Shamrock'n Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

This was my first race of the season. It went very well considering I haven't been training much. My "awesome" finish time would have been under 2 hours. My "very good" finish time was 2:10 because that is about 10min/mi pace -- and I beat that! Very pleased with that.

I've been on a diet and not training much, and ran out of steam after about 40 minutes. The cardio aspect wasn't the issue. I just felt like I didn't have any energy in my legs and body (because I probably don't have much with the diet). So from then on it was somewhat more difficult, but I just kept going.

I walked every drink station and had Cytomax. I also had one bottle of my own Cytomax of my favorite flavor (grape) mixed to the concentration I like. Cytomax on courses is always too watered down and always the wrong flavor. In the end, as usual, I ended up pretty dehydrated and tried to make up for it the rest of the day.

One thing I missed from triathlon was having people's age marked on their calf. I would see these senior citizens passing me up and wondered how old they were. I passed a few people during the first few miles, but after that I was mostly the one getting passed. I started passing a few again towards the end.

I thought the finish line would never come. I knew I was close to the 2:10 finish time and close to the finish line but I just couldn't see it. Ended up we had to go around the stadium (we finished at Raley Field where the local minor league baseball team plays), in the back, and finished on the track that encircles the field. A video camera was showing us on the big screen and the announcer was saying names as much as he could, although I didn't hear mine. I might have missed it though, because I was really jazzed that I hit the 2:10 time.

After crossing the finish line, I was really spent because I had really cranked it up. I could see the clock ticking down to 2:10 (it said 2:09:53 when I crossed). Turned out that was "gun time", not "chip time" and I had another 15 seconds or so. But that's OK. I hobbled over to get my chip taken off, and then we have to climb up the stairs of this stadium to the concession level. Thanks! I finally made it and stretched out. Then I got my snack pack, sat down and ate as much as I could, checked out the Sac Tri Club booth, and went home.

Carry a 2nd water bottle of my own with Cytomax and drink more.

Drinking, stretching, sitting down and eating.


My extra body weight, my lack of training, dehydration, lack of glycogen stores (I think).


It was a nice race. Luckily the weather was good. Last year I heard it was raining. I liked that mostly it was on neighborhood streets, but they also incorporated the Tower Bridge and Capitol Mall. It was a good crowd. Some people in St. Patty's Day gear. I woudl recommend this race.

I only say the course was too hard because I wasn't really prepared for the distance. There are a few rollers on the course and a couple of ups and downs onto/off of the levees, but nothing big.