Lake County Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Well, as most of you that know me know, I have been having issues with my IT band for about a year. I worked hard through the off season to heal it and even bailed on an early season 1/2 Mary because I wasn't quite back to full strength. I thought I was good to go and then I had a major IT meltdown during my HIM in June. So this race was about seeing if I could do the distance this season without an IT malfunction. I had two goals: to beat last year's time (2:06) and to do it without IT pain. The way my long runs have gone lately, I figured I was going to have some pain at some point. So the plan was to go easy the first mile or so, then lock into a pace for the next 8 or 9 miles and then hang on for dear life at the last few miles. Well, I pretty much executed that plan to a T. Mile one was about 9:22. Miles 2 through 10 were all in the 9 to 9:10 min/mile average. Mile seven and eight I was really feeling good and pushed the pace a bit to 8:53. The odd thing is that this was a section with the most hills, with most being uphill. I passed a bunch of people at this point. I figured the IT pain would show up at some point soon. I was trying to balance gettting a little more speed without fatiguing too much, which seems to make it worse. Well at about 9.5, I started feeling the tightness and so I started to ease myself back to keep it under control. I figured I could slow down a bit and still hit my goal of 2 hours. However, if it blew up, I wouldn't make it. Well this worked well. The pain was there, but not so bad that I couldn't keep running. At mile 13, I picked up the pace a little, because I realized it was going to be close as to making the goal. As I got to the last 10th of a mile, I could hear the announcer and poured it on. There were lots of people by the finish line and I was raising my arms and whoop, whooping it. I made my goal by a whisper, but I did it.

Have a healthy IT band and by the time the off-season is over...I will.

walked around a bit and then stretched for a good 10 minutes


my IT band and not enough long distance training


Considering, where I am right now, this race was a big success. I am pleased that I worked the plan just like I , well, planned. On top of that I beat last year's time by 7 minutes. Weather was perfect and this is an absolutely beautiful course. Only disappointment: not one person made any comment about my Donkey jersey. I guess these runners just take themselves too serious.