13.1 Atlanta. First half is now history! (Race Report)
So I signed up for 13.1 Atlanta by mistake back in July the day before running my first 10K, I guess I got caught up in the excitement of pushing my limits farther, but this mistake turned out to be a good thing.
The past 2 weeks I have been really nervous about this race not only the distance but I have been fighting some knee pain that last week just hit the limit. I asked my wife to get me into the Ortho this week that way I didn’t have to deal with a doctor telling me I couldn’t race, not doing this race was not an option I would have crawled across the finish line if I had to. So Thursday I saw the Ortho and he did X-rays which came back fine, and poked around my leg, decision was that I needed NSAIDS and a mechanical leg brace. I said no dice to the NSAIDs and opted for a cortisone shot right into my knee. MRI this week, possibly a torn meniscus which would require the knee to be scoped. I told the doctor that I was running in a half marathon and not doing it was simply not going to happen. He said that the injury wouldn’t prevent me from running it but “It Will HurtÂ".
So race Starts Sunday morning 7am I packed my stuff up in a gear bag the night before except my water bottle which I put in the fridge. Get to bed early Saturday night because 4am comes quickly.
Wake up at 4am as per the usual. I did change my race morning routine slightly an opted to not eat my waffle with PB as my stomach was going crazy with nerves so I just dumped a couple bananas in my protein shake. I stretched out and hit my foam roller one last time and then got dressed. Jumped in the car and headed out. I get about 10 minutes down the road and realize I forgot my water bottle, I didn’t want to deal with the crowds a****er stations so I turned around and went home to get it. I am about 15 minutes away from the start and get a call from my friend who is running it too and she let me know people are just starting to get there so parking isn’t an issue; the town it was in is fairly small with limited parking. I arrive and meet up with my friend and we start walking around, to keep warm since it is 42, as we have about an hour until the race starts and hit the porta-can line.
The race allows you to choose what wave you want, which I like and later hated. I get at the tail end of the 2:20 line since I want to come in between 2:20 and 2:30, not having run in a week and not having ran in my knee brace I was being totally optimistic with these times. Gun goes off and the race starts. Fortunately everyone is smart and mellow and walks to the start line and then begin running. The course starts by winding through some nice neighborhoods and is mainly downhill so I am feeling pretty good, I keep an eye on my garmin for this first mile so I can get into a decent pace I settled in comfortably in the 10:30 area. Then it hits! Hills yes lots of up hills it seemed that for every time you would run down one you would go up 2. These were just quick sort hills some were long sweeping ones while others were very short and steep. I see that I am holding to my 10:30 range pace and feeling pretty good. I have even managed to pace a fair number of people who were in waves a head of me including a number of walkers this wouldn’t have bugged me except they all seemed to be groups that walked in line with each other and took the whole lane up.
First 7 miles go by no problem a bit of pain but nothing to bad. Then mile 8 comes along and it has some real hills (for me they were bad). After the first couple hills in mile 8 it got to the point I could feel every step up hill in my right knee and the pain was to the point that it hurt to run down the hills too. I pushed forward as hard as I could watching my pace times drop, but at this point it became a matter of just finishing, I refused to walk it, although my pace may have been called a walk. I counted down the miles in my head and pushed harder when I felt I wanted to stop.
I make the last turn and see the finish line and look at my watch and see that I can still finish in under 2:30 so I decide to give it everything I have for the finish. I crossed the finish line in 2:27 at 7.8mph. I was quickly met by my friend who I totally didn’t recognize. She shoves some bananas and powerade zero in my hands and helps get me through the finish area, food Finishers photos and such. We walked around for a bit and then we headed home. I didn’t play the I could have done it faster because I walked away knowing I gave everything my body had to cross the finish line, if I can do that with a screwed knee then I know I can do better when I am on 2 good knees.
A hot shower and some Lortab 10 had me feeling pretty good rest of the day. This morning I am paying the price but it was so totally worth it.
So I have my first half under my belt and a painfull one at that. Thanks to everyone for their inspiration and support in helping me get here!
And for those who want to know there was no Chocolate Rain at all, but I did enjoy some Chocolate milk after the race. It just took me an hour to drink so I didn't dump for the sugars!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118591355
The past 2 weeks I have been really nervous about this race not only the distance but I have been fighting some knee pain that last week just hit the limit. I asked my wife to get me into the Ortho this week that way I didn’t have to deal with a doctor telling me I couldn’t race, not doing this race was not an option I would have crawled across the finish line if I had to. So Thursday I saw the Ortho and he did X-rays which came back fine, and poked around my leg, decision was that I needed NSAIDS and a mechanical leg brace. I said no dice to the NSAIDs and opted for a cortisone shot right into my knee. MRI this week, possibly a torn meniscus which would require the knee to be scoped. I told the doctor that I was running in a half marathon and not doing it was simply not going to happen. He said that the injury wouldn’t prevent me from running it but “It Will HurtÂ".
