So what does one do after running several road and trail running events in the 8 to 12 km range? Try a half marathon road race, of course!
I had signed up at the beginning of the year and was trying my best to get in a long run close to the 21.1 km of the half, but that was difficult to do with numerous other commitments on my time. Pace bunny had also signed up for the event, but due to various circumstances she could not attend. I was sad not to share my first half with someone, but I was determined to give it a go.
The race starts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and heads out through the campus, up and around the beautiful University Endowment Lands peninsula towards downtown Vancouver through Kitsilano over the Burrard Street bridge before finishing in Stanley Park. This route is quite a scenic romp through Vancouver.
Since the race start was at 7AM and I live close to the finish line, my choices were either to drive to UBC, run the race and then grab a shuttle bus back to the campus or to take a taxi into UBC on the morning. I decided that the taxi option was best as I was unsure just how mobile I would be after the race.
As usual, the night before I scarfed down lots of pasta and water, got up at 5AM (ack! – at least it was bright out), had some breakfast and then jumped into a cab to the race. As a bonus, the cabbie drove most of the race route so I got to see in advance where some of the turns and aid stations would be. When I got to the campus, I was dropped off next to a whole bunch of folks getting out of their cabs and a large group of school buses that obviously had brought in people en masse from the further reaches of suburban Vancouver. The energy level was quite high as folks stretched and jogged about preparing for the start. When the time came, I got into the starting gates a fair distance back next to a group of chatty runners who seemed to be debating just how badly they were going to run this race.
We started off well, with most folks in my part of the group running at a relaxed pace. The route circled back on it self during the first few kilometers, so as I headed out onto Marine Drive I saw the front runners elegantly loping by us. Most of the runners I was with started to clap and cheer on these folks – as if they needed help! I took note of several groups of runners who seemed to be part of a running clinic or running team, with one very fit looking person providing pace and encouragement as the rest ran along as best they could.
Now at this point, I was starting to miss my iPod. When I got to the campus I realized that I had not brought my nano with its carefully selected playlist for this hoof! I seriously considered going back home and getting it but felt that there just wasn’t enough time for that.
For me, the advantage of running a road race with an iPod is that it helps distract from the monotony of race. As fun as hoofing is, at the speed I go, boredom can set in. A good set of tunes helps with the distraction and a fast track helps motivate tired legs.
This time, no pace bunny, no iPod….I was truly on my own. I did however get some entertainment from listening to the snippets of conversations as I passed people or as people passed me. Some things said are best left out on the race course from what I experienced in this race.
The SVHM promises a net drop in elevation from start to finish. What was not mentioned was that there was some noticeable up in the middle. As I was getting to the 10k-ish mark we ascended on a road that curved to the left. I kept running, but it was unexpectedly difficult to make this ascent.
After reaching this “peak”, the route then descended sharply back to near sea level. As I am not that skilled yet in absorbing the punishment of running downhill, and yes, in some ways it feels harder than running uphill, this shook up my legs a bit so that by the time we were on the flat section, I was feeling a tiny bit wobbly.
By now the course was lined with a lot of onlookers who were cheering and waving us along. I caught a quick movement from the corner of my eye and turned my head to notice a woman tying up her bathrobe next to what appeared to be her husband holding a couple of coffee mugs. A guy running next to me hollered out “Is that all I’m gonna get?” and I surmised that I had just missed out on the often discussed but seldom seen “Upper Middle Class Kitsilano Bathrobed Housewife Flash for Friends”. Just one of the many sacrifices I make to focus on running.
As I approached kilometre 18, I was starting to have doubts about being able to run the full race. I was convincing myself that I would have to walk for a while. Not that walking would have been a bad thing, but I really wanted to run all the way. The leaden legs were making their case quite effectively, but I pressed on.
Then I came to the Burrard Street Bridge. Throughout the race, I had heard people complaining about this bit. “Oh that hill is a killer” or “I don’t know if I can make it up the bridge”. Having run the opposite way on the bridge during the Sun Run, I can conclusively say that heading north on the bridge, as I was about to do, is far easier. I actually passed a few people once I got to the crest of the bridge.
Things seemed to be going well as I headed down towards English Bay and Stanley Park. Then I looked to my right and saw someone being loaded into an ambulance. It was not clear if this had been a racer or a resident living on the race route; however, it was not a good site to see so close to the finish. I put aside thoughts of collapsing and pressed on to the end.
Running the full 21.1km, I crossed the finish in 2:08! I was estimating somewhere between 2:00 and 2:15 so I met my estimate right in the middle. The legs wobbled a bit as I made my way through the crowd to get some water and snacks. Lots of happy and tired people were there. I then chose a tree and stretched for the next twenty minutes, for fear of stiffening up completely.
I was quite happy with my first half marathon experience. Not an easy distance to complete by any means and I am now convinced that a full marathon attempt is some ways off but doable. For now, more trail racing beckons, though perhaps a bit too soon for my liking!
No comments:
Post a Comment