Is 13.1 more than I can handle?

Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Two weeks back when I stumbled into a couple of mountain trail races with only 6 training days in 7 years, I was stunned by my great results(see the last post).  I was also driven to find a certified road race before winter so I could better measure my abilities and have a solid starting point for a spring training start. 

Scouring the race calendars, I was disappointed that I couldn't find a certified 5k or 10k road race within a couple hour's drive.  Determined not to go into winter without knowing a time that I could plug into training calculators,  I went off and did it again.  Yep, I stuck my neck out and once again set my course for uncharted territory.  On September 4th I signed up for the Denver Half-Marathon, to be held on October 18th. Just 6 weeks away!  After taking a couple of weeks for tapering before the race, I had 4 weeks to prep for a 13.1 mile race.  If only. 

Beginning to train for my next impossible challenge, I'm feeling a bit sore in both calves.  No surprise since I just ran down a lot of terrain quickly and without the benefit of base training to condition my legs to such abuse.  Pain is the name of the game sometimes and I tell myself that I'll just increase the distance and speed gradually and everything will be dandy. 

Following a 7 mile run on the 10th of September I remove my socks and notice that my left calf is swollen.  In fact, my calf pains have not become that much better and this is the last straw.  I'm done.  I have to stop running altogether and hope for the best.

Ten days pass and I step out to test the waters with a easy 4 miles at a 9 minute mile pace.  It feels OK and now 2 weeks from my taper (as if I can taper from such little training!) I'm running again.

I do everything I can imagine to prepare, including a test run at my hopeful race pace, while wearing my new racing shoes.  6 at a 7:30 mile pace.

Standing at the start area the morning of the 18th among the masses of trained runners, I try to think positive thoughts. My stats aren't encouraging though. 
1) I have never been a serious runner. 
2) Prior to the 2 trail races, I haven't raced or trained in 7 years.
3) All running in the last year, including the 2 trail races total 35 days.
4) My average training distance since the last trail race is 5.4 miles.
5) I've never raced this distance & have only done 1 other road race longer than 5k.
  While I'm at it, other stuff I could dwell on while I'm out there today:
1) I'm in my 40s and can't possibly just start running and do well right away.
2) I have completely flat feet that probably aren't well suited for this.
3) I have one less hamstring muscle in my left leg due to an ACL operation, years ago.
4) I have asthma.
5) The elevation for this race is 1 mile above sea level.

The amount of this data that I'll allow into my head during the race?  Hopefully 0. 

The gun goes off as dawn breaks.  There are thousands of us and the start is a little slow.  Before long there's breathing room and I settle into a pace that I think I can sustain for the whole race.  I don't have much proof of this but several of my runs lead me to believe that 1:38 or 1:39 is within striking distance for me.  It's a gamble though because if I go too fast and fall apart a few miles before the finish, time will rack up very quickly.  I just don't have true idea of what my limit is and I don't want to find it.  I hope to luck out an skirt along just below the limit for the whole race.  And here's how it goes...

1)  7:22
2)  7:04
3)  7:19
4)  7:15
5)  6:58
6)  7:18
7)  7:12
8)  7:18

8 miles in and I'm doing OK, but 9 and 10 have me thinking that I've gone out too fast.

9)    7:21
10)  7:30

I haven't been pacing anyone to this point but as I start to feel my hamstrings grow tired, I quickly pick someone and force myself to hold on.  It's tough but as we close the tenth mile out I start the "only 3 miles" pep talk and within it, I find my legs once again.  I begin to gain ground on those that I've marked for pace and that blows even more wind into my sails.  I'm back and I'm looking to crush some competition.

11)  7:17
12)  7:17

Just one more mile and and then a .1.  At this point I'm pulling people in and no one is passing me.

13)  7:05

My GPS shows that the total distance for the race is 13.3 and I've just closed out the 13th mile feeling strong.  Of the handful of races I've completed in the last 20 years, I've always managed to have a good kick to the line.  I don't know where it comes from.  Speed work has never made it into any of my last minute training plans.

I know from walking around before the start that we are about to make two quick turns and then we'll be just a couple hundred meters from the tape.

We bend sharply to the left and I open it up.  I'm moving so fast that it seems like everyone else is standing still.  I'm blowing by people left and right and catch one last runner before crossing the finish line.  My GPS data tells me I covered that ground at a 4:40 mile pace.

Chip Time:  1:36:23 !

 13th in my age group of 237
I'm very happy with this given my training, how could I not be? :)

One more race report, this time in 2010 and we'll be caught up to the present date.  A 10k road race and it's another eye opening experience.
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