Post by jbird on Nov 3, 2008 9:42:43 GMT -5
Wow, I never realized how difficult it was going to be. My preparation was pretty good leading up to my first long distance foot race. I had to overcome some lingering pain in my right hamstring and nagging tendinitis in my left knee. God, it sucks getting old. The morning was just about perfect. Temp was around 48 degrees with no wind. I arrived with a friend who had planned on finishing just under 2 hrs. My goal was 1 hr 35 mins. Granted I had planned on an accomplished long distance runner to pace me. He never showed! Crap!!! I did say that this was my first running race beyond 10K. So I left at the gun feeling good. I settled in behind a young guy who I felt was at my pace. At the first mile mark I checked my watch and saw 7:10. Whoa big guy I thought. Yet I was afraid of running alone due to the lack of knowing how to pace myself. This guy and I settled into a solid 7:20 pace from mile 2 till mile 8. My heart rate was 169, a little too high for me. At mile 8 the guy ahead stopped suddenly. Oh no, now I'm on my own. No-mans land! By mile 11 my pace had fell apart. 8:00 min pace at 12. So I sucked it up and threw down a 7:20 for my last 1.1 miles. I crossed the line at 1:37:30, well below my goal of 1:40:00. Yet I know that if I had my pacer friend there I would have done much better. It was so cool to have accomplished this distance. And it was cool to see my good friend Eric Gibb there at the finish cheering me on and congratulating me. Thanks Eric. Maybe now I can set a HIM as an obtainable goal .
