Detroit Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I started out and missed the first mile marker so I had no idea how fast I was going, just that my heartrate was at the tippy top of my zone and I was getting beeped at. I've never done a race with my HRM and have no idea how fast to take it.... but it was 13.1 so I generally tried to slow down when I got beeped at.

I was doing pretty well with the pace, about two minutes off the wristband pace. The bridge was a big, long climb but so cool to be running to another country!! All the spectators and volunteers were *so* great. I passed two wheelchair athletes slogging their way up the bridge and cheered them on... that's TOUGH!! The sunrise from the top looking back at the Detroit sunrise was impressive- about the only time I've ever thought Detroit was *pretty*!. Down the other side I grabbed my first gel (a little beyond 4 miles in) and that's when I got a major twinge along my entire left IT band. UH-OH. I was really concerned since that's what I'd had issues with last year training for the marathon here. I slowed a bit and tried to watch my stride, but there was no way I was waiting for a bus back to the US>.. that could've taken all day.

Plugged along and it loosened up a bit but was definitely tight for the rest of the race. I was a little dissapointed since I've taken up tris specifically in hopes that the extra cross training would help. I guess I need to do more biking, swimming but I probably need to be a lot better about stretching and strength training. I don't know, but I obviously haven't solved the problem.

The run along the river in Windsor was nice and uneventful, except when I passed the runner who is blind and was just in the paper. Cool for him. Into the tunnel, into the *sauna*--whoa. That was brutal. Two lane tunnel, a billion runners and NO air. It was sick. And over a mile long. Coming out of the tunnel was a real treat. First, I knew we were past the 9 mile mark, second because the cool air felt delicious, third because there was a humongous crowd waiting for us to emerge, and finally because I heard my name and out of nowhere I was suddenly running with Fromer! :) That was very cool- especially since that's the first place I'd seen my mom last year and since she was running this time I was missing the crowd support. Thanks, Fromer!

The final miles I just kept trying to push. I hung with the 3:55 pace group through the tunnel then took off in front of them because they felt a bit slow (thinking to myself that I'd finished the 26.2 in *4:55* last year and was now running with them? Hm..... ). I forced myself to keep steady until 11 then picked it up a bit, a little more when I hit 12. Took the last corner and pulled out the stops on the straight run to the finish. Used my arms and hoped to hell my skirt would stay down. ;) I really liked the finish better this year outside of Ford Field. No tunnel of death to run down!! And, thank god they actually had some food for us! Made it.

Figure out my ITB issues. Do some intentional speed training instead of just wishing to naturally develop a faster pace on my own. ;)

Stood around freezing my BUTT off waiting for my mom. She finished in 2:30 which was slow for her but her training's been off and it was a LOT hillier than her runs in Indy.


ITB issues, lack of speed training.


I really think Detroit is an under-rated big city marathon. They're doing a great job with the race itself, now they just need to figure out the start and finish.