for a strong finish.  As I passed the split for the marathon I was thankful that I was not running the full and I sent all my best wishes to my friends who were - gooooo Sandie and Drum!! I got to mile 11 at 1:37:58, averaging 8:54.

I know the end of this race well - slight up hill to mile 11, then a big downhill, cross the long bridge and then another slight downhill to mile 12.  The last mile of the race is like torture because you can see where you stated at the Will Rogers Center, but you have to go a mile around to the other side where the finish line is.  Four turns to the finish, I could hear the announcer and I could taste the finish line.  Why is it that this part feels like it takes days?

I finished in 1:55:12 with an average pace of 8:47.  That "last four, fast four" insured that I would have my second fastest Cowtown in the nine times that I had run it.  It always takes me a few days to process a race.  I walked away from this one with a new respect for the PR I ran there last year.  Hard work pays off and I earned that one - no fluke, no luck, just putting in the miles and the intensity.  I felt like I ran the best race I had for my current level of training, but I also feel like I have a faster half in me if I just work a little harder. You want to run faster? Work harder. You want to be stronger? Work harder.  There was a whole lot of good on this race day, but the best thing to come from it was a new commitment to work harder this spring.  My fire was relit, time to focus and embrace my new mantra.....work harder.