Well, I realize I have not wrote about my last two races - Bernheim Trail Half and the Bourbon Chase. It was not due to performance or any other factor other than getting caught up in life, which I love to live. A brief opinion about both:
The 2012 Bernheim Trail Half was awesome. Perfect temps for my 1st trail race. Time was 2:31:52.
The Bourbon Chase was amazing! Definitely had not participated in an event like this but performed like a champ. I ran Leg 4, which consisted of three legs totaling 19.37 miles and ran it in 2:13:14 - an average pace around 6:52/mi. What was even more fun was I ran with a group of five other runners in Van 1, none of which I had ever met, and they were AWESOME!
Now to today, the 2012 Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon.......
Being the first road half marathon I have ran since May, I had some butterflies. Temperatures were set to be around 39 deg - I knew nothing of the other elements runners would experience besides a little wind.
The morning of, all fell in to place - I woke up with ease and felt good, kissed my sleeping wife, then, headed to meet my great friend Thomas Hines on Louisville's waterfront. We talked for a few then headed our for our warm up run. Despite the intended slow pace, I realized I felt great. After a mile-and-a-quarter, we headed to the start line. No National Anthem? Disappointing, but I was ready to get running. Here is how it went:
Miles 1-3: We took off and I was in good stride. I shot out of the gate quick with my fastest mile of the race being my first at a 6:40/mi pace. I committed myself to running my own race. I focused on me. This leg averaged about a 6:45/mi pace and I felt great. I was getting warm when sleet started falling. Uh oh - I did not see that on the forecast.
Up Lexington and toward Cherokee where Dog Hill awaited - but I was ready, I run Cherokee all to often. Not that I was thinking I was better than this hill; I respect it because Dog Hill has brought me to this speed in my training runs.
Miles 4-6: Miles 5 and 6 were my slowest of the race, 7:03 and 6:51, respectively. This leg included the two most challenging hills in the race. I was thinking if I got through them, the rest of the race would be a cinch. I have to mention a runner I talked with at this point in the race, of whom I owe the result of my race. He was obviously faster, and we pushed each other for the rest of the race. Many thanks to you.
Dog Hill and Cherokee was behind me and I still felt great! After getting through the tough part of the run, runners headed out and up Grinstead. The rain started falling.
Miles 7-10: Grinstead is always a challenge, a long stretch of gradual incline. Even better, this was the last hill of the run! After leaving the Highlands, runners head down Liberty, which was a wind tunnel last year! Wind was not bad in 2012, only the uneven, chewed up roads. While the rain was falling faster I was running faster! I looked at the clocks this race a was well aware a PR was achievable. Positive thoughts kept running through my head and there was no doubt I would post a time unique in my running history. The guy I mentioned pushed me was just ahead in my sights and I set a personal goal to catch him by the finish. This leg averaged about a 6:45/mi pace and wow, I was still feeling a lot of fuel to be used in the final leg.
Miles 11-13.1: Runners finish Liberty, turn and head toward the finish. Rain was falling, sunglasses were foggy and I could not see anything but the runner in front of me. Mile 13 was my second slowest of the race. My shoes were soaked, as were my clothes, I could see nothing, but I knew the finish was near, and so was a PR. I kept up with my goal and passed him about a 1/4 mile before the finish. I caught a glimpse of the clock, just over 1:29, and was over-joyed with my performance - a PR in a tough race with some great challenges. I turned around and thanked that fellow for his effort, which I fed off for over eight miles of the race.
OFFICIAL RESULTS:
Overall Place
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37 / 2143
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Gender Place
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35 / 1077
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Division Place
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8 / 184
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Pace
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6:49/mi
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Other than the cups and no singing of our Nation's Anthem, the LSC is a great race even more special to me in my hometown. The exclamation point was all the chocolate milk at the finish line and the awesome Finisher's medal!
My performance was special in this race. I work hard to maintain my fitness no matter what life throws at me, whether in town or traveling. I appreciate the support of my wife and family throughout the over 6,000 miles I have put in my body over the last five to six years.
Next up for me may be a Trail Half marathon around the Hollywood sign in L.A. November 17th. After that, I should be done with races in 2012, setting my sights on 2013 with the following races already on the schedule:
HAPPY RUNNING!!!!!
FIT4LIFE
Congratulations James !!!! Great run today, I had a good feeling this morning you were going to have a great run !!!!
ReplyDeleteWell done, I don't know how you do it. I love you!!!
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