A 1:20 half marathon is one of those alluring, round number
barriers that begs to be broken. (Earlier this year, an interesting study came
out about how there’s an uptick in finishers just under barriers like this. A
2:59:59 marathon is so much more enticing than a 3:00:01.) I’ve wanted a sub-1:20 for a while now and breaking
it this season would give me elite status at CIM, an added motivation.
After nightmares of Philly were replaced by much
better memories of Army, I thought I had a sub-1:20 in the bag. I even
thought—on a really great day—I could possibly go sub-1:19. That’s crazy to
say, and I didn’t tell anyone that. I didn’t want to get ahead of myself; the
primary goal for the Raleigh Half Marathon was sub-1:20. I’d go out at
6:05 pace (1:19:45) and see how I felt at halfway. Maybe—like Army—I could
slice some more off in the second half.
On paper, the course seemed fair: a few hills, but doable. It
was a bit windy, but cool. I started slightly too fast, but the first couple miles were
downhill. In mile 3, I tried to relax and reel in my pace, but then missed the
mile marker. By mile 4, I realized I had slowed way too much. Crap.
From the elevation chart, I had told myself (and my
teammates) about two major hills: one from mile 4-5 and one from mile 8-9. Worried
by the slow splits for miles 3 and 4, I knew I had to snap back to race mode
and get through mile 5 strong, despite the hill. I managed to hit mile 5 just a
hair too slow, and was comforted when I made up some time on miles 6 and
7. Although I again missed a mile
marker, I saw the 10K split was just a few seconds off my Army 10k split
(before I picked it up in the second half). At this point, negative splitting didn’t
seem so plausible, but my mental calculations told me I was pretty much right
on 6:05 pace.
But up ahead loomed mile 8, with the second (and seemingly last)
big hill. I figured I’d slow, but at least after that the hills would be over.
I eagerly awaited the end of the 8th mile and the end of the
hill, but it seemed to be dragging on forever; we were still going up. Eventually
I realized I had missed another mile marker (where were these things?); mile 8
had long ago ended, and yet, the hill had not. At every turn I
thought the course would flatten, but it didn’t. I wanted to catch my teammate
in front of me just so I could commiserate about these incessant hills.
When I finally did get the splits, it was discouraging: miles
8 and 9 were way too slow. Though mile 10 was better, I didn’t make up any lost
time. In these miles—from 8 on—I got angry. I anthropomorphized the course, as
if it was some evil entity out to get me. At mile ten—realizing I was in
serious jeopardy of missing my sub-1:20—I got even madder. Damn you, Raleigh
Course, you think you can take my 1:20? No way. I need it. I need the
confidence it will bring me before CIM. I need to prove to myself I am in PR
shape. I could not keep letting the hills slow me, I had to make up time. I
could not let this course steal my 1:20.
As we turned onto the last section—an out and back from mile
11 to the finish—I was relieved. There wasn’t much more to go, and, best of
all, it seemed flat. Then the split for the eleventh mile came. 6:16. I cursed,
out loud. The guy next to me didn’t know what to make of it. Sorry, dude: it’s
1:20 or bust. I was still over, still slowing. Falling farther behind, instead
of making up time. Like I said, $*!#.
The problem was I didn’t have much room left to make up
time. Like a chase pack that let the leader get too far ahead, I worried I’d
run of out space. I had to get going now. I couldn’t let 1:20 slip away, not by one second or
ten. I needed to start dropping seconds,
fast.
So I put everything I had into picking it up. I missed the
12th mile marker, but it didn’t faze me, I was just sprinting to the
end. Even though we were running straight down the road, it was impossible to
see the finish because there was—cruelly—one more hill. Up and over the last hill, I would not relent
until I saw those numbers on the clock. As I got closer, they were clearly
flashing low 1:19 (Thank God!) and all I had to do was push through the line
before they crept any higher. I did, in 1:19:28. (By my dubious post-race
analysis, I ran the last 2.1 miles at 5:49 pace.)
Part of the prize for 3rd place: a painting of the race. |
A new PR by over two minutes, third place woman, tenth overall (male and female). The PR, combined with prizes (see above) and sweet swag (two (!) t-shirts and local brews in the beer tent), should have taken away my
anger at the course, at the hills. Instead, despite everyone’s excitement about
how well I’d done, I was oddly slightly disappointed. (Note: this actually isn’t odd for
me. I am rarely satisfied, as I’m always looking for more. My family and
friends know this and get frustrated accordingly.)
Of course I’m happy I broke 1:20, the big barrier that seems
to mean something significant when you get on the other side of it. But somehow
I thought it would be easier, that 1:20 was a sure thing and I’d be creeping in
on sub-1:19. In reality, I landed smack in the middle of my two goals (1:19:28).
But being so far off in the second half and essentially sprinting (or a
marathoner’s version of a sprint anyway) the last two miles didn’t feel like a
roaring success. It was scary, a jolting reminder that a few bad miles can take
everything away from you. There are no guarantees. You have to fight for every
PR.
And that’s the real success, the thing I’m most proud of,
that I’ll take with me to CIM: that I fought. I was close to not making my
goal, and I didn’t give up on myself. I didn’t make an excuse like I have in so
many other recent races. When it got tough, I toughened up. I didn’t relent. CIM
certainly will not be easy, I’ll need to fight for it. Not like Boston 2013 or Boston 2014, but like Raleigh 2014.
Dream big,
Teal
Congrats!! I totally felt the hills too, they were really though. I can't believe you missed the mile markers, but it goes to show you were truly focusing on racing :) Great job on a cold, windy day with a tough course and congrats on the pretty painting!
ReplyDeleteLolz "or a marathoner's version of a sprint anyway" ... 5:49 pace is like light-speed to yours truly, Molasses McSlowRoll.
ReplyDeleteANYhoo - congrats! 3rd place! 10th overall! T-shirts and art! Nicely done :)
Teal: Great work on a fast half! Way to get that PR! I enjoy reading you blog and I will look for you at CIM. I'm running it too. Best to you in your preparation leading up to it.
ReplyDelete~Susie
AMAZING! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! So happy for you! What a race, and what a PR! Very impressive, and I know you have great things coming your way! CIM is meant to be the fastest course out there! Excited for you!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing Teal!!!
ReplyDelete