I ran my previous PB on this course last year - as Dr.S, since she was injured - so I didn't have a sub-2 1/2 under my own name. Superficial? Yeah, maybe a little bit. But it was still a good goal to shoot for. Since last year's race, I'd done two 1/2M: Toronto Waterfront in September (2:00:3x) and Disney in January (2:03:xx). The "sub-2" in my own name continued to prove elusive.
As those who've been following my Log know, I've been struggling with two things this season: 1) glute/hamstring/piriformis/sciatic pain, and 2) my weight. So, I really didn't know what I was capable of today.
I had a bit too much wine last night (well, more than one would normally have the night before a race) and got to bed a little bit late, but the race was a later start (10:05), so I didn't have to get up until just after 7AM.
I went to the race by myself and didn't really run into anyone I knew until right before the race (my friend Nancy). About 1K in, casual-runner caught up to me and we chatted a bit until he picked up his pace. Somewhere near the 5K mark Bruce (aka MrHolyMoly) ran up beside me. He's also a faster runner, so he picked up his pace a bit.
Things were going OK for the most part, but I realized that I'd probably gone out a bit two fast (my pace was averaging 5:22/km for the first 6K, with Ks 4 and 5 being 5:17 and 5:18 respectively). After that, my pace really started to drop off, but was still within range to make my goal. The aid stations were not well placed because there was one at 3K then again at 5K, but the next one wasn't until 9K! I had to take my gel (just before 7K) without water and then hope I'd be OK until I could finally get some.
Other than from 9-10K (where I took a walk break to get some liquid into me), my paces ranged from 5:30-5:39 right up until 14K, and then it was like I hit a wall. My pace started to drop and I was doing everything I could to just keep going. My leg/butt were throbbing. I'd been leap-frogging with the 2-hour bunny (who was taking walk breaks) much of the way, so I just tried to keep him in my sights. My pace was ranging between 5:44-5:48 between 13-20K. When I took my final walk/gel break between 18-19K, that was the only split where I went over 6:00/km (6:01).
I was hurting so badly - not just my butt/leg, but all over - but I kept reminding myself to just keep pushing. I ran the final K in 5:36, with the final 0.1K at 5:21/km pace.
All my splits are here: http://www.itsmyrun.com/laps.php?id=13531
Clock time was 2:00:53, but I was pretty sure my chip time would be sub 2:00. I should mention that being a new Garmin owner, I didn't really have it figured out in terms of how it should be set and what displays to have showing during the race. Basically, the way it was set up was useless to me during the run, so I was essentially running "blind" as far as pace and time were concerned. I just knew I had to run as HARD as I could at the end so that I couldn't say that I'd left anything on the course, even if it wasn't a PB.
ETA: Chip time: 1:59:16.
I met flex-run after the race (he seemed to be happy with his result), and also ran into casual-runner at the results board. Since I was so spent, I got my bowl of chilli (only veg left
) and a bun, ate it, and left for home.
I'm really, really sore now. Tomorrow will be a rest day for sure. I also know that I'm not going to race ATB hard. I'd still like to go sub-3, but it's not a priority for me right now. I just want to get these injuries healed!
La, out.
In the second half of the race he was holding it very low and every time he swung his arms the pole would drive backwards. He switched hands while I went to pass him on the left and I nearly got a pole in the gut! 
