STARS & STRIPES HALF MARATHON RACE REPORT

Picture with some of the other half/full marathon finishers.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd ever win a race. Certainly not now, running a half marathon at 7:36/mile. Well, it happened. I just won my first (and probably only) race. I'm trying not to gloat too much because if you win a half marathon with a 1:39 obviously the field isn't great. You know what though? I won. I realize the field sucked, but hey, I won!

The race was the fourth and final marathon/half marathon of a four day running event dubbed the Quadzuki/Quadzilla. With the Fourth of July weekend being four days long for most people this year, it gave you a chance to run marathons or half marathons on four consecutive days if you wanted. That was a little crazy for me, so I just signed up for the one race on Sunday.

This meant 26 out of the field of 66 was running their fourth half marathon in 4 days. So obviously I was a lot fresher than those people for certain. Not sure if any of them would have beat me on fresh legs, but that is something worth mentioning. The rest of the field (40 people) apparently wasn't faster than me either. I didn't even really hit the goal I set for myself for the race but I ended up winning. So you know what? I get an A+. :)

I woke up around 6:15am for the 7:30am start. I only got about six hours of sleep after about three the night before so I was pretty tired. I think if I were more well rested I could have done a little bit better, but by the time I swung by Seven Eleven and bought a donut and Gatorade I was feeling pretty decent. After arriving packet pick up was a breeze and I was able to cheer for the start of the marathoners at 7:00am sharp. After some stretches and chatting with people I knew it was time for the race to start.

The course I did four times.

LAP ONE - THIS IS EASY! (24:38, 7:31/mi)

If you didn't read my preview of this race, you might not be aware the course was actually a 3.28 mile loop through Greenway Park on the Fanno Creek Trail. I run through there all the time so I was very familiar with the terrain. I'll just give my time for each lap and then post the actual mile times at the bottom.

The race started and I was stuck behind a clump of people right at the beginning. We were all clumped on a sidewalk so I just kind of shuffled along at 9:00/mile biding my time. Eventually after twenty seconds or so it opened up and I was able to get the speed I wanted. I settled right into my goal speed pretty easily (7:30/mile) and was feeling pretty decent.

I ended up working my way to the lead after about half a mile. At least, I thought I was in the lead because I didn't really see anyone in front of me except marathoners already on the course. Unless a fasthole really shot off at the beginning (again, I was stuck in the clump) I was probably in first place. Yes, the thought of winning the race did cross my mind. I knew the field was smaller but I thought for sure some fasty would have to beat me.

A woman I assumed was in her early thirties ended up catching up to me about a mile in (turns out she was 45... super impressive!). We get to chatting and she's wondering if we are at the front and I respond that I think so. She asked me how fast I planned to run it and I said 7:45s just to be conservative. She said that's about what she was planning too. Anyways, we exchanged a few other items about the course layout and whatnot and eventually she settled into a step or two behind me. I had competition.

The first lap really flew by and before I knew it we were headed back to the start line to complete the lap. The race ended up being chip timed so it was really easy, no tag to pull or lap to mark, just run through the sensors. I ran through it without issue. I hear the lady slip and fall behind me when she runs through. It didn't sound too bad and there were a ton of people at the start/finish line to help out so I just kept running. I kind of felt like an ass, but I was running my race and there were plenty of people to help her.

LAP TWO - STILL PRETTY EASY! (24:47, 7:33/mi)

Random picture someone else took
during the race.

After the lady fell I was more or less by myself the rest of the race. I was passing people all the time, the course had a couple out and backs and you shared the trail in two directions at some points, so I was always passing someone and saying hi but for the most part, I was on my own and still feeling pretty good.

About 4.50 miles in I saw the lady who fell on an out-and-back portion and told her something to the effect of "glad you're okay!" as I passed her. She yelled back "Yup. I'll catch up to you in a little bit!" which played with my mind a little bit. A small part of me took it as trash talk even though I KNOW she didn't mean it that way. I knew that, but I used it to try and motivate myself to keep my pace up and not get complacent. I knew she was back there determined.

So the next nine miles or so were me neurotically looking over my shoulder and having visions of her blowing by me at some point. I have to admit, I was scared she was going to catch me and kept envisioning her back there, plotting my demise as she closed in. Yikes! Through two laps I was still feeling pretty good. I knew if I kept this pace up she'd have to be running sub 7:30s to catch me. She was probably 200 yards behind me on this lap.

