October 11, 2015
Goal: "A" 1:23 "B" 1:25 "C" 1:27
Result: 1:25:38, first female
Splits: 6:13, 6:26, 6:18, 6:25, 6:35, 6:43, 6:37, 6:33, 6:40, 6:50, 6:42, 6:48, 6:37
Early October has come to mean "towpath time" for me in the past three years. I started back into racing "just for fun" in 2013 with the 10k. Last year I knew I could get a half marathon pr without trying and coughed up the $70 to enter last minute. I ran an almost perfect half that day and huge pr of 1:24:42. I received a free entry to run this year's race as part of my winnings. I wasn't sure if I would run it, as I was waiting to see if I'd gotten into the Columbus elite field for the half. I never heard back from Columbus, so when I got the call from the towpath organizers at the Canalway Partners, I gladly took the opportunity! It is a flat course, with few tangents to worry about and if you can hook up with someone running your pace, it is a perfect pr opportunity. The one downside was that I only had two weeks, 15 days to be exact, between Akron and this race. After Akron I refused to take a day off until the following Saturday, trying to get my legs back under me. On Tuesday, 10 days after Akron I did my first workout back. It actually went quite well and I had three miles at half pace sprinkled into a 6.3 mile run that averaged 6:41 pace. I say the workout went well, but then it took me three days to recover from it. I was still tired from Akron. Nevertheless, I planned on going for a 1:23 pr.
I slept badly the night before the race. Not from stressing over my race, but from stressing over the upcoming conference meet for Buckeye high school. I never thought I would be this caught up in the season and so emotionally involved in how well my athletes do. They want it so bad, and I want it for them. Once I woke up, I got into race mode and pushed these thoughts aside for at least a few hours. I got to Brandywine Ski Resort super early to avoid the traffic nightmare of last year. I sat in my car and willed my stomach to settle down. Calista had a stomach bug earlier in the week and I think I mostly resisted it, but got a touch of it. It didn't bother me during the race. I didn't have to stand in line at the porta potties at all. Not that I would have. There are woods everywhere! Forty five minutes before the 8 a.m. start I headed down the path to my favorite warm up area for this race. It is secluded and there are beautiful ponds with lots of wildlife milling around. It was chilly, but not as cold as last year. I felt a bit tired after my warmup and drills, but I told myself not to worry, doesn't mean anything for the race. I headed back up to the start area and saw Randy, Lisa, Dave and Debbie up by the starting line. Debbie was racing the half and she had run Akron as well.
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| Starting line pic. Photo credit: Ohio & Erie Canalway Partners |
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| Debbie and I! Akron/Towpath warriors. Photo credit: Lisa Eliason |
I lined up at the front and after the national anthem, the half starters coordinated with the full starters and we were off with those loud cowbells. I started a little quick and led the race for about 400 meters. Mind you, it wasn't that quick, maybe 5:45 pace. The guys that ended up finishing top overall were not planning on running much under 6:00 for their race and finished in around 1:17. We swooped down the driveway and down that beautiful hill and immediately turned right, onto the towpath. This is different from previous years, where you didn't get onto the towpath until about mile four. The front four guys quickly faded away into the mist.
Miles 1 and 2: 6:13, 6:26. This split worried me. It was under pace, but really with that sharp downhill it was not actually much faster than goal pace and could even be slower. Sure enough, I hit 6:26 for mile 2. The average that I needed to get in the 1:23s was 6:22. That seemed tough at this point. You never want to have an "uh-oh" moment at mile 2 in a half marathon.
Miles 2 and 3: 6:18, 6:25. A guy caught up to me in the second mile and I ran mile three with him. He asked me what my goal was and I told him I wasn't sure, that I'd like to pr but didn't think it was possible today. Yup. I had already give up on 1:23. He told me he'd like to go 1:23 and that would be a two minute pr. I told myself to stay with him until the three mile marker and see what happens. The 6:18 was a bit quick and I felt like I was working too hard. I let him go after we reached the mile marker. The next mile felt pretty good, but then once again, I was off pace. At this point I let myself give in to just trying to win the race. I made a pact that I had to stay with any man that passed me until the next mile marker and if a woman caught up, I had to race for my life.
Miles 4 and 5: 6:35, 6:43. I still felt fine in mile four but started feeling exhausted in mile five. All of the sudden I wanted to lay down on the side of the road and take a nap. I almost took my Gu Roctane early to get rid of this lethargic feeling, but decided to wait until the turn around.
Miles 6 and 7: We got close to the turnaround, which was farther up the path than last year. The lead guys passed me coming back. I accidentally passed the cone that was meant for the turnaround and ran towards the people that were standing by the porta potty. They waved me back. "Turn around at the cone!" I turned around, got down my Gu and drank a full cup of water. And then, coming at me there were two women, running together about 30 seconds back. I might have to run for my life after all.
Miles 8 and 9: 6:37, 6:33. The backtracking traffic started and got pretty heavy before it let up. A poor man had to pass me during this. Time to follow in his wake. I got a fast couple miles from dragging along behind him. I was feeling pretty rough, but I tried to smile and stay positive for all the awesome people who cheered for me at the aid stations and along the course. I did not take any water during this race, except for what I took with my Gu.
Miles 10 and 11: 6:50, 6:42. I didn't see the 6:50 split and I'm glad that I didn't. I jogged through one of the Gatorade stations during this mile and got down about half a cup. Anything to get rid of this lethargic, sleepy feeling. I felt like I was running through a dream of exhaustion. Nothing hurt too badly and my breathing was fine, but I was just so tired! I told myself to get going a little after the 10 mile. Almost done!
Miles 12 and 13: 6:48, 6:37. I was staying as positive as possible and trying to enjoy how pretty the towpath was at this time of the morning. The sun had risen and the views along the canal were stunning. After I hit 12 miles I started to really hurt. No strong finish today. A guy passed me in the 13th mile and I struggled to go with him. I only stayed with him for 400 meters or so before dropping off. I still worked harder this mile as a matter of principle. I saw Todd, Rachel and their son walking the opposite direction, down to their aid station and Todd gave me a high five. Before I knew it, I was running up the mini hill to the finish at Boston Store. I wasn't as happy this year and I was in 2014 and no big smile for the crowd. There was no pr waiting for me at the finish line and I was dead tired.
After I finished, I waited for the next two ladies to come in and congratulated them. I was familiar with the third place lady, but not with the girl that placed second. I found Cynthia, Dave and Lisa at the finish and talked with them a bit. They had run the 10k and were waiting for Debbie and Christy to come in for the half.
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| We get bananas? This is new! Photo Credit: Ohio & Erie Canalway Partners |
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| Awards pic. Photo credit: Ohio & Erie Canalway Partners |
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