Country Music Half Marathon (Race Report)

I made it up to Music Row
Lordy don't the wheels turn slow
- "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow", Alan Jackson

A couple quick notes before the report:
Half Marathon PR: 1:50:52
Goal for this race: 1:45:00
If everything goes perfect: 1:40:00

With my Achilles hurting, training pretty much went out the window the 2 weeks before the race, with a total of 3 runs in that time, none very long, and not very fast. Additionally, the week leading up to the race was 'vacation' and visiting family, so the diet went out the window too (you'll note I am not listing my weight. I am honestly afraid to right now). if you want to hit your goals, you have to stay the course... I did not.

It was evident the day before the race that weather could be a HUGE factor. There were two large storm fronts moving in, and by noon, it was going to be ugly. As in "take shelter! It's a tornado!" ugly. They announced that marathoners who were not on pace for a 4:30 finish would be diverted to the Half Marathon.

Woke up at 4:00 am (not a misprint) on race morning... along with my wife and dad who were walking the Half Marathon (the first Half for both of them!). For this race, it's a good idea to get up early, and get to LP field (football stadium the Titans play in, and finish line for the race). If you wait too long, you end up stuck in traffic. You end up stuck in traffic, you don't get to a bus until late. The bus takes you to the start line... and I've heard horror stories about people running TO the start line, no time for porta potties or anything. That is not stress I like to add to my race... I'll wake up early and be tired.

Out of the house by 4:20, at the stadium by 5, off the bus at the start line by 5:30. It was a little drizzly and we did not have trash bags (oversight), but it wasn't so bad. We found a picnic table under a tree to sit and relax at.

I headed to a porta potty for my daily meditation, and while in line, I hear an announcement that the race will be starting 15 minutes early (to try and help beat the weather). I did my business, went back to my wife and dad, said good luck and good bye, and headed to the start line.

I quickly found my college roommate in corral 3. We discussed once again our planned pace times (7:15 pace for the first 10k... hold on from there). We listened to a former Biggest Loser contestant butcher the National Anthem, and it seemed like no time until we were off as well.

For the first 3 miles, I felt good. Wasn't paying attention to my roommate, as we had discussed that we would run our own races and not worry about the other guy. My 5K split was 21:34, just a shade faster than our planned pace. But I was already having negative thoughts... Nashville is hillier than I remember.

Just after the 5K mark, you turn and run down Music Row - basically a nice street with all the record company's offices. As soon as I made that turn, I knew I was in trouble.

I don't know how many races I've run in my life. I wouldn't be surprised if I've run fifty 5K races, a dozen 10K's, 3 Half Marathons, 4 Marathons, one triathlon, and maybe ten races of 'other' distances... plus more training runs and practices than I could ever imagine. You know how many times I have had to stop and pee? ONCE! Only ONCE have I ever had to interrupt my running to go pee. Guess where... just after mile 3 on this same course last year (when I ran the full marathon).

The good news is, I knew exactly where the porta-potties would be, and there was no line. But man, I REALLY had to go. i didn't think to try and 'time' myself to figure out how much time I had lost, but it was a good one. Like 'first pee when drinking large quantities of beer' good.

I get back on the course, feeling better in the bladder, but at mile 5, the rolling hills were starting to get to me. Both of my Achilles were screaming at me. Still, my 10K split was 46:24, about 90 seconds off the 'goal/planned pace'. Considering there was a pit stop, I was feeling good about it. My Achilles however, were not agreeing with that good feeling.

Then next 3.8 miles (from the 10K to the 10 mile mark) my pace had slowed to 8:30... over a minute slower per mile than I had been going. Many negative thoughts, and it was all i could do to keep my feet going. I wanted to walk, but didn't want to give in to that... this is the kind of thoughts people have at mile 22, not mile 10!!!

I prodded along. At the 10 mile mark, I knew I had to run the last 5K in about 26 minutes to hit my goal of 1:45. I also knew that meant I would need to pick it up a little and run about 8:20 miles (you know you've run too much when you can calculate this stuff on the fly). I tried to speed up my cadence, but my Achilles wouldn't let me. nor would they let me take bigger steps. It was brutal... and I'm embarrassed to say I couldn't do it. I wasn't mentally tough enough, and my legs not fit enough to do it.

I finished with a 1:47:01. A PR by over 3 minutes (good), but 2 minutes slow of my goal (bad). The weather never was a factor for my race (although it was a bit humid). My wife and dad had to walk their last hour in cold, wind-driven rain with occasional thunder and lightning.

In the aftermath, my Achilles are still sore, and I also may have bruised my right foot. The bottom of it feels like it got pounded like a whore on dollar night. I'm icing a lot, and trying to rest... but there isn't too long to rest because a.) I can actually feel myself getting fatter and b.) I've got a 5K next week, a Duathlon in 4 weeks, and possibly another Half Marathon the day after the Duathon (my wife 'caught the bug' and really wants to do another)