You’ve heard me gush on repeatedly about how great this race is. It was the scene of my first BQ…it’s scenic…temps are cool…the race director is unparalleled in his ability to put on an extraordinary race…blah…blah…you’ve heard it all here before…you totally MUST do this gem of a race.
This year, hot on the heels of a very disappointing Chicago Marathon, I headed back to Grand Rapids for the half marathon. There’s something about that first storybook BQ that made me not want to try the full again…the way I’ve been struggling this year there was too much chance of doing something stupid and sullying my fond memories of this race.
So the half it was. The crew and I enjoyed brilliant fall colors as we made our way to Grand Rapids the day before. We arrived at the expo late in the afternoon then headed to our hotel where Modern Caveman and the kids swam while I relaxed.
Race Day:
Cool and gorgeous although not as cool as last time. I did not need long sleeves.
One last potty stop and the family and I said our good-byes.
The only one maybe more disappointed with my performance in Chicago is the Caveman. Before we parted he said “Now come on. I wanna see a 1:53 out there today.”
I said nothing. But I was raging inside. He has no clue does he? How hard it is to go out there one week after a freaking bazillion-degree marathon and run fast??
It usually takes me weeks to run faster than marathon pace…months even! I ran once this week and it was leaden and pathetic. How much could I possibly have recovered since then?
Doesn’t he know how unstable and injury-prone one’s body is so soon after a marathon? No, this will be slow and easy.
Goal today: Since I promised myself I would assign pace numbers from now on: 9:00-9:10 miles. Not sure I can hang onto those but that’s the goal.
Like old times, I can’t resist lining up with my old pals, the 3:56 pacers. They’ll run even 9’s–they got me to my BQ and I <3 them. Not sure I can keep up but I’ll try and hang on as long as I can.
We are off and I crossed the start line with the pacers but got ahead of them almost instantly.
The course has changed so the first 5 miles are through the downtown area. Lots more fans!
I glanced at my Garmin. 8:30. 8 freaking 30?? My marathon-weary legs can run 8:30? Well maybe for a mile or 2 but I’ll settle into my 9’s or slower. It’s a matter of time.
5k: 25 minutes and change
Mile 4: 32 something. At that point I heard the girls screaming. Yay Thing 2 is at the age where she’s finally getting into it! I waved and saw Caveman look at his watch. Take that Neanderthal!
My left hip starts hurting. What now?
Mile 6 we headed out onto a paved bike path.
Mile 7-8 there are hills that have seemingly grown exponentially since last time. No it’s just that (before the course change) they used to come up earlier in the race when I was fresher (and running slower apparently). Now the pain is radiating to my hip flexor and down into the ITB. Should I stop and massage it? Slow down?
This is my last race of the season. I will not stop. I will not slow. If my damn leg falls off I will effing hop it in.
I reminded myself of the infamous March Madness Half where I went out too fast, crashed, burned and death marched it in. At the pace I was going I was asking for that today.
But a larger part of me was obviously on a mission to exorcise some demons. I was still so disgusted with how I mishandled Chicago, and how I struggled most of the year, that I simply didn’t care if the crash and burn came. Right here, right now, no excuses, it’s balls to the wall.
I got to the point where the half marathoners split off and headed in, and remembered that part of the path as being approx mile 22 of the full marathon. All the feelings I had in the final miles of that BQ day came flooding back….how I pushed through…how I knew at 22 I was going to hang onto that BQ pace as if my life depended on it.
Mile 10: 1:25. Even with 10 minute miles, I’ll be easily sub-2. Well whaddya know?
Finally the long, windy incline off of the bike path. Just a couple of miles to go here. I feel like I’m dying. At some point around 11 or 12 I realized I may be close to my PR. Within seconds, I thought. But I’m dying. No I’m not. Yes I am. It’s still waaaay better than I thought I was capable of.
Final straightaway, crowds are thick. Yes this will be a PR. Can I squeeze in under 1:53?
I saw the Caveman and the kids….good Lord Thing 2 has her coat off….I gave them the combined evil eye and thumbs up and ran it in.
‘Marathon’ Don Kern congratulated me and it wasn’t until after that I saw the 1:51 on my Garmin. Never in my wildest did I imagine I’d have that in me one week after Chicago. Never say never.
Finish time: 1:51:54
Average pace: 8:32
My full and half marathon PRs and my heart belong to Grand Rapids!
