Though I drove to 9 hours to avoid airline delays, mechanical issues and de-icing caused nearly 90-minute delay in Milwaukee, WI. That led to a missed connection in Nashville, TN. Re-revised plan brought me to Dallas, TX, by 1 pm (instead of 10 am). Not yet knowing at that time that my luggage would take another 9 hours to arrive, I did smile and pump my fist when I saw the self-fulfilling prophecy-like billboard. Though I had the necessary attire to get through the Friday’s work meetings, I didn’t get to run around to shake off plane legs. Given all that, it was almost a mystery that I even got to participate in this event.
A later-in-the-day start (4 pm) to the race gave plenty time to complete day’s work and touristing a little before getting ready for the event. Given the price tag associated with this event, the organizational skills of the event organizers left a lot to be desired: they changed the packet pick-up information on the day of the event, there wasn’t gear check (or it required a VIP pass with a $40 price tag), mile markers were incorrectly placed, just to name a few.
The event started amidst some chaos and on a narrow bridge but the course widened after about a mile. I decided to just focus on uneven breathing (to prevent side stitches; thanks, Christine!) and camber of the road (to prevent foot pain; thanks, Lloyd!). The course, though glued to the asphalt, weaved through a variety of neighborhood and some scenic sections .. with camber of the bridges providing the hills.
|
Goal vs Reality
Goal: 13.11 mi in 1:43:02 (7:51 min/mi) Reality: 12.90 mi in 1:41:32.0 (7:52 min/mi) |
|||||||||
| # |
Lap Distance mi |
Lap Pace min/mile |
Lap Elevation feet |
Total Distance mi |
Total Time h:mm:ss |
Total Elevation feet |
Total Pace min/mile |
Projected Finish Time h:mm:ss |
Differential Goal Time h:mm:ss |
| 01 | 1.00 | 8:31 | 30↑ 26↓ | 1.00 | 0:08:32 | 30↑ 26↓ | 8:31 | 1:51:39 | 0:08:37 |
| 02 | 1.00 | 7:40 | 7↑ 3↓ | 2.00 | 0:16:13 | 37↑ 29↓ | 8:06 | 1:46:11 | 0:03:09 |
| 03 | 1.00 | 7:46 | 26↑ 0↓ | 3.00 | 0:23:59 | 63↑ 29↓ | 7:59 | 1:44:39 | 0:01:37 |
| 04 | 1.00 | 7:55 | 33↑ 16↓ | 4.00 | 0:31:55 | 96↑ 45↓ | 7:58 | 1:44:26 | 0:01:24 |
| 05 | 1.00 | 7:34 | 13↑ 46↓ | 5.00 | 0:39:29 | 109↑ 91↓ | 7:53 | 1:43:21 | 0:00:19 |
| 06 | 1.00 | 7:36 | 3↑ 3↓ | 6.00 | 0:47:05 | 112↑ 94↓ | 7:50 | 1:42:42 | 0:00:20 |
| 07 | 1.00 | 7:43 | 10↑ 7↓ | 7.00 | 0:54:49 | 122↑ 101↓ | 7:49 | 1:42:28 | 0:00:34 |
| 08 | 1.00 | 7:48 | 0↑ 0↓ | 8.00 | 1:02:37 | 122↑ 101↓ | 7:49 | 1:42:28 | 0:00:34 |
| 09 | 1.00 | 7:57 | 23↑ 10↓ | 9.00 | 1:10:34 | 145↑ 111↓ | 7:50 | 1:42:42 | 0:00:20 |
| 10 | 1.00 | 7:58 | 16↑ 13↓ | 10.00 | 1:18:32 | 161↑ 124↓ | 7:51 | 1:42:54 | 0:00:08 |
| 11 | 1.00 | 7:58 | 59↑ 56↓ | 11.00 | 1:26:31 | 220↑ 180↓ | 7:51 | 1:42:54 | 0:00:08 |
| 12 | 1.00 | 8:03 | 0↑ 3↓ | 12.00 | 1:34:34 | 220↑ 183↓ | 7:52 | 1:43:07 | 0:00:05 |
| 13 | 0.90 | 7:43 | 43↑ 0↓ | 12.90 | 1:41:31 | 263↑ 183↓ | 7:52 | 1:43:07 | 0:00:05 |
| The final cumulative time, 1:41:31, may not match the official time (1:41:32.0) owing to rounding errors. Starting my watch a few seconds before the start and stopping it a few seconds after crossing the finish line can be an additional reason for this discrepancy. The overall distance, 12.90 mi, may not match the designated (or certified) event distance (13.11 mi) owing to idiosyncrasies associated with GPS data collection OR my inability to take the tangents OR the aforementioned early start/late stop reasons, and in some rare cases, incorrectly measured (or advertised) courses or DNFs. As a result, the cumulative pace and the projected finish time might not match the official values as well. | |||||||||
Second half was a little windy and I felt it during ascents on couple bridges. Fortunately, I was able to maintain the desired pace. Running with or near the lead pack and running through the desolate neighborhoods, albeit scary at times, made me feel like many of the elite athletes I worship – the loneliness of the lead pack is something I can get used to. I made a good strong push over the last 2 miles and crossed the finish line at 1:41:24 (65/918 overall, 54/367 in gender and 12/62 in AG). With that, I improved my PR for Half Marathon by 98 seconds. The record finally left the Golden State after a 3-year residency and now calls the Lone Star State its new home.
Post-race festivities involved two parts: one in the vicinity of the finish line with John and Morgen, and second with one of Her Majesty The Queen‘s finest knights, Alan Real. We got a celebratory beer and meal and caught up on proceedings on either side of the pond before the conference schedule pulled us away in many directions. I hope SC18 goes as well as I have planned for it, and I hope I can still make time – amidst what appears to be a pretty hectic schedule – to run the streets (and maybe even trails) of Dallas, TX.
Update: 2018-11-17
The conference did go well and better than expected in many ways than one. I also got nearly stick with the training plan towards 2019 Great Bear Chase throughout the week, run at least a couple times with dear friend Ben Rogers and explored the famed Katy Trail in its entirety … before returning home via uneventful travel segments.
Thanks be to
the rejections and opportunities life has brought my way, event folks (organizers, sponsors, volunteers, timers, law enforcement officials, photographers, fellow participants and spectators) and my family of good friends, mentors and coaches in and outside of my community for all the unexpected, undeserved and unrewarded acts of kindness and constant encouragement as well as offerings of constructive criticism to improve myself as a human and an athlete. I am eternally grateful to all those who let me train with them, who shared their meals and experiences with me, who helped keep me in good health, who helped me stay the course, and who cheered me on from home or along the course.