Chunky 41 year old's Race Report...

So, this weekend I went down to Hyannis for the 30th Hyannis Marathon to run the half marathon for the second year in a row. I went down Saturday late morning, by myself as Deborah, Alex and Gracie stay home in Northbridge. I was able to get to the expo and register and check out the exhibitors. I was glad to be able to meet up with Rick and Dick Hoyt again this year and talk about there race in May and this year’s Boston. I then went over and talked with Mary McManus (http://newworldgreetings.blogspot.com/) and her husband Tom as they were there as an exhibitor with copies of her latest book of poetry. It was nice to catch up with Mary.

I brought down to Hyannis my 2009 Boston Marathon poster and I was able to get Mary to sign it along with Rick and Dick Hoyt, Frank Shorter and Bill Rogers so now I just need to get it framed to hang in Alex’s room.

After lunch at the British Beer Company I spent the day relaxing and went to the pasta dinner that evening to listen to Frank and Bill discuss there views on the Olympics, marathons and running in general. I went to bed early and was up at 5:30 AM to prepare for the race.

My morning routine went well, the weather race day was 38 degrees and overcast but no rain or snow projected till later in the day. Since I was staying at the host hotel I avoided the bathroom lines and the congestion and hung out in my room until 45 minutes before the race. Now I am normally just happy finishing the race, maybe setting a PR but placing in my division is not something I shoot for, but this race had a Clydesdale 226+ Master’s category and the last two years a 2:04:25 won the division so I had it in the back of my head that I might be able to place or win this division if I ran my normal half marathon. So I geared my self up for setting a PR, placing in my division and maybe breaking sub two hours, well I did 2 out of 3.

The start of the race was a little delayed but overall very smooth. Overall I ran a very good and smart race. I did have some fluctuations in pace between miles for there first 10 miles but most of all I was consistent.

Here are the splits:

M1: 9:29
M2: 8:53
M3: 9:38
M4: 8:59
M5: 9:06
M6: 9:30
M7: 9:16
M8: 9:07
M9: 9:28
M10: 9:08
M11: 9:12
M12: 8:59
M13: 8:50
.1 7:57

I knew at mile 10 when I was at about 93 minutes that a sub 2 hour race was going to be a tough target to hit but a PR was within reach. I liked the splits but the jumps from 9’s to 9:30’s tells me I lost focus but I love the drops below nine for the last 2.1 miles. I ran at an average 80% MHR with a max of 90% so I have a sub 2 hour race in me.

After crossing the finish line and meeting up with Mary to say hello I went in for a bagel and see if I placed in my division. I waited around and found out I placed 3rd with a 2:01:42 and set a PR (prior was a 2:04:18 in Portland in 2008) so I was thrilled. I was honored to have Frank Shorter present me with the 3rd place medal and then to run into Bill Roger’s and he shared some kind words with me about running and my accomplishment in running to date.

Overall, I couldn’t ask for a better race and it was nice to set a PR and it was nice to run a clean race without fueling issues, “bio” issues, cramping etc. When I look back at yesterday it was a great confidence builder for Boston that my training is where it should be at this point.