Had a pretty good day today, I will say I am pleased with the outcome. The race felt good, and it felt like I controlled my race the whole way. I didn't get ahead of myself and I didn't let other people get in my head. I had a couple goals that I didn't meet, but looking back at the reason I was even able to prepare for and run this race starting 11 weeks ago, I kind of have to let those goals be for another time. As I stood at the start line I knew I had done just about everything a normal, working human could do to be ready in the time I'd had to prepare.
So now for the report...
Didn't sleep very much, finally my alarm went off at 3:40am. Got to the start line at 4:35am, earlier than I needed but better than being rushed. That's the worst way to start race morning! Felt pretty good on my easy, 10 min warm-up. Actually, felt numb, but much better than last year when I was almost in tears at the start because I felt so unprepared! Ran a few strides, dodging picture-taking racers and other bystanders. Got on the start line at 10 minutes before race-time only to have the race delayed for almost 15 minutes before PCH was finally clear. So much for the warm-up! And, oh the characters that think they belong in Corral A! This year it was a 60 year-old lady in a sun-shade visor-hat with tennis shoes she's been gardening in since she was my age. But apparently she was going to run as fast as the two Kenyan men she toed the line with!
Finally we were off! To run a smart race, I told myself if I saw any miles under 6:30, I would slow down. I started next to four women, only one of which I knew (Ieng), but I had already decided that today was not a race for place, it was a race for time. I had no expectations for anything but a smart race from myself. So I sat in third-fourth for the first few miles, jockeying back and forth with a couple women. The girl who shot out in front was carrying her phone/ipod in her hand! I thought she wouldn't last long (more on her later)...
Mile 1 is a little uphill, followed by some pretty good downhill to mile 2. Phone-girl up by about 10 seconds, Ieng and Orange-tank-top girl hovering close. Mile 2 was along PCH, I enjoy running down here so much! Ran by some neat little shops, people out eating breakfast, personal training studio-goers onlooking in jealousy (at least that's what I told myself), ran by the Bruegger's Bagels Kent and I ate at on our second day of married life together, made the turn at See's Candies to head down to the beach, so fun! Feeling very relaxed and controlled. Funny how race pace seems so easy when it's race-time!
Mile 3 was along Ocean Blvd looking down onto Corona Del Mar beach where I've enjoyed numerous bonfires, gorgeous morning! Ieng was gone at this point, I think she wisened up about the pace she took off at. Orange girl was hanging tough, but running on her toes! Oh my dear, that will not last 26 miles! She would pass me and then slow down, and then I would realize that my pace was under 6:30 so I'd slow down and she'd pass me again. Did this until Mile 5 when we both took some water. Orange was behind me at this point and I noticed between songs (I only listen to my ipod when I run races so I can't hear myself breathe!) that she was gasping for air already. Poor thing, hope she didn't just PR in the 5k! I didn't see her again...
Mile 6 we hair-pin turned under PCH and headed up a hill to the Upper Back Bay trail. Still feeling good, and enjoying all the cheering spectators! Made it up the hill just fine and hopped on the trail, and then had to maneuver around some happy-go-lucky guy and his dog. Apparently he thought it was really fun to be in the middle of the race course.
Miles 7-10 were through the Newport neighborhoods, lots of people out cheering. So fun! Gave some head nods and thumbs-up but didn't want to waste too much energy! Saw my parents for the first time at almost mile 8, only to get a look from my Mom telling me to get Phone-girl. All in good time Mom, I'm running my race, not hers! Passed her about 400m later, didn't see her for a while. Parents again at mile 10, they were everywhere! Also at mile 10 my calves teased me with attempted cramping but I just ignored them so they would go away.
Mile 11 had a pretty big hill, but was countered by a downhill first so my pace evened out.
Mile 12 was where the Ellipti-Go leader guide picked me up. Still feeling good and keeping the pace controlled. Parents again!
Mile 13 had a row of little kids lined up cheering, gave them a fist pump and they went crazy!
