Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

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Detroit Free Press Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Detroit, Michigan
United States
Detroit Free Press Marathon
56F / 13C
Precipitation
 		Total Time = 2h 35m 44s
Overall Rank = 5674/8470
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 408/470
Pre-race routine:

Spent night in windsor with two friends in hotel. Got up at 4:30ish AM Not because I wanted to but because they forced me too... Ate a bagel and peanutbutter, drank a few coffees and a few glasses of water
Event warmup:

just huddled up with everyone in our time group and hung out then stripped off our warm up cloths and tossed them to the side.
Run
  • 2h 35m 44s
  • 21.08 kms
  • 07m 23s  min/km
Comments:

Had a Great Run Mentally. Was lucky to be running with friends and had Stef by my side who was cheering us all on the whole way. I did enjoy the whole run. But the heat in the tunnel triggered More sweating then I could deal with. I think from then on out I lost too much salt or that and I didn't drink enough. With about 6-7k to go we had picked up the pace a bit and then I started to get a side stitch on the left side, never had it there before. Stopped to walk and shortly after Both calves started cramping. Def ended up dehydrated a bit and not enough electrolytes. Great learning experiance and I was torn between making ugly pain faces and still smiling... doing a bit of both until the end. The last 2km Actually really started to hurt. About every 5-6th step my left calf felt like it was going to seize right up. I pushed through until we crossed the line and Stef pretty much had to hold me up. I could hardly stand on my legs from my calves hurting. Crossed into the end, got my AWESOME MEDAL and then Hung out with Friends. Stef massaged my left calf which almost had me in tears but was needed. Then we had the horrible 5km walk back to the car which took forever. Or so it seemed. All and ALL a GREAT first Half Marathon. I learned a Lot from this and I am taken aside by all the feelings I have been having today.
What would you do differently?:

Need more electrolyte. I am going to need to look at salt or electrolyte tablets to get me through my long stuff. Didn't happen in Training at all like this. But I probably drank more in training. I def did part of this to myself. But hey This is how we learn right. It was AMAZING day and no one can take that away.
Post race
Warm down:

Got food, about 1.5L of water and 500ml of gatorade and chocolate milk. Walked back to car. Seen a few people we knew it was stupid busy but had to head back to Canada to hook up with Tina and get my sore ass home.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

not drinking enough or not enough electrolytes

Event comments:

Didn't stick around for post race. Lots of bands, cheerleaders and volunteers. And HOW awesome is it to run in two countries in one day. Ok going over the bridge was windy as hell and back up through the tunnel was a heck of a hill. But GREAT EVENT. I love the way downtown Detroit looks. And I loved being able to see family in Canada and Friends in the US.




Last updated: 2011-10-02 12:00 AM
Running
02:35:44 | 21.08 kms | 07m 23s  min/km
Age Group: 0/470
Overall: 0/8470
Performance: Good
Course: Started in Detroit ran up and over the Ambassador Bridge and into Canada then down along riverside drive and along the Detroit River. Met with my Mom, wife and cousin around the 10K mark stopped and hugged them and got some M&Ms water and got on our way. Course then went down and over to the Tunnel back into Detroit. Tunnel was neat to run through but steap up the last part and VERY hot inside. My heart rate went from ~138-139 and jumped up to 165 in the tunnel. Partly from hill mostly from heat. By the end of the tunnel I was sweating like mad. Out of the tunnel into the cool air and then around some loops in Detroit then over to the finish line.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2011-10-16 3:21 PM

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Chatham Ontario
Subject: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

2011-10-16 5:13 PM
in reply to: #3725747

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Member
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Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon
Congrats on your race! It was not the nicest weather today, good for you for sticking it out. I would like to do this one next year!
2011-10-17 10:22 AM
in reply to: #3725747

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Chatham Ontario
Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

Thanks Carrie.

It is a GREAT event. I would totally consider doing it again. The Medal looks frigging AWESOME.

But ya as I thought about it more I realized every time I drank the gatorade at the stations I was finding it VERY sweet tasting and I probably was not finishing enough of it. It was upsetting my stomach for a few mins after every time. Next time I think I would pour the water into the gatorade and mix it to ease up on the sweetness and hope it would help with the stomach.

I would also Make sure I drank all of it in. I bet I wasted half the gatorade at almost every station now that I think back.

It hurts to walk today. BUT SOOOO WORTH IT. I had fun and did it with Friends.. who could as for anything more.

Stef gave up her day to run my race with me. I couldn't ask for more support or a better friend, mentor, Best Friend. That selflessness just explains what I LOVE about triathlons and running.

I hope to pay it forward myself as much as I can to others when I can. If you see the ontario Moderator on any posts

Silver Wlf make sure you toss her a message and tell her what a great person she is for all she does for people around here with her running groups and helping people learn to train and run and race.

LUV ya Steffie

2011-10-18 12:12 PM
in reply to: #3725747

Member
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Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

I did the full- and I thought it was a great course too. My only issue was the underwater tunnel completely freaked me out- I just wanted to get OUT of there as quick as possible.

Good job!

2011-10-18 12:46 PM
in reply to: #3725747

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon
Congrats, Chris!! What a great race You ROCK!
2011-10-18 1:09 PM
in reply to: #3725747

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Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon
Awesome Job!!!!!! Great race

2011-10-18 8:01 PM
in reply to: #3725747

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Champion
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Verona WI--Ironman Bike Country!
Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon
Great job Spanky!  Your positive attitude will take you far!
2011-10-19 2:37 PM
in reply to: #3725747

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Veteran
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Yorktown, VA & Langley AFB
Subject: RE: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

Great job Spanky!  Your positive attitude is contagious!

This sounds like a really neat course.  I imagine that tunnel was pretty brutal...

I ran a half this summer in Texas August heat, it was actually called "The Hottest Half".   Anyways, had some of the same issues with hydration and electrolytes.   Hard way to learn nutrition lessons but you learn how your body feels before it's too late to overcome - at least I did.

Congrats!

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