NYC Half: Race Recap

2:06:08 Final official time. 

So remember that part where I was just running the NYC Half for the experience and a test of fitness…well I should know myself better. After seeing my splits and where it all went wrong I am definitely a LITTLE pissy that I didn’t treat it like a normal race. And happy that I maybe am almost warmed up again. I like racing in the cold but seriously THAT WAS COLD. I was genuinely concerned during the race if I would ever feel my fingers again (luckily around mile 4 I started to get some sensation...).

Long story short, I thought I would be lucky to be running in the mid to high 9’s – turns out after downloading my splits that I am in better shape than I thought as I was banging out miles in the 8’s – when I wasn’t stopped in the bathroom.

4, count them 4 stops throughout the race.

It all started with eating some stuff the day before that really isn’t ever easy on the stomach. However in my defense, I actually haven’t really had many runs with stomach issues. Race morning getting through security took a while so there was no time to use the bathrooms before jumping into corrals. I started the race acknowledging that yes I would have to stop shortly after, which I was okay with – and I did right before Harlem Hill and lost at least 2 -3 minutes there.

What I didn’t anticipate was then having to stop 3 more times, urgently. That was frustrating and in all lost a ton of time.

My splits speak for themselves. I was capable of a lot more than I gave myself credit. 

I'm not going to do a mile per mile break down but basically I wanted to start out conversational, super easy to tackle the hills of Central Park - which I hadn't run since the NYCM in November. The whole time I felt like I was just cruising. As planned I felt good so consciously upped the pace a tad around mile 6. I was feeling good, and coming out of the park was just energetic! Now I think pace wise where I had the biggest problem was around 9 or so. I was feeling light headed. I ate a tiny bit of banana and bagel prior to the race and a little water. I was dehydrated completely and had no fuel in me. I tried anyway to walk through a water station and take in some Gu and water but that set my stomach churning yet again. The remainder of the race was a struggle between my legs wanting to go and my stomach issues and light headedness holding me back. This was a total lack of fuel and lack of being prepared situation. 

I have been a slave to the treadmill all winter and figured getting to the streets would be a lot harder (side note: totally attributing the 3 weekly body pump classes I do religiously to being able to run better than I thought - strength training FTW!). Kind of unfortunate but I learned an important lesson, always be prepared. I have of course had PLENTY of races where I did everything right and still had bathroom stops but I would rather know that I didn’t sabotage myself.

Other than that…I LOVE THIS RACE. Holy shit. I just can’t stop smiling thinking about it. I loved the course, loved running through the city and loved getting out of the park! Running down 7^th, through Times Square…just awesome.

So I am thinking redemption and a true test. I signed up for an NYC Runs race on March 29^th that I plan to maybe take a rest day and maybe focus on trying to do well in. Not PR but see for real where I am at. I think if  things fall into place that Brooklyn could then be a PR course.

So that is where my head is at now. I know that I am ready because I smiled through my shakeout this morning of a few miles, and wasn't sore go figure (that might catch up to me though). I don’t want to put a ton of pressure on myself either but I do think it isn’t the worst thing to have some goals. So for now – try and sub 2 in a couple weeks and then have 2 months to work towards a PR. We shall see. Just want to keep enjoying the run. 

So About That Half Marathon on Sunday...

I'm not ready for this: 

Or at least not the ready that I would be to actually run this as anything more than just a "still building my fitness run". 

After being locked out every year I applied, I finally got in this year (in the SECOND round of lottery picks) and am not throwing away the opportunity to run this course regardless of how prepared I am feeling.

But I've topped out at 10.5 miles last week. 

And am kind of not resting at all this week. And really don't intend to tomorrow. 

I plan on body pump and a short run (but cutting out my usual Flywheel class) and plan on a rest day Monday most likely. I'm in training mode at the moment, not race mode.

As I am going into this knowing I will not go anywhere near my PR nor probably even sub 2 (hello Central Park and my winter love affair with the treadmill not ready to tackle Cat Hill and Harlem Hill in a respectable manner!) I am out to just make it through a steady race without wanting to kill myself by the end. 

I figure start conservative and if towards the last few I feel good pick if up. That's the only plan. If I can negative split the race that would be great. But this is a course to be enjoyed just like the NYCM was for me. I knew fitness wise I was not running stellar then (oh and also that 100 degree fever didn't help) due to being prepared to race on a more flat course. These are races for me that you run because why would you not?

Goal = not wanting to kill myself by mile 13 and to then #DrinkAllTheAlcohol and #EatAllTheFood. 

So here is to a fun Sunday (and seriously whyyyy can it not be a WARMER forecast) and to FINALLY running this race!

Good luck to all out there running on Sunday!