OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon - Run

Ok, so about the mini race.

Very hot and muggy for a early May race. Men's winner was clocked at 1:05, slowest win pace in 20 years.

However, I finished at a 9:52 pace vs 9:58 last year. HR avg was 166 vs 168 last year. But with the huge difference in heat, I have to think I did better overall, correct?

Wanted to use your Zone strategy, but it went out the window after about 1.5 miles. That was probably the heat?

Had A LOT left in the tank at the 11 mile mark. I was ready to turn on afterburners when something happened: Sprinted about 200 feet to avoid a walker at the 10.5 mile water station. Right calf seized up terribly. Yelled out something inappropriate that scared the poor walker.

I had been really conscious of not wanting to cramp up like I did last year at the 11 mile mark. Took two of the electrolyte/sodium tablets every hour (they are designed to be like alkaseltzer and placed in 12 ounces of water. Just ate them raw so I didn't have to carry anything. Not a great sensation, but not that bad)

Drank Gatorade at every station it was offered as well as water. Gatorade was offered 5 times on the track. Water was every mile at the .5

So last two miles were run at about a 9:30 pace. Could have gone much faster, but the cramping in the right calf was just on the cusp at any moment. Didn't want it to happen.

Overall pace was much more even than last year. I think I could have really made a dent in those last couple of miles. Wish I could show you graphic from Garmin site with pace/mile from this year vs last. Really interesting. Much more static in 2012.