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Boundary Bay Half Marathon - Run


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Delta, British Columbia
Canada
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8C / 46F
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 05m 7s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

I signed up for this race because I had been sick for my HM at the end of September. I wanted to see what I could do healthy. My goal time for HM continues to be 2:00; although I PR'd in my last race, I wanted to try again.

This was a beautiful and flat course. Right along the ocean, gravel trail. I have run the other end of this trail a few times when I was training for my full marathon.

I woke up kinda wishy washy. I wasn't sure if I felt I had it in me to push this one, despite wanting to. I have a problem with setting high goals for myself (or maybe not setting them, but going for them) because I am afraid of failing. If I find an excuse, it's no big deal that I didn't reach my goal, right?

I decided that I wasn't doing that today. I told myself to get my head on straight, we were going for it.
Grabbed a banana and a coffee and drove to the race site.
Event warmup:

Warmed up with 1-2km with some strides thrown in.
Run
  • 2h 05m 7s
  • 21.1 kms
  • 05m 56s  min/km
Comments:

I lined up in the middle of the pack for the start. The trail is quite narrow for the first 2km, maybe wide enough for 3-4 people across. I knew I would be bottled up at the beginning, but I also don't think it is right for slow people to line up at the front of the pack.

The gun went and we were off. It spread out enough fairly early. I didn't want to go out too fast, but I ended up going out too slow. I had a plan to negative split with a gradual increase in pace. That didn't exactly happen.

My calves and shins were a bit tight to start. Over the race, they loosened up, but then my hamstrings, esp left started being sore almost cramping. By the end it was right hip flexor. Share the love!

The first 6km were tough. I started to feel strong/in a rhythm at 7km. I took a gel at 42 minutes, knowing that if I don't take one by 45 min, it causes me problems with feelings of low blood sugar.

For the first few km i was checking my watch often to see my pace. It wasn't going well. :20 slower per km than I wanted. So I stopped looking. In September, I was walking at 10km. My mind works against me, tells me I can't do it. Today, every time the negative voice came in, I shut it down. "I can't keep this up" "yes you can, just focus on your cadence"

The distance from 9km to the turnaround seemed to take forever. I just wanted to be on the back half. Somehow, it was going to be easier, the mental thing, y'know? I knew it was going to be tough, don't get me wrong, but it would be 'easier'. The negative voice continued to try and derail me. "I'm not sure I can do this, this is hard, this hurts. Yep, it does, keep going you can do it."

At the turnaround, I look at my watch. 1:03:23. Ok, I can still do this. I gotta keep picking it up though. There was a guy just ahead of me that seemed to be going my pace, so I hung on his shoulder. At one point he slowed down, so I went by. We traded leading until the finish.

From the point of the turnaround until there were no more people on the out leg, I cheered and clapped and told them they looked great. Totally selfish, I get such a lift from doing that, but it hope it helps them along too.

My stomach was not feeling great. I knew I was going to need to get a gel in at 1:30. I started it at 1:23 (~14km), but couldn't take it all, so I just held on to it. At about 15km, I started to feel a bit low blood sugarish. I was too hot, but had goose bumps. I took a small amount more of the gel, but I knew that if I tried to continue to choke it down, it would just be coming right back up, cause everything was sitting in my stomach. The amount I took seemed to be enough, Because a short while later I was feeling ok.

At 16km, I knew this was going to be the test. I told myself no matter what, we are not walking. Slow down if you must, but DO NOT WALK. I actually didn't end up slowing down until km 19 and 20, but even they were just over 6min/km. But at 16km, I was hurting now. I wanted to give in. But I had told myself earlier, it's ok to blow up, but not to give up. I tried to remember to smile. It seems to hurt less. I looked out over the water, the sun was shining, there were awesome fluffy white clouds. I can do this.

From here to the finish, it is just "Ok, 5 more km. 4 more. 3 more." Just praying that they go by quickly. I was focusing on keeping my cadence up. And not stopping.

The last km I was whimpering. I am sure if there are any photos of me near the finish, they are not pretty. I just gave it whatever I had left; looking at splits, it was actually the fastest of the last 3km, if only marginally. I crossed the finish line and wasn't sure I wasn't going to hurl or pass out. One of the volunteers stayed with me as I tried to not fall down. I sat down on a log for a few minutes. Another volunteer brought me some Gatorade and within a few minutes I was able to stand.

What would you do differently?:

Go out a bit faster?
Honestly, this was such a great race for me. I did not let the Negative Nancy voice get to me. I shut it down each time. I told myself ahead of time it was going to hurt, and that I would just get through it. I had no idea what my time was until I crossed the line and stopped my watch. I was happy with the 5min PR for sure. 2:00 continues to elude me, but I am so happy with the progress I have made, both physically and mentally.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around a bit, grabbed some snacks (including dessert tofu--would have been great if there was something to eat it with! I ended slurping it), signed up for some body work.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Just started out a bit slow.

