I signed up for the Colfax Half-Marathon before I ran Boston - mostly because I wanted to guarantee that I wouldn't just slack off completely when I got back from Boston. That is what happened after San Diego and, to some extent, New York. I was not planning on trying to go too fast, and I certainly wasn't going to try to beat my PR set last April at the Platte River Half - which is almost all downhill.
However, I always reserve the right to remain inspired...
Sunday turned out to be a perfect day to be inspired. The weather was perfect for a run. The downside to that means it is usually freezing before the run, and that was the case. 38 degrees and light rain, and the race started at 6:00 AM. Fortunately, I got there early and was able to park close so I could strip out of my warm clothes and run right into the start corrals.
As it turns out, I had not quite taken this race seriously - and I paid for it. I was, indeed, inspired and ended up with a PR, but that's not the whole story. While I may have kept running after Boston to avoid slacking off, I did not restrict myself too much on what I crammed in my mouth. I would not have allowed that long term, regardless, but I wasn't really thinking about it when I had protein and fiber-filled veggie burgers Saturday night before the race instead of my usual pasta or something plain.
As I exited City Park after the race began, I knew I was feeling like I had some speed in me. Even trying to carve my way through all the people in the beginning, I managed 7:12, 7:02, and 7:09 in the first three miles. The first six miles are east on Colfax and slightly uphill, and I managed to keep my pace averaging around 7:15. I knew that could keep me on a pace to PR, especially when going back toward City Park down 17th would be downhill. However, starting around Mile 5, something started poking at my stomach from the inside...and I started thinking I was going to have a problem. I would have taken care of it right then, but there were no facilities at each of the aid stations I passed. By the time I ran through the Aurora Fire Department's open firehouse toward the end of Mile 7, I was getting desperate. I ran Mile 8 in 6:54 and just past the mile marker was a place to stop...thank God.
The pit stop took two minutes, and I was quite sure that ended my chance to get the PR. Once I got going again and got my shorts readjusted on the fly (everything was all twisted around...very uncomfortable), I realized I had run Mile 10 in 6:57. As much as I hate doing math - especially when it involves time - I started doing some calculations. "Crap," I said out loud to no one. "I still have a chance."
Although I wanted at a couple different points to just slow down and bag trying for the PR, those moments were short-lived. Running down 17th Street toward City Park is downhill and very pretty so I just put my head down and went for it. Mile 11 in 6:50 and on into City Park. Mile 12 in 6:40, Mile 13 in 6:33, and the home stretch at a 6:19 pace.
And wouldn't you know it? 1:34:24. A PR by a whopping 24 seconds.
I don't think I'll try to do it like that again, but I'm pretty sure I've got a 1:33:00 in me.
Next up - the BolderBoulder. Last October's Fans On The Field 10k - a 43:09 - will be pretty tough to beat, especially in Boulder. But I reserve the right to be inspired on race day. :)
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