|
Just as I arrive at the rack a very fast looking guy in my AG is leaving. I wonder if I will see him again as I get myself ready. T2 is very quick and I am out of there in less than a minute. I can see my rabbit just ahead of me. Race time was about 2:57 leaving T2. I am on my best case scenario. My legs don't feel great but, then again, do they ever? No cramps and my hamstrings are in good shape. Just the normal quad stiffness. Again, I focus on maintaining good technique and a high cadence. I tell myself that my legs will come around by the three mile mark and hope for the best. Some of the guys around me are heading out at a pretty stiff pace and I struggle to keep with them. Click through the first mile marker and look at my watch 5:45! Now I am really scared. You aren't that fast! This pace will explode you! You must slow down! Still, I look at my HRM and it is lower than where I normally race. Besides, my rabbit is just ahead and I don't want to let him go. I decide to maintain my pace and see what happens. I remind myself again and again of my goal to have a solid run - to really race and arrive at the line with a feeling that I pushed myself. After two miles we are in the rollers and the rabbit is having a little trouble on the hills. He's still passing people, it is just that my legs have come around and I have the strength to drop him. I am still clicking out 6 minute miles, some a little slower but generally on track. The pace is vigorous and (I won't lie) it hurts. However, the pain is manageable and I keep going. Soon, I see Justin coming the other way. The human stud machine is cranking along and I yell g'day as he blows by me. Always a boost to see others on the course, particularly when they are performing. Around the 5.5 mile mark, I come up on a guy who checks my number as I pass him. He tells me that I am in fourth place in my wave. This renews my strength and I realise that a top 10 AG placing might be possible if I really work. I thank him and move along. The temperature is great and the aid stations and well manned. I am not sweating much and sticking to Coke. It seems to be working well as my energy level is adequate. I get to the run turnaround with 40 something showing on my watch and decide that now is the time to really commit to a good run time. I push myself up to just below my point of personal nausea. Grunts, dry heaves, whatever - keep hitting me and I would dearly love to stop. I know that even if I blow up, I will still be sub-4:30 so decide to go for it. Fear is my companion on this run (and pretty much for the whole race). I have never run this fast in my life and am FAR beyond my zone of experience. I see Luke running the other way and yell, "I am in control, I am in control." Later he remarks that I looked like I was pushing pretty hard. I must have appeared a bit crazed. It is starting to thin out. Around the three mile mark, I slowly come up on a guy. He hears my laboured breathing, my grunts, my dry heaves... and picks up the pace. I slot in and come along for the ride. He's bringing me home. The pace is now quite painful but I can handle it. A few cramps spring up in my legs but I have a feeling that I can keep it together for a bit longer. At the 12 mile mark, I spend my last dollar and drop my pacer. He tells me good job on the way by but there is no way I can speak. Crank it up as lactic fills my legs. I feel like I surged a bit too early and my legs are heavy. I gut it out, turn the corner and cross the line with huge amounts of adrenaline in my veins. A new half marathon PR, 4:16:49 overall and the knowledge that my greatest limiter lies in my head rather than my muscles. |  Working Very Hard |