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Comments: The morning started nice and cool and overcast. In other words, PERFECT for what I was about to do. Since I'd been sick, I just wanted to take it easy on myself and finish as close to a good time as I could. I started off at an easy pace at just under 10 minute miles and then noticed that my second mile was around 9:30. I immediately told myself to back it down and went to a 10:30 pace. I also let myself walk thru the aid stations. Knowing this was feeling good to me, I kept at this pace for the next several miles and smiled and chatted with everyone around me, even stopping to give a greyhound some love. By mile 7, I noticed that I was not feeling my usual tired self, so I just kept doing what I was doing, thinking that I may be able to finish this with a slightly respectable time! By mile 9, I was feeling AMAZING and felt like I could run all friggin day. Well, after a bio-break. Once I exited the porto, I took off again and picked my pace up to between 9:35 and 9:40. I was amazed to think things out and figure that I might actually come close to hitting a PR for this day! That, however, did not stop me from walking through the next "aid" station some residents put up. When they told me they had take-out cups for the beer, I was sold! I threw back the few ounces they gave me and went on my merry way. I held on to the 9:35ish pace and once I hit the track for the last 300 yards, I was able to pick things up to a near sprint and held that to the finish. What would you do differently?: Um, not get sick, I guess. I think I used a ton of energy on the course just coughing up phlegm. Other than that, I had a GREAT time with this race, took in the beautiful scenery, and had some laughs with the cheering bystanders. Plus, the fact that I felt so amazingly GOOD at 9 miles has me on quite a high. In the end, I missed a personal best by 2 minutes, but I really don't care. This is, by far, the best I have ever felt in any race of any length and the fact that I did it with what is likely a good little sinus infection has me patting myself on the back. This is my third half marathon in just as many months and I am pretty satisfied with the year, thus far.  Post race
What limited your ability to perform faster: phlegm Event comments: I will so be back for the half again next year. Really a gorgeous course that starts at the end of a peninsula with the sun rising. Most of the course is shaded and was well supported at aid stations. Excellent event! Last updated: 2009-05-24 12:00 AM
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United States
Traverse City Track Club
56F / 13C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 781/1500
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 67/126
Many of you know that I had planned this race as my first full marathon. Back in April, while attempting another 18 mile run, I decided that the small injuries that kept piling on top of one another were not worth it to me. The only goal I had when I signed up for this race to not get injured...and that was not the direction I was headed. The last thing I wanted was to start my tri season not being able to run.
Five days before this race I started feeling the familiar sore throat/sneeze of a cold coming on. I decided right then and there to rest as much as possible and spent an hour after work every day napping, then going to bed at 9pm. This thing was kicking my butt! On Thursday, when my voice returned, I knew I was heading uphill and knew I'd be able to at least run/walk the 13 miles. Thursday afternoon I did a short, easy bike ride then did a 2 mile run Friday. More confidence building.
Saturday 4 am arrived and I spent a good hour locked in the hotel bathroom, quietly sneezing, coughing, blowing, hacking, etc so I wouldn't wake my support staff up too early. Once I felt mostly unclogged, I walked on down the hallway and got myself some oatmeal and a banana for the bus ride to the half start point (this is a point-to-point race)