Victory is off-dry:Niagara Ultra Half
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:38 pm
Started out feeling like the fall tour. Early morning: up at 4:15 and on the road at 5:15. Plus I'm running a half marathon, and after feeling tired and sore all week, I'm better on race day. Heat on in the car heading down, that's a good sign.
Arrive in Niagara on the Lake at 6:45, plenty of time to talk to Kinga and Alfie (the one from Pickering) before they head out at 7 for the 50 K. Lots of time to prepare for my race at 7:30. I'm the only Maniac in the half it seems, but I recognize some people I know, notably Rollo Joe from Ryne's Bruce Trail Adventure.
My plan is to go out hard from the start. Doing lots of halfs last year taught me a few things about pacing. My fastest times, although only slightly, were in races when I went out "optimistically" and was fading at the end. Within reason, it just seems to work best for me.
No chip timing, but there is a clock. I line up about second tier, and we're off. I seem to be only about 10 back, (out of 95). By the time we hit the main trail at the 1 mile mark, maybe 2 guys and 3 women get past me. First K split took 4:20.
I guess I am going for it. I tuck in behind the last women who had passed me, and pace off her until the 5 K aid station. Second split was 4:25. 5 k came in 22:33, about 30 seconds off my 5 K best. As usual, i walk through the water stop for about 10-15 seconds. 2 guys blow by me, then 2 more just as get going. I'll have to rethink that plan, running at this level. That split was my slowest at 4:51.
I was hoping that a half would seem shorter after training for a full, and it sorta did. I settled into 4:40s for the next 5, right on track. I was pushing, but hopefully not beyond what i could sustain. My new sore knee was there, but didn't feel like it would go critical. Around 9 K we saw the leaders coming back at us after the turnaround. I was with a group of 3 others, all who had passed me at the stop. Another aid station at 10 K, came at 46:08. Exactly 2 minutes faster than my PB from the Wolfe. Gotta do another 10 K some day.
Halfway turnaround was at 48:30. That was very good to see, it should be a good day. Double that and I have a 1:37. Yeah right.
It was good to be heading back, no surprises now,. I figured about 15-20 people in front of us. The group of four dropped one guy right after the turn, then another after 2 more k. He said, "way to go" as I passed him. Just me and another guy left, he has a shirt from local Runner's Den store. A lot of runners coming at us greet him. By the 13the k i am finding it hard to keep on him, then I notice that he is picking up the pace, 4:31. My average pace at the half was 4:37. I back off and let him go, even so next split is 4:36, and he's walked away. I keep him in sight though, its a mostly straight and flat course so you can see a ways. Very scenic course, about 80 % shade; temp is 14-16 during the half.
After he's gone i just cruise for a while, watching my average pace slowly creep up. Last water stop is at 16 K, getting pretty lonely here. Just gotta hang on and I've got a good race. Gets lots tougher, feels slower. One more minor goal is to do all splits under 5:00, I have never quite done that. Finally up ahead I see the guy in front of me turning left off the path, that means one mile to go. Then my turn, slowly pick up the pace a bit to empty the tank. Last stretch is across some grass, then the finish line. Time on the clock says, 1:37:xx. Baby baby.
Final time:1:37:21. PB by 4:29. Average pace 4:39. Halfway splits:48:30 and 48:51. Plateau be d@mned. 18th out of 95. Eventually I ask the timer if he can tell age-group stuff. But he's pretty busy. I try him again 20 minutes later, he say, it looks like you're first. No frackin way. There are only prizes for first place in 3 age groups, (X 2 sexes) and I get one of them. Not so bad getting old. I had 2 waters, 2 coffees, a sub, and 2 beers (yes free beer Dave) by the time they called me up to get my plaque and bottle of wine. I'm happy.
Really nice race, if you get a cool day like today. warmed up a bit for the 50 K folk I'm sure. I would recommend it highly. YMMV.
Oh yeah, if they accept the course as certified, that gets me entry into NYC Marathon. The 50 K is certified, and they just measured up from the 10 K certified mark for the half turnaround. In a non-certified way. 50 has been accepted for BQ. Oh well, I now know I could do it again if I have to. Swag included a cotton hoody, and a personised keychain.