Mile 14-17 felt good. Steep hill/overpass to get over the 405 freeway. Stomach cramp at mile 14.5, that was weird, I just thought, "come on body, work with me!" Went away soon after! Hairpin turn right before mile 15 showed me that Phone-girl was still hanging about 400m back. Made me kind of nervous, but I still felt very controlled so I didn't worry too much. Ellipti-Go man informed me, in a little bit of a warning tone, that I had just put three 6:30 miles together. "Yep, that's what I have too!" I told him! I was actually a little surprised myself. Parents again, and my little sister had emerged from her beauty sleep in the back of the suburban, she's an awesome cheerleader once you get her going!
About mile 17.5 we entered Segerstrom High School. It was at least a 400m loop around the campus and back out, in a tear-drop shape loop. When we came out of the loop, Phone-girl was in front of me about 100m. I was totally confused. How did she get there? She never passed me and we stayed on the course the whole way. It was clear she had come into the high school and instead of running through campus, she just crossed over to the other side of the course and skipped that whole loop. When Ellipti-Go went to tell her she needed to turn around she told him no and kept running. She said the cop told her to go that way. I was ticked. When I saw her and then saw the Ellpti-Go man go over to the other side of the course, I stopped running and asked what the heck was going on, well okay, more like yelled, and got more upset than I should have. After a 5-7 second pause I started running again, not sure I was even going the right way now because I had gotten so turned around. Ellipti-Go man assured me he had informed race officials and it would not affect the outcome of the race. So I regained my composure and passed Phone-girl again. She was only about 50 feet behind me when I saw my parents again and so they thought I was dying. I ran by and told them, with an angry face, that she had cut the course. Then I refocused and found my pace again. I'm such a brat!
Mile 20 I got on the river trail and finally saw Kent. Poor guy had gotten a sudden onset of food-poisoning right after the start and ended up getting really sick and needing to buy new clothes at Wal-Mart before being able to get back on his bike to find me! So sad! He gave me new life as now my quads were teasing me with cramping.
Mile 21 was hard. All I could think of was how long TOU feels from mile 21 to the finish (probably because TOU has never felt good for me)! The spectators had set up an "Area 21" water station with aliens and spaceships so that distracted me, but the smile was gone. Poor kids were trying so hard!
Mile 22 I came off the river trail onto a sidewalk where a guy was doubled-over puking. Nice. I was already feeling sorry for myself.
Mile 23-24 I am not proud of, I got wimpy and forgot all the motivating things I told myself to think of when I got to this point. Felt sorry for myself because even though a hill had been taken out with a new course, it was now a steady grade for a longer time. Needed a slap in the face.
When I hit the mile 24 marker I just told myself, "9 more laps around a track and you'll be done." So I tried my best to "suck it up" and finish.
Mile 25 got me out of the neighborhood and back onto the main streets. This year was a new finish so I couldn't start my last mile build-up where I usually do. That did a number on my mind-game. But I just kept marking off the laps. Got onto Fairview and focused on the stoplight where I would make the next turn and turn off my ipod for the finish.
Mile 26 Ipod off, final kick on! I felt better than I thought! I was so happy, just thrilled to be there, headed toward a PR and lots of people cheering. Made the turn to the finish and enjoyed the final stretch, looking around and smiling wide! Came across the line so happy! Kent was there, followed quickly by Jess, who also had a very successful day in her first half!
I am very happy with the way the race turned out. I ran by myself for most of the race and am pleased I was able to maintain the paces I did without falling apart too bad. I am thrilled with the chance I had to run!
Splits: 6:37, 6:29, 6:27, 6:37, 6:30, 6:34, 6:28, 6:34, 6:34, 6:32, 6:29, 6:27, 6:36, 6:34, 6:34, 6:32, 6:38, 6:39, 6:42, 6:37, 6:45, 6:42, 6:56, 6:57, 6:51, 6:49
First half: 1:25:30(ish), Second half: 1:27:30(ish)
Average pace: 6:37
Sorry for the lengthy report, but I wanted to remember today. | 