RUN: 26.2 miles in 4:45.48
The first mile felt great, and I remember thinking at first that all my patience on the bike would actually pay off. I had to slow myself down a little, and started watching the HR to make sure it didn't get higher than 140. This was all well and good through the first 4 miles.
In the first aid station I stopped for the bathroom, took a gel, and some water. The gel didn't sit well, but I knew it would absorb. The next gel at 4 miles didn't set well either, and I wasn't as certain my stomach would keep it. So I switched over to Perform drink instead, this worked in IMWI, and it worked here.
The first lap (to the 6.55 mile turn around) was perfect, and done in 1:05. I was passing a lot of walkers, but keeping to my plan of an easy pace and walking each aid station. The first 2 miles of the run weaved through town with cheering and music, the last 4 miles were along the lake and much quieter.
The second lap I didn't eat anything but a few Gu Chomps, and those didn't go down well at all. I ended up spitting the rest out. More water, more Perform. More water, more Perform. The quiet of the back part of the course was a buzz kill, but I knew town would come back soon enough. And speaking of BUZZ, I had my bee costume in special needs!! I was looking forward to it!!
I was able to see my Tater group on the out-n-back course, and I was looking forward to each one. Just knowing they were out there--both on the course, as volunteers, and as spec-Taters--was a great feeling. It also kept me moving, I didn't want them to see me walking :)
At special needs my volunteer started grabbing stuff from my bag, starting with the bee hat. "Are you wearing this?" HELL YEAH! He laughed. Then he grabbed the dress. "Are you wearing this too?". SHIT YEAH!! I didn't come all this way to not have some fun!! By this time I think I had surprised him a bit, and I'd drawn a crowd interested in the costume. I also grabbed my zip-lock bag, then took off.
The bee costume was a hit. Other runners smiled, spectaters cheered, and I felt an energy come back to me. Running through the streets hearing "GO BUMBLEBEE!!", IronBee, KillerBee, Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, BeeLine to the finishline...I heard it all. I loved it! One runner commented on my popularity. I hit the turnout with arms out and buzzing, clocking that mile at 8:55!! Slow down, bee!!
Mile 14... then soon enough we were out of town again and the first uphill was just around the corner. On the first lap, I jogged up slowly. At some point I knew I'd be walking and here is where it started. Somewhere around mile 17 I started walking longer through the aid stations, then I started walking between them on the uphills. Uphill is followed by downhill, then I think another uphill. The final turnaround was at the bottom of a small hill. I didn't want to walk between aid stations, but I did.
The breakdown was mental. My body was tired but capable of still running slowly. But my mind broke first. I knew I needed to eat. I full well knew it. I was still carrying my special needs goodie bag with Sport Beans, Clif Blocks, and caffeinated gels. But none of it sounded good. Nothing sounded good. Not water, not Perform, not ice, and most certainly not food. The pretzels and chips and cookies the volunteers offered looked like a vat of dry, throat clogging foods. The bananas, oranges, and grapes looked warm (I'm sure they weren't, it just looked that way). The gu chomps I already tried and spit out. The mere smell of the chicken broth turned my stomach and left me feeling gaggy. Oh yeah, I had every excuse.
In the end, I didn't eat. So in the end, I couldn't run. Simple as that. I was still taking water and Perform, and it sat OK. Sitting here now I'm sure I could have tolerated food, especially a stupid caffeinated gel.
Mental. In the end, my mind cracked. I could have forced down a gel. I'm sure of it. Sure of it now.
Eventually in the final 6 miles the sun set and once again I was cold. Spectators in the neighborhoods were packing up their parties, I'm guessing to keep the noise down? My goal of a PR came and went. My next goal was a sub-14. That too came and went. At some point back in the turning parts of the course in town, a spectator said only 11 blocks left. And I didn't care.
11 blocks. When I missed the sub-14 goal I really lost momentum. But then I realized TG would be at the finish! With that, I started jogging again and then made the final turn to the finish. The last blocks were a downhill gala of spectators, high-5's, music, lights, cheering...and buzzing :) I buzzed in and didn't even take note of the time. I didn't even stop my Garmin or watch. TG found me and that's all I cared about. I was so thankful to be done and share the moment with her.
TB, CB, CM, and CP were just ahead of me--I could see them talking together but I didn't catch up to them. I bypassed the food spread and headed out the chute. A quick review of systems--no major pains, no injuries, no blisters, only a minor raw spot where the safety pin on my timing chip rubbed my ankle. My toes had hurt off and on during the run but nothing too bad. In the end, it was pretty amazing! But frustrating--all the more proof that the breakdown was mental. Physically I was fine. Mentally I'd cracked.
No comments:
Post a Comment