This past weekend, I ran in the Sun Trust National Half Marathon. This race is totally contained with the Washington DC city limits, and is touted as flat, fast race. I signed up for this race in the fall, with hopes at making a PR. My training strategy was simple, I wanted to get my mileage to about 40 miles per week, and then I would add some speed work for the last month of training. My fastest HM was at Parks half marathon in 2009, where I finished in just over 1:37. I ran a HM in 2003 while I was living in Columbus OH, and kinda remember being in the high 1:35, but cannot find the finishers list to verify.
The race was to start at RFK stadium, loop through DC and finish at the stadium. There was also a full marathon which followed the half and finished with a second loop. Originally, metro was to open at 5am, and my plan was to be at the Shady Grove Metro station at 5am, so I could get down to RFK before 6:15am. The gun was to go off at 7am sharp. Well, about two the weeks off, the organizers and Metro decided to delay the opening of Metro until 6am. I would never make it from Shady Grove to RFK in time. I had to drive. I took the family to the Expo the day before and we travelled via Metro, so race morning was my first attempt at driving to RFK. Big mistake.
My alarm went off at 4:30am, and I got my breakfast ready: Bagel, banana and a Diet Mt Dew (breakfast of champions). I gathered my cold weather stuff (temp at 4:30 was 30F) and pulled out of my garage at 5:00am. I brought with me Google Map directions, but after about 15min, I realized I forgot the GPS. I had no trouble getting toward DC, I got off 270 and onto 495, I then got off 495 and onto the Baltimore parkway. No problem. But then all of a sudden I was on 50. It was not on my directions, and I started to freak out a bit. It was 5:45. I pulled over to the shoulder and thought, "What would I do if I was in the amazing race?" So I took the next exit and stopped at the first gas station. I ran in and asked the guy behind the counter how to get to RFK. He rattled off some directions and I just stared at him blankly. Just as I was asking him to show me on the map, a guy standing beside me said, "I'm going that way you can follow." It was a taxi driver taking a couple of girls to the race. So I ran back out to the car and followed the taxi toward the stadium. After a few turns, and bobbing and weaving, we made it near RFK stadium. But so did 15,000 other people. I got stuck in a line of cars that was not moving. I pulled up next to a guy in a black truck and asked him to roll down the window. I asked him if he was looking for parking. He said he was a medic and trying to get into the race area. I asked him where the parking was, and he pointed behind me. He told me to turn right here, turn right again, and again, and that would head me toward the parking. I thanked him and asked if I could cut in front of him, which he let me do. After making the multitude of right turns, I found my way to lots 6 and 7. But again long lines. I waited and waited, trying not to get anxious or nervous (yeah, right). After making my way to the back of lot 6, I was set and ready to go. I gathered my hat, gloves, phone, gu and started walking to the start line via the Armory.
When I got to the Armory, it was jammed packed. People stretching, talking, laughing and getting ready. I took a quick picture, and decided I should hit the bathroom, just in case. The line to the indoor bathrooms we long, but I decided to wait. It was about 6:35am. At 6:40, I still had not moved. So, I thought I would try and hit the port a potties. They had tons of them, but the lines were extremely long, and it was pushing 6:45. I decided I did not have to go that bad, and started to try and find my corral. I was in corral 2. I found 5-10, but where was 2. Well it was near the start line. No pressure there. When I finally found it, it was about 6:50. I jogged in place a little and took a few more pictures, when all of a sudden the national anthem started. By the time it was over, it was 6:55am, and the announcements were beginning. Guess what, now I had to pee. I thought about having to pee when I ran, and thought it might not be too bad, let's see how it goes. Before I knew it, the gun went off and the race began.
My plan was to see how the first couple of miles went, before deciding if I would try and PR. The first mile felt downhill and fast, but as I saw the electronic clock, which read 7:40, I knew I was going kinda slow.
The second mile headed straight for the capital. It was pretty neat to see the Capitol in the distance, I picked up my pace a bit and finished mile two at about 7:10
Mile 3 and 4 ran down along the mall, and by the white house. The view was pretty good. I kept a pretty steady 7:00 m/m. At about mile 4, my friend Rob passed me. We chatted for a while, but he is pretty quick, and soon he was pulling away from me.
Mile 5-8 headed north through DC, and consisted of several pretty tough hills. I was told is course was flat, but did notice some hills. Actually, what I really remember were the spectators yelling, "good job up that hill". It was funny, because I remember thinking I was feeling tired, but did not realize the grade was increasing until the spectators said that. I was at 7:18 at 5, 7:10 at 6, and 7:40 at 7. I slowed a lot at 7 since this is when I took my gu. I needed water, but the water stops were not well manned, and I actually had to stop and wait for water.... Kinda sucked.
Miles 8 and 9 were at about 7:00 again, and we pretty uneventful. There were several times when the crowd had huge boom boxes, and were singing and dancing. It was a big pick me up. Mile 10 (first official mile marker i saw since i saw the 1mile clock.... Did they forget the mile markers??) turned back south and started heading back toward the capital. I could see it in the distance, and it seemed really far away. I started picking up the pace, and hit 6:37 in mile 11. One we neared the capitol, we turned left and started heading back toward the finish.
Mile 12 and 13 went quickly, and I was able to keep the 7:00ish pace. My legs were starting to get tired and I started to think that it was a good idea I did not do the marathon. I looked at my Garmin as I passed 13.1, and knew I was a bit off. They told the half marathon people to stay to the right, and the full marathoners to the left. I knew we were getting close. As soon as we turned toward RFK, I kicked it up another notch, and watched the finish move toward me. I also saw the finish clock, just past 1:35. I crossed the finish line at 1:35:47 on the official clock. My Garmin read 13.30 and 1:35. I went and got my thermal cover, my metal, and my picture taken. I also picked up a banana and a soft pretzel and a bottle of water. The pretzel was really dry, but I was feeling pretty good. It was really crowded at the finish line, so I decided to go backhand stretch at the armory. I called Thea and told her how I did. After stretching a bit, I gathered my stuff and headed home. And guess what, I got lost trying to get home. Oh well, it was a good experience, and I think I PRed.
Officially I finished in 1:35:26. My fasted half in Maryland was Parks in 2009, where I finished in 1:37:46. I think I ran a faster one in Columbus, it was 1:35something, but I'm going to say this is my PR. Yeah for me!
Results
1:35:26
557/9485
25/375 in my age group
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