Blog in Recovery

Finally, the race report. Race day was dry but a cool 32 degrees. I was feeling just 'OK'. The taper always makes me feel a little bad. I have a couple miles to run and they just don't feel great. I don't know if it is because I know they won't help or what. My taper runs always make me feel slow or under prepared. So anyway, I make my way to the morning port-o-john line and find that there is hardly anyone there. That is one thing about Columbus, plenty of potties.

I take a little run to warm up and take my ritual pre-race whiz in the alley. Dressed in a short sleeve, arm warmers, long sleeve, gloves, and stocking cap, I'm ready for it. I move to the front of the corral just in front of the 3:00 pace group and wait for the start.

Off we go. Just as the sun is peaking up, I start to shed clothing. Arm warmers go first. I hate to loose them but that is a casualty of racing. The stocking cap lands at the feet of a little girl just before Bexley. I really hope she washes it before putting it on. The long sleeve makes is most of the way through Bexley but is also a casualty. Somehow, I miss the first mile marker. I glance at my watch, see 7:20, and start asking around. "Did anyone get that first mile split?". I was informed it was in the 6:30s. I held a steady pace and the miles passed by easily. As I roll through mile 4 I start to pass some people that might have gone out a little fast. That always make me feel a little better. Still feeling good, at mile 7, I take a little bit of GU.

As I come back in to downtown, I see J-Fo's GF and sister. They looked cold. Pushing a little harder I make my way down to the German Village and around Schiller Park. At this time, I grab a nice group of about 6 guys. The guy off my left shoulder touched my left foot a couple times. He was following a little too close for my liking. After I shot the 4th snot racket at him and gave him a mean glance, he apologized and backed off a bit. If I'd have gone down, I'd have been pissed. Somewhere around mile 10 I break into my other GU and take just a little nip. I really don't want to crash on an empty stomach but I don't want to have a too much in my stomach either. As I turn on to High Street through the Brewery District, I'm surprised at how hilly it is. Usually in the marathon, this is still early miles so I guess I never paid much attention but there is definitely a climb back to downtown. At mile 12 I kick and leave the 6 guys I was running with. It must not have been too much of a kick because they were there again just as I turned down Nationwide to the finish. As I was rounding the corner, I heard MD and GS give me a little shout of encouragement and I gave my final sprint. 1:23:07 for a new PR and the end of my season. It hurt.

The GF finished in 2:10 and all her athletes finished their race.

Miles 1 and 2 - 13:05
Mile 3 - 6:20
Mile 4 - 6:27
Mile 5 - 6:15
Mile 6 - 6:12
Mile 7 - 6:31
Mile 8 - 6:31
Mile 9 and 10 - 12:29
Mile 11 - 6:14
Mile 12 - 6:17
Mile 13 and .1 - 7:22