LAP THREE - HAVING VISIONS & GETTING TIRED (24:43, 7:32/mi)

I started to feel the pace catching up with me on this lap. Somehow it ended up being faster than lap two though. I was really pushing myself at this point and I began to feel worn down a little bit. Nothing too bad, but it wasn't the free and easy feeling of the first two laps.

First of all, at that same out and back where I saw the lady before she was now CLOSER to me when we met up again. A couple "good jobs" were exchanged but nothing else this time. She had definitely made up about 50 yards and ate into my lead. I think I was starting to slow down at that point but seeing her inch up made me put my foot on the gas again. I busted it for a couple miles. I was starting to get really tired but kept reminding myself she would tire too and I had a chance to win a fucking race.

After eating a Gu at the end of lap two I had planned to eat another one at the end of this lap. I didn't end up doing it. I was in full on "hold on and beat the girl that is stalking me like a lion stalking a gazelle" mode. I started to run all sorts of scenarios during the lap. What I would do if I won the race? Would I fist pump? Would I do the 'airplane' through the finish? What if she caught up to me? Did I have it in me to sprint? No, no I didn't. She better not catch up or I'm fucked. If she beats me, no shame. I'm still first place male. There's a plaque for that right?

I was so intent on not losing any ground I wasn't even going to stop at the water station on this last lap. I had stopped the previous two times (it was right by the finish) but didn't want to waste any time to let her catch up (yes, being in the lead plays with your head!). Anyways, I ended up stopping because when I turned around I still didn't see her coming up to complete her lap. So I knew I still had some time. I chugged a water down and then threw one over my head.

LAP FOUR - WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER (25:32, 7:47/mi)

Much of the Fanno Creek Trail course looked like this.

After really picking it up the last lap getting all paranoid about getting caught I started to tire on the final lap. I was ready to get this thing over, winning it or not. I always break down the last two miles of a half marathon... I was hoping that would change with my recent high mileage runs, but apparently not. I still averaged 7:47/mile on that last lap though, so you know what, that's not even that bad.

At that same point in the course the stalker lady was now farther away from me that she was last time. Hallelujah! I think she was getting tired just like me. She probably picked it up a little trying to catch me but ended up not being able to maintain it. That really encouraged me at that point. I knew I had less than a 5k to go and I just had to hold on. I still wasn't 100% sure I was winning the thing... there was still a chance a fasthole darted out, but I was fairly certain I was in first.

Those last couple miles included a lot of closing my eyes for a few steps (you know, to save energy) and OCD-like checking of the course to make sure nobody was approaching me. Not that I was in any condition to out sprint them or something. Anyways, I was very much alone at this point in the race, I didn't seem to be passing many people. It was just me and my body, willing it those last few miles to the finish. I knew my speed was dropping off but I was still pretty sure I'd PR.

Finally I approached the finish, which included going up a small hill. At the top of the hill Libbie was waiting for me and said "You are in first place and are going to PR. SPRINT!" and sprint I did. Into the finish line I rolled. There was no airplane or other celebratory action, just exhaustion and relief I was done. My official time was read out to me and I was told I had won the race. Awesome!

POST RACE CELEBRATION

The lady ended up crossing about a minute and a half after me. I congratulated her and asked what happened. She said the mat was wet and she slipped as she crossed after that first lap. She tweaked her knee a little and spent about a minute stretching/waking it off after falling and then it felt good enough for her to continue. Sounds like the adrenaline might have helped make it not really hurt for the rest of the race but she probably felt it the next day.

Honestly, I was lucky she tripped, because otherwise I think she more or less would have stayed with me. I think I was a couple seconds a mile faster than her, but she would have been within striking distance and if she had enough in her to sprint at the end she could have beat me. Although, I think the adrenaline of winning a race would have allowed me to really sprint at the end if I had to.

Post race with the woman who chased me all race.

I WON A RACE! It was exciting, no doubt. I got a plaque and lots of congratulations. I knew it was a crappy field, but still, I felt good. Most runners will never win a race, even if they are much faster than me. It really takes a perfect set of circumstances. I just happened to get them this day. I also PRed by nine seconds.

That's about it. I cheered on some finishers and hung around for a while and then eventually found my way home. I'd be sore the next day from the race but any pain was well worth it.

Here is a link to the official results. Just so you can see me in 1st. Pretty, isn't it?

I hope to have pictures from the actual race soon but wanted to get this post up ASAP, so I'll follow up with those later.

Official Results: 1:39:40 (PR), 7:36/mile. 1/66 overall. 1/24 male.

Mile splits: 7:34, 7:28, 7:32, 7:37, 7:24, 7:43, 7:32, 7:34, 7:25, 7:39, 7:50, 7:44, 7:54.