2021 INDEPENDENCE DAY HALF MARATHON RACE RECAP

During the much more populated first loop of the race.

July 4th, 2021 marked my first in person race in nearly 17 months. Crazy to think about for someone that has been racing every few months since 2012. Since the pandemic hit, I've really been struggling with my psoriatic arthritis, so I guess the timing worked out in terms on not really missing out on anything. Races in Oregon have been doing in person events for a couple of months, but with the official "opening" of Oregon on June 30th, this one was particularly back to  normal. No wave starts, masks at the start/finish, nothing like that. Just a regular old race.

One thing that has happened with the pandemic is my sleep schedule getting really fucked up. It is painful to be awake by 9am. So with the race starting at 8am, a 6:45am wakeup call was in order. Couple that with not being able to sleep well the night before in anticipation of the early wakeup/race and it was particularly painful. I got, at best, three hours of sleep. I think it was more like two and a half. I tried to avoid looking at the clock. However, I've done Miami and other races plenty of times on that amount of sleep, so I knew I could do it.

Upon arriving at Champoeg State Park, I could almost immediately feel the energy of the race. It's crazy how much I missed that vibe. Any tiredness was immediately gone and I was starting to actually get pretty excited. It felt like there was electricity in the air. Damn, it was good to be back! I went and picked up my bib, put it on, and then went to the start line. In usual Thomas fashion, I didn't leave too much time to dally. By the time I had my bib on and my race shirt in the car, there was only 15 minutes until the gun went off.

THE FIRST LOOP (9:50, 10:19, 10:08, 10:16, 10:11, 10:00)

My plan going into this race was not to actually race it. While I am building mileage and feeling alright, if I were to actually race a half marathon at this point... it would probably take me out for a couple of weeks. Overall, it would just not be smart. My longest long run had been twelve miles and that was really tough, so I knew I had to take it easy. I figured I would just do my normal long run pace and make sure I didn't roped into anything faster. I needed to be smart and just enjoy an expensive, atmospheric long run.

Turns out my pace settled into about 10:10ish a mile, which was a little faster than I was expecting. I knew the race would motivate me a little bit, but I was expecting more of a 10:30. I didn't want to micromanage my pace though, and my heart race was right where it normally is for a long run, so I left it alone. I was very conscious to just stay within myself and do my thing. It felt great to be out there again! Even if I was seeing people I knew way ahead of me on the out and back, people I would normally beat, it was all gravy. I missed this so much, and the fact I wasn't suffering, like during a raced half marathon, was an extra bonus!

This first lap of 10k flew by pretty quick. I did have to go pee and skipped the first bathroom thinking I would hit it up later. The race director made a big deal of saying there were bathrooms all along the course at mile 2 and mile 4 or whatever. What he didn't mention was that was the same single port-a-potty at the one point the loop turns into an out-and-back So there was one bathroom at a highly trafficked portion of the course. Anyways, at mile 4 I was going to duck in but a dude just beat me to it, so I figured I'd hit it up again around mile eight. Aside from that, my race was going great. 

THE SECOND LOOP (10:08, 10:47, 10:06, 10:26, 10:02, 9:49, 8:40)

The second loop of the course is basically a repeat of the first, there is just an extra (hilly) out and back for the final kilometer or so you need to hit the half marathon distance. I was feeling really good! That 10:47 was not me tiring out, that was me peeing. I missed the bathroom again as someone ducked in right before me a second time. I couldn't wait any longer. I really had to pee. And holding it seemed to be starting some activation in the number two department. Well, the race is largely in a forest setting, so I found a good spot and darted off the course. Ah, sweet relief. I felt SO much better. And any tummy rumblings were also gone. Onward.

Frankly, there is not much to say about the second loop. I was still feeling great! A lot less people this time around as the 10Kers were all done, obviously, and the half marathon was the smaller of the two events. So a lot of time just running on my own. Which was fine... I was enjoying myself! I had been delaying drinking anything because of the pee situation, so the next aid station after fixing that I tanked a couple of cups of fluid. The uphill "extra" section kind of sucked, but I was able to get it done without issue. That's that 10:26 mile.

Otherwise, as you can see, I was rolling. I was feeling good! By the time I hit mile eleven I still felt relatively fresh. The magic of a race, even if you aren't racing! I decided if I still felt good at mile twelve I would allow myself to kick it in. It looks like I started a little early, but not too bad. I was feeling good at 12, so I started to gear up in that final mile. Felt good all the way through the finish. For how much of a struggle 12 miles the previous week was, I was honestly surprised at how good I felt. That final mile kick also allowed me to squeak my overall pace just below 10:00/mile. So that was a mini accomplishment, even if I wasn't trying for speed on this run.

THE AFTER PARTY

I knew a few folks at the race so I said "hi" and ate my free food and beer. Most of the 5k and 10k racers were already gone by that point and I imagine the biggest party was about an hour after the race started. Eventually I meandered back to my car and checked to make sure I didn't make the podium (hey, you never know with a small race). I didn't, so I headed back towards home.

Honestly, I felt great the rest of the day. There was no delayed pain or anything. In the days afterward I felt normal too. A little sore but no DOMS or anything. So, I call this race a great success! I feels good to be back at a half marathon distance. Getting my long runs up to twenty this summer in preparation for New York is going to be a bitch, so I'll take my victories as they come. Plus, the photographer at the race offered photos for $1.99 each, so those are gracing this post. TAKE NOTES OTHER RACE PHOTOGRAPHERS. I will actually purchase your photos if they are reasonably priced.

Official Results: 2:10:52, 9:58/mi. 67/123 overall, 40/61 male, 5/7 M30-34.