Madison Half Marathon

I worked hard for this medal.

The full marathon was canceled due to a forecast high of 93 on Sunday.  Temperatures were supposed to reach 80 before 10 am.  The Green Bay marathon a week before had also high but not as bad temperatures and the race directors had to shut down the course about 2.5 hours after the race started.  Trying to head off a similar situation, the Madison full marathon was canceled.  Registered runners got some sort of credit for next year's marathon and were all automatically transferred to running the half marathon.  We were originally required to finish the half marathon in 3 hours before they pulled us off the course, but due to the heat, they left the course open for an additional hour and a half.  I was disappointed that my very first half marathon would be completed in less than ideal conditions.

After Lake Monona 20k, running the half marathon in under 2 hours looked to be very possible.  I was expected to come in just seconds before the 2 hour mark, so I knew there would be little leeway.  I had to be running my best.  Unfortunately, the heat picked up in Madison not long after that 20k race and with a bothersome knee, my training took a dive.  I was struggling to get 5 miles in, and was only finally able to work up to a 10k in 80 degree weather about 5 days before the half.  This would be tough.  I began preparing myself to let go of my original goal.  I have had little to no training in these kinds of conditions and risking heat exhaustion or something worse might take me out of future races.

Runner's High

I used to think the runner's high referred to what one felt after a run.  A good workout in the morning can make the rest of the day can feel amazing.  I felt like I go through the rest of the day lighter on my feet, feeling more accomplished.  It elevates the mood for the day.

It wasn't until I started running more than 5 miles that I began to understand that runner's high.  The first few miles of a run always suck for me.  I start out thinking, "what am I doing out here? It's too hot/too cold/about to rain/too early.  I'm feeling too tired/too sleepy/too much to do."  But I've learned to not quit, to instead convince myself to get to mile 4.  Because somewhere between mile 3 and mile 4, those annoying demoralizing thoughts of "maybe I'll quit early" go away and instead, I'm thinking about nothing.  Thoughts are slowly drifting out my head, and I'm lulled by my breaths.  Or maybe I've found one thought that I'm casually, amusingly tossing around.  Each step has become part of a meditative rhythm and I am feeling like an efficient machine.  My speed increases and I'm feeling like this was what my body was meant to do: turn calories into energy, breaths into steps, determination into speed.

Lake Monona 20k

Do you really want to hear about yet another race?  Probably not, but here goes anyway.

The race started at 9am and we got there a bit later than I would've liked.  Parking wasn't as difficult as others had made it sound, but carpooling is the way to go.  The weather was in the high 50s when we got there, predicted to be in the low 60s by the time we finished.  It was a bit humid and the wind was rather chilly at first.  Once we ran a couple of blocks to warm up, I knew that a short sleeved shirt and running capris would be sufficient.

The race started at Winnequah park and goes clockwise around the lake. For the first 3 miles, I felt fatigue in my legs and mentally rallied to keep up a pace.  The first 3 miles were hilly and as usual, I slow considerably in the second mile, watching scores of runners pass me by.  I was at 26:39 for the first 5k.  I'm thinking, "not bad," if I can keep up a consistent 9 min/mile pace.  Around mile 4, we get on John Nolen drive and for the next 2 miles, I'm fighting a nearly head-on wind.  I cross the 10k line at about 55:30.  Finally, at mile 7, I hit my stride and the next 3 miles come easily.  I keep pace with a few runners around me.  At mile 8, I start to feel hunger and wish I had more of a breakfast, or at least carried some energy gel or something on me.  I had started and ran the first mile with my friend Barry, who after the first mile started gaining quite a bit of distance ahead of me.  A little after the 9th mile marker, I pass him.  Shortly after mile 10, I feel my energy level drop significantly.  Half a mile later, I try to rally, reminding myself that there were only 2 miles to go.  The last few hills just about killed me.  I thought for sure, I'd have nothing left in me to make a sprint for the finish.  Still, when I made the final turn, I found a little something and sped up just a bit, passing a couple people in the last 1/4 mile for the finish line.  My final time was 1:52:55.  I was hoping for closer to 1:51:00, which would make for more even split times, but even at 1:52:55, my split times weren't too terribly paced.  I ran a pace of 9:06 min/mile, about 20 seconds faster than Black Earth.