11/19/06: HMSA Classical 25k, a distance PR!

I have to admit I was nervous about this race all week…worried my ankle was going to act up…worried that I wouldn’t be able to run 15.5 miles…worried about running faster then a 10 minute mile and this and that…silly worry. Guess what…worry for nothing. I ran fine.

After almost not making in to the race in time (MAJOR NOTE TO SELF: MUST MUST MUST pack race bag the night before!!!!) and missing my downtown exit (ARGHHH!) I relaxed as I found a few Strider friends lined up near where I was. I figured I was lined up too close to the front, but after the last race and the ridiculous wait to cross the start (2.5 minutes--come on now!!!) I knew I had to line up SMARTLY.

I don’t ever make a point of running/racing with others…I have always told myself to do my own thing and worry about myself. However, after I saw Strider’s Pam and Frank and asked them with their pace was, I knew I had better stick near them as they known to be solid runners. I was predicted a 2:25 finish for myself (with a 2:23 being ideal), with nothing to base that on other then a subpar/injured Half Marathon finish of 2:01 a few weeks ago. I figured I could maintain a 9:20/mile pace for a few extra miles, right?!

We ran, and ran and ran. The first 10 miles went by very fast. The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect. Cool, slightly windy and the shadows of early morning downtown kept us shaded most of the race. Pam, Frank and I all ran together very well. We kept our own paces, but were very in tune to each other’s strides, so we were never further then a few feet away. It really helped having them nearby. I told them I hoped I wasn’t being pesky for running with them without really asking ahead of time.

They really saved me though, as I got to about mile 13 and realized I was starting to rapidly fall apart. My ankle was bugging me…then a blister on my right big toe. Then I felt really tired and my knees were achy. I got ahead of them a little, and bit the bullet hard. I knew I was suffering for my lack of training/running up to this point. I know, I know. This is my fault.

Mile 14 was soo long. I just want to be done, done, done. Stop the pain, stop the insanity of running 15.5 miles on such a cool and perfect day on a dumb hurting ankle. I put my iPOD on to any Dave Matthews song I had and sang along loudly. I had picked up speed, but so had Pam and Frank and I watched them pull away from me and told them I would see them at the finish.

Wow, mile 15. On the dumb bridge over into downtown. It is always the ‘worst’ way to end a race in Houston. You think you are almost done and this big dumb hill kills you right before you try to cruise to the finish. I clawed up it and pounded down it. It was taking everything I had. I am sure I looked like hell and of course I felt like I was in some major pain. I hammered the finish though and was quite satisfied I had finished in my ideal time of 2:23 AND could actually still walk normal, lol.

The finishers shirts rock this year and it was cool to hear stories of all my friends finishing strong, as well. Big congrats to Mr. Holden who had almost an HOUR PR this year on his 25k!!!! and Mr. Vic for a strong finish and I am very proud of him. I am most certainly looking forward to building my mileage again and training smartly for the 30k in 3 weeks and the Marathon in less then 2 months! Woohoo!

THE STATS:

15.5 miles
Ave 9:14/mile (good Marathon pace?!)

Splits: 8:53, 9:05, 9:14, 8:50, 10:00,
9:21,9:14, 9:09, 9:15, 9:21,
9:16, 9:13, 9:21, 9:07, 9:17, 4:48.

First loop ave: 9:30/mile
Second loop ave: 9:22/mile

Heart-rate: 184 ave, 204 max
Weather: upper 40’s. A cold front DURING the race!