The difference a year makes

As I indicated last week, Saturday was the Indy mini marathon(13.1 miles).  It's the nations largest half marathon right here in Indianapolis.  For me this is kinda of a worrisome race as this is the longest race distance I have done.  I always seemed challenged after 10 miles or so.  In 2012 it was not a good performance for me at all.  I found my self very fatigued, over heated, and aching to the point that I did walk briefly in a couple stints.  I ended up finishing at 2 hours 13 minutes with a 10 min 10 second(10:10) per mile average.  I know a couple factors had great effects.  The weather was very warm at near 80 and the humidity was high at just over 95%.  The last three miles had had heavy carnage of many runners down and out needing medical attention. So I was not alone in my suffering.  Additionally, I did not hydrate well enough or use as good as nutrition as I needed. Lessons learned.

This year was a whole new deal.  My race plan and training was dialed in.  My nutrition was solid and well practiced.  The weather was in the high 50's with a slight east breeze that would make the home stretch a challenge.  All in all I felt confident but 2012 hung in the back of mind.  The mass start of this race is quite encompassing.  We were seeded in coral E of A-Z.  It took us about 2 minutes and 20 seconds just to cross the start.  The first few miles are always rather hectic as you try to get spread out and settle into you pace.  My first 3 miles felt good and my pace was ahead of plan with a  8:10/mile pace.  I felt good, heart rate was comfortable, and no issues.  I stuck to my plan.  My middle half was good too.  I settled well into an 8:20 pace still feeling comfortable, strong, and composed.  In this race you run an actual lap lap of the track.  Even though you cross the bricks at the 8 mile mark which is over half most say that its a two part race.  That start finish line defines the two half's.  That second half is the one that spells demise.  Along with that, running on the track is very different from any surface you will normally run.  First is the vastness and solitude of the place except for the snaking line of people trudging through.  It is eerily weird.  Next is the subtle angles.  In math terms the track is flat with only a 9% grade.  Those two miles of running at the leaned angle gets to you.  Yet lastly the scenery is way cool especially being the fan that I am.  Fortunately my track session was solid. Unlike last year where it was here that it began to unravel.  I actually had a very pleasant run right down the straight away with an ex-neighbor. We chatted things up to catch up on him since he had moved.  Exiting the track brings you back to reality and squarely pushes the task at hand in your face.  Again, my pace an plan held and was feeling good with a bit of worry that maybe I was taking it a little to easy.  Yet, I wanted to be sure there was no near-end debacle.  Shy of mile 11, an Ironman training partner whom I had rode with and started the race with ran along side and asked if I was ready "to kick it".  He was moving at a solid and faster pace so we began our push.  The last two miles were challenging.  The wind was now in our face.  The toll of the distance was now creeping in.  We were pushing hard.  We were now at a 7:50's pace.  The kick held the whole way with me finishing at 1 hour 47 minutes and 53 seconds.  It was a 26 minute improvement over last year.  My pace per mile was 2 minutes less.  Not only was the time better but my physical recovery was so much better.  Besides some knee aches my legs felt really good and my energy bounced back quickly.  In two days times I was unaware of any lingering issues.  My doubts were subsided but as I came down that home stretch it did come to me that in the Ironman this will be only half way.  Oh, and don't forget a little swim and bike thing that will happen before you even begin to run.  So I will take the progress and continue to bear down on progressing.