Event comments:

I think it would be best if they staggered the start so that it is not so crowded in the beginning. Otherwise a great race.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2013-10-14 12:00 AM
Running
02:05:07 | 21.1 kms | 05m 56s  min/km
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance:
1 6:08.3 2 6:12.2 3 6:11.3 4 5:59.0 5 5:59.1 6 5:56.2 7 5:48.7 8 5:53.0 9 5:52.8 10 5:50.2 11 5:51.9 12 5:48.9 13 5:45.3 14 5:44.9 15 5:40.2 16 5:47.4 17 5:46.7 18 5:49.6 19 6:03.0 20 6:02.4 21 5:58.5 22 :57.9
Course: Out and back along the Dyke trail.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2013-11-03 9:35 PM

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Master
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Subject: Boundary Bay Half Marathon


2013-11-04 7:29 AM
in reply to: #4891479

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Royal(PITA)
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West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Great job shutting down the Negative Nancy talk!!


5 minute PR is sweet!!!

I have chased the sub 2 hour HM for a long time.  It's there, just hiding….

2013-11-04 8:41 AM
in reply to: QueenZipp

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Master
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Orlando
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon
Congratulations, a PR and shutting down negative nancy!! You know you gave a race everything you had when you get to the finish and want to hurl
2013-11-04 8:52 AM
in reply to: #4891479

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Master
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Englewood, Florida
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Great job Kirsten. I am impressed with your mental work, it is such a challenge. We'll keep working the mental side and 2:00 is right within your grasp. Keep up the great work.  And a PR as well!

2013-11-04 11:27 AM
in reply to: #4891479

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Master
6595
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Rio Rancho, NM
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Great report! Your description of the mental battle is inspiring and I love how you pushed it to the end!

Great job and congrats on the PR. I'm a little way behind you on the quest for 2:00 but we'll get there...

2013-11-04 12:15 PM
in reply to: cdban66

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Master
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Raleigh, NC area
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Congratulations on the PR!  Great race!  Way to hold it together until after the finish line.  That can be so tough!



2013-11-04 1:29 PM
in reply to: jmkizer

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Member
2098
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Simsbury, Connecticut
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon
Congrats on your great race! Pics are beautiful too!!
2013-11-04 2:37 PM
in reply to: mtnbikerchk

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Champion
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Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

WOOOOT!  Way to go Kirsten!!  

Great race, not listening to the negative talk, and a PR to boot - AWESOME!!   

2013-11-04 3:04 PM
in reply to: blueyedbikergirl

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Great job, Kirsten!!!!

Did you get a beer @ Boundary Bay?

2013-11-04 7:25 PM
in reply to: Asalzwed

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Pro
6520
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Bellingham, WA
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Awesome race.  So happy to hear it went well for you.  You had a beautiful day for the race.  Bet you're glad it wasn't on Saturday.

2013-11-04 10:44 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Master
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Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon
Woot!!! A hard earned PR :D Way to push through the rough spots and talk yourself out of the holes. 2:00 is just waiting for you...yep, I see it in my crystal ball right there at your next HM


2013-11-05 1:22 PM
in reply to: popsracer

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Master
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Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Originally posted by popsracer

Awesome race.  So happy to hear it went well for you.  You had a beautiful day for the race.  Bet you're glad it wasn't on Saturday.

Thanks, Steve, and OMG you aren't kidding!  Saturday was horrendous!  You are a BA for getting out there for a training run

2013-11-06 6:16 AM
in reply to: #4891479

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Regular
5477
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LHOTP
Subject: RE: Boundary Bay Half Marathon

Firstly, woo-hoo!  This is a real accomplishment.  I love the idea of a mental PR.  We have to believe in ourselves first.  That is what allows the breakthroughs and the greatness to happen :)

I smiled when I read this:

I woke up kinda wishy washy. I wasn't sure if I felt I had it in me to push this one, despite wanting to. I have a problem with setting high goals for myself (or maybe not setting them, but going for them) because I am afraid of failing. If I find an excuse, it's no big deal that I didn't reach my goal, right?

Hey, I know this feeling :)

If there wasn't an inherent risk of failure in goal setting, it wouldn't be a goal.  It would be an item on a to-do list.  Good for you for taking this one all the way through.  It doesn't always happen, it can't always happen, but it sure does feel good when it does.

It sounds like you were really able to dig deep and push.  Needing volunteer help at the end of a race tells me you didn't leave anything on the course, which I think can be tricky for this distance--pacing yourself to finish a race this long, but also pacing to race is not a small deal. Strong work.  You nailed it.

That course looks gorgeous, by the way.  And I love the pic of you! 

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