Sunburst - RunHalf Marathon

Good race for me. I don't have a lot of race experience. Up until now, it's mostly been about "finishing." This time I had a stretch goal in mind and had psyched myself up to break 1:45 - more than 7 minutes faster than best 1/2 marathon.

I had forgot my HRM and watch, so needed to go by feel. I went way too fast in first 2 miles and backed off, to see what seemed like hoards of people pass me.

Miles 3 and 4 had thoughts of "its not my day," or "its just too hot to make my goal." The voice that said "lets see what I'm made of" won as I pushed on at an uncomfortable pace, but knowing this is what I needed to endure to make my goal.

Miles 4 through 9 I settled in and found my pace cruising along, keeping pace with a shortish woman, in her 50's (keeping up with the tall, leggy tatooed-lower-back 20-somethings just wasn't working), whom I learned was a 20-marathon veteran from Arizona. She laughed at me as I thanked every volunteer telling her I was building "race karma." She'd pull away, then I'd catch her and say "I'm still with you Arizona!" At mile 10, the clock showed a split of 1:20:00 just as I approached. I did the quick math and figured I was pretty close, just needed to knock out a sub-25 minute 5k - which is easier said than done after 10 miles of hot, humid running at that uncomfortable, bearly beneath LT pace. I was feeling good and pulled away from "Arizona."

At mile 11, there's this hill (yes even in Indiana), where you go up and then reach the top and round a corner to... another hill which climbs out of the shade of the St. Joseph river valley into a concrete, sun-soaked street with no spectators... UGH. I didn't fall apart, but the hills then oppressive heat was taking its toll. At the last water stop (mile 12), I walked for the first time, maybe 12 steps to make sure all of the gatorade made it in me, then took off again, hoping the brief rest would refuel me. I had nothing left, but probably labored through that last mile at a sub 9-minute pace.

I came up to ND's campus, Notre Dame Stadim and turned into the tunnel (where the fighting Irish take the field on fall Saturdays). Ran down the tunnel into the light to see my neighbor (on Sunburst race staff and IM finisher) congratulating me as I ran onto the field. Pushed through to the 50 yard line with fans in the stadium and hear my name anounced, looking up to see 01:45:51 on the clock just before crossing the pad and hearing "beep" as my chip crossed over.

Got my chip off, doned the finishers medal and meandered over to the refreshments. Minutes later "Arizona" congratulated me and said "Nice job, you beat me." No Arizona, you saved me.

More sleep in the nights leading up to the race (vs. 5,6,7,7hr/nt). Remember watch and HRM -then again, maybe leave them behind again.

Hung out on ND football field. Lots of walking and stretching. Drank water and ate 6-7 popsicles. It was so nice to be able just to hang out on the field. They kept the spectators in the stands (away from my popsicles) with the regular field security - whom NO ONE gets past.


Poor sleep and stressful workweek leading up to race. Nutrition maybe too.

I forgot HRM and watch. So maybe if I looked at my watch at mile 11, I'd notice that if I picked it up a bit, I'd break 1:45. Then, I'd probably also notice that I had been at threshold heartrate for 90 minutes straight and freaked out. Truthfully, there was nothing left in the tank and I don't think I could have shaved any more time off.


Really great small town race. Not many spectators but finishing in ND stadium was great. Nice to hang out with runners on the field.

Also got to be right at the finish line to "catch" my wife as she finished and PR'ed on her 4th full marathon (we started 90 minutes after 26.2'ers).