I am happy to report that this was a totally awesome race. My goal was 1:35; my time was 1:30:31!
That’s the 6-second video Tony recorded of me crossing the finish line. 🙂
Backing up …
My little sister by 7 years came down yesterday to spend time with us/visit our brother/cheer me on for this race. We picked up my bib at Maine Running Company in Portland and went shopping.
Jean (also known as Gweeb) lives two hours away in Bangor and I don’t see her nearly enough. It was a nice surprise to have her down for the weekend. Guests can be an added pressure, but it isn’t like that with Gweeb. We carb-loaded at my favorite Lewiston-Auburn restaurant,* Davincis. I picked the perfect thing — Penne Mona Lisa. White pasta and red sauce. Yum.
This morning, I had four slices of raisin toast; one of those slices with peanut butter and banana. And coffee. Tony drove to Cape Elizabeth High School for the start of the race.
I took photos in the car.
I felt so nervous before the race! I questioned everything I had done to prepare for it. Was I rested enough? Did I eat the right things? Did I drink enough water? Did I bring enough fuel? Should I have brought my fuel belt?
I realized, after the race started, the only thing holding me back is me.
The weather as perfect. The music I chose was perfect. I felt great. I was going to do my best.
My goal as 9:30 miles. I looked down at my watch after the first mile. 9:08. Fuck, I thought. I’m going too fast. But I just ran on how I felt. I saw my heart rate in those early miles, and it was in the 160s. Earlier races, I tried to race under 141, so 160s seemed kinda high? But fuck it. This was a learning experience. If I bonk, whatever. I could still walk it in. I wasn’t worried about finishing.
And I held it.
Splits:**
- 1 – 9:08.05 / 154 hr
- 2 – 8:55.27 / 162
- 3 – 9:09.84 / 159
- 4 & 5 – 18:24.55 (9:12.23 avg.) / 157
- 6 – 9:15.01 / 157
- 7 – 9:23.43 / 162
- 8 – 8:52.15 / 163
- 9 – 8:52.70 / 167
- 10 8:07.97 / 174
I thought about this as many people who were significantly older than me ran in front of me. With a gait that suggested it was quite taxing for them to run. But still faster than me! For several miles! I’m still at a point in my life where I don’t see people younger than me and think, if I were that young, I’d be fast like them. I don’t think that day will come for a long time. This is a sport that rewards technique — you can’t muscle through it. Which is one of the things I really like about running.
I crossed the finish line gasping for water. And air. Especially air. And wishing the fluid would get out of my lungs, dammit. I gave that last mile my all, and I’m really happy with the result.
*Of which there are MANY restaurants of distinction to choose from, so this distinction is with love!
** These are from my watch taken at mile stops. And I must be off somewhere by about 27 seconds, because my watch clocked me at 1:30:08.