So race Starts Sunday morning 7am I packed my stuff up in a gear bag the night before except my water bottle which I put in the fridge. Get to bed early Saturday night because 4am comes quickly.
Wake up at 4am as per the usual. I did change my race morning routine slightly an opted to not eat my waffle with PB as my stomach was going crazy with nerves so I just dumped a couple bananas in my protein shake. I stretched out and hit my foam roller one last time and then got dressed. Jumped in the car and headed out. I get about 10 minutes down the road and realize I forgot my water bottle, I didn’t want to deal with the crowds a****er stations so I turned around and went home to get it. I am about 15 minutes away from the start and get a call from my friend who is running it too and she let me know people are just starting to get there so parking isn’t an issue; the town it was in is fairly small with limited parking. I arrive and meet up with my friend and we start walking around, to keep warm since it is 42, as we have about an hour until the race starts and hit the porta-can line.
The race allows you to choose what wave you want, which I like and later hated. I get at the tail end of the 2:20 line since I want to come in between 2:20 and 2:30, not having run in a week and not having ran in my knee brace I was being totally optimistic with these times. Gun goes off and the race starts. Fortunately everyone is smart and mellow and walks to the start line and then begin running. The course starts by winding through some nice neighborhoods and is mainly downhill so I am feeling pretty good, I keep an eye on my garmin for this first mile so I can get into a decent pace I settled in comfortably in the 10:30 area. Then it hits! Hills yes lots of up hills it seemed that for every time you would run down one you would go up 2. These were just quick sort hills some were long sweeping ones while others were very short and steep. I see that I am holding to my 10:30 range pace and feeling pretty good. I have even managed to pace a fair number of people who were in waves a head of me including a number of walkers this wouldn’t have bugged me except they all seemed to be groups that walked in line with each other and took the whole lane up.
First 7 miles go by no problem a bit of pain but nothing to bad. Then mile 8 comes along and it has some real hills (for me they were bad). After the first couple hills in mile 8 it got to the point I could feel every step up hill in my right knee and the pain was to the point that it hurt to run down the hills too. I pushed forward as hard as I could watching my pace times drop, but at this point it became a matter of just finishing, I refused to walk it, although my pace may have been called a walk. I counted down the miles in my head and pushed harder when I felt I wanted to stop.
I make the last turn and see the finish line and look at my watch and see that I can still finish in under 2:30 so I decide to give it everything I have for the finish. I crossed the finish line in 2:27 at 7.8mph. I was quickly met by my friend who I totally didn’t recognize. She shoves some bananas and powerade zero in my hands and helps get me through the finish area, food Finishers photos and such. We walked around for a bit and then we headed home. I didn’t play the I could have done it faster because I walked away knowing I gave everything my body had to cross the finish line, if I can do that with a screwed knee then I know I can do better when I am on 2 good knees.
A hot shower and some Lortab 10 had me feeling pretty good rest of the day. This morning I am paying the price but it was so totally worth it.
So I have my first half under my belt and a painfull one at that. Thanks to everyone for their inspiration and support in helping me get here!
And for those who want to know there was no Chocolate Rain at all, but I did enjoy some Chocolate milk after the race. It just took me an hour to drink so I didn't dump for the sugars!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118591355
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Fantastic job Paul!! I hope to be able to follow in your footsteps next Summer! I've been doing the chocolate milk thing as well after long workouts and as long as I don't completely over do it, I tend to do ok.
Again, great job! Thanks for the very informative race report!
Again, great job! Thanks for the very informative race report!
HW: 280 / SW: 250 / GW#1: 175 / GW#2: 160 / GW#3: 150 / CW: 147.8 
Includes 30 lbs lost pre-surgery.
Includes 30 lbs lost pre-surgery.
Super excited for you, Paul! Way to push through the pain! Now, I hope you can get that knee taken care of.
Totally was thinking of you on my training run yesterday - and you beat my time! woohoo! I did 2:28 and that's not counting the bathroom break in a Dunkin Donuts.
Congrats!!
Totally was thinking of you on my training run yesterday - and you beat my time! woohoo! I did 2:28 and that's not counting the bathroom break in a Dunkin Donuts.
Congrats!!
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
Find out what the issue is hopefully next week then I will know about turkey day. I really want to but need to look at the good and the bad.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Nice Paul. Go take care of that knee. Want to meet up with you and Mac soon, and learn how to get where you guys are.
Jay
Jay
Jay
First 5K 5/21/2011 00:48:24
First 13 mile run 02:31:39 10/30/2011
5K Race PR 24:38 5/2013
First TRIATHLON 1:48:37 5/7/2012
Augusta Ironman 70.3 6:54:67
Half Marathon PR 1:55:39 6/8/2013 Bootlegger Half Marathon
Most Active
Recent Topics
