My SVMH Experience :)

I definitely enjoyed this run WAY more than last year!

Here I am, a couple of days later after the Salinas Valley Half Marathon and I'm doing fine.  Last year at this time I was still hobbling around!  My shins were excruciatingly painful and my muscles were all knotted up.  Today, I'm a bit worse for wear but it's just soreness.  I'm going for a 3 mile run tonight and I'm looking forward to it.  I'm hoping that the muscle will loosen a bit and the soreness lessens a bit.

People at work have been asking me doubtfully if I ran the SVMH because I'm walking around normally!

Here's what I've figured out though:  Distance is a non-issue.  What kills you is time.  I need to do one of three things for next year.  Either get faster, increase my stamina or both.  A lot of the people I saw finish at about my time (3 hours on the money by the way) looked ok, but weren't as energetic as other runners who completed the run in less than 2:30.

When I started the run, I felt great.  I woke up around 4:45am.  I had already prepped my breakfast the night before.  Breakfast was what I normally eat almost everyday: 2 eggs, cup of lentils, 100 grams of spinach, 2 fish oil capsules and 2 Cinsulin capsules (10:1 cinnamon extract).  1 cup of crappy double strength horrible instant (blagh!) coffee and about 24 ounces of water . . . to help with the flushing out ;) .  I jumped in the shower and then got my gear ready to head out the door.

I walked out the door at about 5:45 am.  Steve was waiting outside and he followed me to Soledad High School where we were to park to get shuttled by the buses to the Soledad Mission where the start line was.  Ernesto and Charity arrived a couple of minutes after we did and parked next to us.  We jumped on a bus and arrived at the mission at about 6:45 am.  We waited about an hour.  We chatted a bit found some friends and acquaintances, wished each other luck and then we were called to the start line.

Steve stayed near the front of the pack because he was expecting his time to be under 2 hours (he's a stick).  Charity was expecting her time to be around the 2:20 mark, so she went into that group.  I wanted to join her but I knew my weaknesses so I stayed near the back with Ernesto.  Ernesto has been having issues with his back relating to a car accident where he was rear-ended.  I had planned to stick with him for the first mile to warm-up, but he suggested that I just go my own pace.  After the last time I didn't listen to him, I listened to him this time. Below is a link to the SVHM route:

Salinas Valley Half Marathon Route

I always have to struggle through the first mile or so before something happens and I get comfortable with the run.  Then I just cruise.  This time was no different.  After the second turn onto Foothill I really began cruising.  I'd hit my stride and was very comfortable.  I was wearing my Bikila LS's and I'd get the odd look here and there.  I was doing great until mile six when we hit the Big Hill.  I really shortened my stride for that one and was able to take on the biggie for the whole thing.  I stopped somewhere around mile 7 and walked a few minutes.  I was beginning to feel the blah's.  I'd been taking in only water from the aid stations but at mile 7 I needed a boot and grabbed a Gatorade along with the water.  That definitely helped!

I hadn't taken anything with me other than my running gear.  My gear usually consists of shirt, shorts shoes, watch and sometimes the iPhone when I use the iMapMyRun app.  I decided I wanted to run this race and enjoy it.  So I left my watch and iPhone in my sweatbag to be shipped off to finish to wait for me.  But curiosity got the better of me and I ended up asking one of the volunteers what time he had.  According to his watch, I was 5 minutes under my usual time for the 8th mile (usually 1:38).  And that is usually in town on relatively flat sidewalk!

I was tired and I had to focus on keeping my running form.  I got a bit of a boost because of the good news from the volunteer and I was able to push through the exhaustion til mile 9, but my feet were just about done.  I paraphrase the saying: My will is good but the foot is weak.  And boy was it ever!

I was tired but my legs were good, nothing hurt.  But my feet could no longer support my body when running.  I mean they weren't gonna break or anything but my feet were no longer elastic . . . if that makes any sense.  I guess you'd have to have been running the barefoot form to really get the gist of it.  Turn my feet over and call them DONE!

I walked most of the last 4 miles from then on.  There went my goal of 2:30.  I was disappointed at first, but then told myself "fuckit"!  I just continued on and chatted up other runners and helped push them forward and gave them positive vibes.  I'd find the juice to run a few yards and walk some more.  I cycled that way til  I got to the last stretch of race.

At the last half mile, I psyched myself up and began trotting to the finish.  I found my reserves and really pushed it at the last turn to the finish line and ran it in.  So at least the photo at the finish line will look good.

So . . . what did I learn from this?  I'm still developing my foot strength.  I've gotta run faster longer.  Or at least longer to finish the race in about 2 hours.  Because right now, my conditioning and mass aren't working well together.  If I can improve my speed and stamina over the next year, I'd like to see a two hour half marathon.  That means around a 9 minute mile.  I'd be happy with a 2:30 half.

Steve and I are thinking about some 10k's over the next few months.  There's one in Aromas next month on the 11th.  I'll be signing up for that one.

I can't wait for next year!

GD

p.s.
almost too lazy, did a couple of corrections here and there.  not perfect . . .