Arrive in Niagara on the Lake at 6:45, plenty of time to talk to Kinga and Alfie (the one from Pickering) before they head out at 7 for the 50 K. Lots of time to prepare for my race at 7:30. I'm the only Maniac in the half it seems, but I recognize some people I know, notably Rollo Joe from Ryne's Bruce Trail Adventure.
My plan is to go out hard from the start. Doing lots of halfs last year taught me a few things about pacing. My fastest times, although only slightly, were in races when I went out "optimistically" and was fading at the end. Within reason, it just seems to work best for me.
No chip timing, but there is a clock. I line up about second tier, and we're off. I seem to be only about 10 back, (out of 95). By the time we hit the main trail at the 1 mile mark, maybe 2 guys and 3 women get past me. First K split took 4:20.
I guess I am going for it. I tuck in behind the last women who had passed me, and pace off her until the 5 K aid station. Second split was 4:25. 5 k came in 22:33, about 30 seconds off my 5 K best. As usual, i walk through the water stop for about 10-15 seconds. 2 guys blow by me, then 2 more just as get going. I'll have to rethink that plan, running at this level. That split was my slowest at 4:51.
I was hoping that a half would seem shorter after training for a full, and it sorta did. I settled into 4:40s for the next 5, right on track. I was pushing, but hopefully not beyond what i could sustain. My new sore knee was there, but didn't feel like it would go critical. Around 9 K we saw the leaders coming back at us after the turnaround. I was with a group of 3 others, all who had passed me at the stop. Another aid station at 10 K, came at 46:08. Exactly 2 minutes faster than my PB from the Wolfe. Gotta do another 10 K some day.
Halfway turnaround was at 48:30. That was very good to see, it should be a good day. Double that and I have a 1:37. Yeah right.
It was good to be heading back, no surprises now,. I figured about 15-20 people in front of us. The group of four dropped one guy right after the turn, then another after 2 more k. He said, "way to go" as I passed him. Just me and another guy left, he has a shirt from local Runner's Den store. A lot of runners coming at us greet him. By the 13the k i am finding it hard to keep on him, then I notice that he is picking up the pace, 4:31. My average pace at the half was 4:37. I back off and let him go, even so next split is 4:36, and he's walked away. I keep him in sight though, its a mostly straight and flat course so you can see a ways. Very scenic course, about 80 % shade; temp is 14-16 during the half.
After he's gone i just cruise for a while, watching my average pace slowly creep up. Last water stop is at 16 K, getting pretty lonely here. Just gotta hang on and I've got a good race. Gets lots tougher, feels slower. One more minor goal is to do all splits under 5:00, I have never quite done that. Finally up ahead I see the guy in front of me turning left off the path, that means one mile to go. Then my turn, slowly pick up the pace a bit to empty the tank. Last stretch is across some grass, then the finish line. Time on the clock says, 1:37:xx. Baby baby.
Final time:1:37:21. PB by 4:29. Average pace 4:39. Halfway splits:48:30 and 48:51. Plateau be d@mned. 18th out of 95. Eventually I ask the timer if he can tell age-group stuff. But he's pretty busy. I try him again 20 minutes later, he say, it looks like you're first. No frackin way. There are only prizes for first place in 3 age groups, (X 2 sexes) and I get one of them. Not so bad getting old. I had 2 waters, 2 coffees, a sub, and 2 beers (yes free beer Dave) by the time they called me up to get my plaque and bottle of wine. I'm happy.
Really nice race, if you get a cool day like today. warmed up a bit for the 50 K folk I'm sure. I would recommend it highly. YMMV.
Oh yeah, if they accept the course as certified, that gets me entry into NYC Marathon. The 50 K is certified, and they just measured up from the 10 K certified mark for the half turnaround. In a non-certified way. 50 has been accepted for BQ. Oh well, I now know I could do it again if I have to. Swag included a cotton hoody, and a personised keychain.
but I'm sure you knew that... 
awesome, sheldon, totally awesome .... 