San Jose Rock N Roll Half-Marathon Report

Hi all

This was my 2nd San Jose Half-Marathon and I had hoped to improve on my 2:23:32 time from San Francisco.  That dream ended when I suffered a real puzzling hamstring injury about 2 weeks prior.  The pain would only come after I had run about 2 miles, then became really unbearable.  After some traditional rehab, things werent getting better and I decided to seek out acupuncture.  I was able to get in 5 treatments in the 9 days leading up to the race and did a test run the Friday before to see how it felt.  I made a decision that I would run as long as I could and walk the rest if I had to.

Race day started about 4:30 am for me as I got my gear check bag prepped, ate breakfast, got my stretches in and feet prepared.  I parked about 7 am and walked to starting area and checked my bag, I got in some short runs to warm up the muscles and focused on really stretching the hamstring area.

Just as the race was about to start, they announced that Brandy Chastain would be running this race too, I didn't see her, but it was cool to know she was running it.  A little after 8 am, the gun sounded and I was off.  I started off with an easy pace through the first 2 miles, then i started to feel the muscle get tight, I stopped and stretched and continued on.  Same thing happened about mile 4, but I was managing it well.  At about mile 4.5, the course winds back to the start area and i could see the first elite runners come back to the finish (including the winner, who finished in 1:01:00!!!).  

I hit the 10k mark at about 1:14 and I could feel the hamstring really loosen up, to the point where I couldn't feel it anymore and I decided to push up the pace.  About mile 8, I was up near my goal race pace (about 10:30/mi) and feeling really strong, I had no doubt I would finish.

Mile 10 brought about a different challenge, I was beginning to get winded!  This was not something I was used to, but 8 days off of running had taken a bit of a toll, so I had to stop and walk for a few minutes to regain my breath.  I continued on, but at an easier pace.

Right after Mile 12, I saw some emergency vehicles and paramedics attending to a woman on the ground. I read later on that she and another man actually died on the course.  Pretty shocking as it was the first deaths in the 4 year history of SJ RNR.

I was about 3/4 mile from the finish when my hamstring started to give me issues.  It had lasted longer than I expected, so now I really dialed the pace down.  As I rounded the final corner, I blocked out the pain and finished strong in 2:35:48.  About 6 minutes off my finish last year, but considering I was running at 80% mostly, it was a great finish time. 

The medal this year was way better than last year and will post pics up on Facebook soon.

This was my most challenging race of my short career as this is first injury I've suffered and learning how to work through it has taught me some valuable lessons.

I'm continuing to rehab the hamstring as I have my last event of the year coming up.  US Half in San Francisco on Nov 1st.

Brian
~350

All things considered, sounded like a good day for you.  A bad day for the two runners who died...but a good day for you.  You persevered and made the best of it...way to go!

Duane

Way to push through bro! Finishing a half mari is a great accomplishment  in and of itself, regardless of time! Keep fighting the good fight and tread lightly on your hambone!

Congrats on the finish.  Way to stick it out.

Scott

Hey, I wish I'd known you were there. We could have met somewhere afterwards.

I saw them working on a woman around the 12 mile marker too. They were just turning her over from where she had fallen and she was so still that I just knew it was bad. It kind of freaked me out a bit.

This was my first time doing this race and I just loved it. I plan to do it again next year. (I can't believe I'm saying this. I used to hate to run.)

San Jose Half is really well run from the expo to the parking to the race itself.  Its a world of difference running the course a 2nd time since I knew what to expect and it felt shorter to me, even though I was slower this time.

I plan to do it next year too since its so close, so perhaps we'll meet up then.  What was your time?

Brian
~350

2:11:07! I was really happy with that as it was much faster than I was expecting.

Congratulations Brian.  

Cassie