Atlanta Publix Half Marathon Race Report

Sorry first post was some how not complete.

 Publix Half Marathon Race Report

 

I didn’t get much sleep last night. On days I know I have to get up early whether it’s traveling for work or event days. I got up this morning at 4:45am. I ate an English muffin with peanut putter and banana. Also drank some Premier Protein. I left the house at 5:29am and drove to the event. I parked the car and walked to the starting corral. I was in Corral G, and I signed up for pace group of 2:00.

 

There were somewhere in the neighborhood of 14,000 people competing in the half and full marathon. I was there early so stood around in the corral for a bit, and as time got closer started to stretching things out. The morning was awesome weather. I woke up to 62 degree weather, and at race time it was approximately 65 with a slight breeze.

 

The race began on time and as each corral walked up to the starting line everyone was charged and having a good time. I crossed the line and my chip began collecting the seconds that were ticking away. The first 9 miles I felt really strong, some rolling hills, but nothing the hit my legs to hard. I kept a nice pace a little slower than I would have liked, but average pace was around 9:30/mile which was a full minute per mile faster than the Thanksgiving Half I did in November. My nutrition for the race was right on pace. I finished two e-gels and for the race and drank 30 oz of fluid with grabbing a couple of waters from the stations at different times during the race.

 

I can’t say that at any time the wheels fell off, but from end of mile 9 through mile 12.5 it was a continuous climb evening out long enough to go around a corner, and then continue up again. Then hills weren’t immediate slap you in the face, punch you in the gut hills, but instead the kind of long increasing in gradation climbs that keeps the legs fatigued and laughs at you when you think you want to step up your cadence and speed. So this is where I lost a lot of my time on the course. At the end of the 12.5 climb there were still a couple of rolling hills, so the climb wasn’t over and the finish was uphill, so my legs continued to feel the burn even though the big climbs were over. My mind kept saying, “you slacker frickin pickup your feet and run the last half mile, it’s only a half mile you can whine and cry afterwards." Well the mind was willing, but the legs just continued to laugh at me, and said not today.

 

I crossed the finish line and my watch said 2:10:58, my unofficial time from the chip is 2:10:56. I had a 10K split of 1:01:48. I finished strong even if slower than I had hoped, but it was a good race.

 

So, all of the above are positives. There is a negative, but it isn’t a race issue. The last 5 weeks I have been having some swelling in my left ankle with some radiating heat on and around the ankle area. The point of the inside of the left ankle when touched sends shooting pain through my leg, and is extremely tender to the tough. I have an appointment to check it out on Tuesday, scheduled purposely for after the race, I didn’t want to know anything prior to the race. So, I ran the race on less then a perfect ankle, but I do not believe that the ankle issue impacted my performance. Now walking after the race around Centennial Park, back to the car, and as I am typing this report is a different story. The ankle is throbbing. I will be spending the next two days off the ankle waiting to see what the doctor thinks the problem might be.

 

I am looking forward to the next race, but not sure if it will be a 5K for fun or if I will be waiting for the Chastain Sprint TRI that my friend Paul and I have signed up for, either way training will continue hard and I look forward to improving my times the next go around. I improved my time today in the half by 8 minutes. I have no complaints.

 

Thank you for taking time to read the report. I hope it inspires everyone to get out there and give it ago. At 48 I took up running seriously less than 6 months ago and have completed two half marathons. I feel a full marathon in my future, and I my plans are for Goofy in 2013. Signup for Goofy begins soon. Let’s get GOOFY together.

 The progress you have made is remarkable!  

AWESOME report! Congratulations on finishing and with such an improvement on your time!

This is very inspirational - I just started the C25K program, and I'm signed up for a half marathon in 5 months, and I'm horribly nervous. Your story helps me realize that I can do it

 Thanks for taking the time to write up a report!!  What an fantastic job!  I signed up for a 1/2 in September and am really excited!  Reports like this keep me going!!!

Kat

 good job Jay!

I can say I was bummed that I couldn't do this race, but I didn't have time to train the miles.

Get your bucket ready for Chastain Park!

 I have already picked it out. It's purple with white Unicorns. 

 Great job!  I was feeling those hills right there with you!  Thanks for a great report and Congrats on the PR!

great job buddy!  those hills are no joke, that was my first marathon course a couple of years ago and my legs were beyond wet noodles by the end of the race.  great milestone!  keep it up, i may join you guys in the tri in may, depends on my travel schedule.

 Would be great to have you with us in May.

Nice race! Awesome PR!

Hope you ankle is healing now, don't pu**** make sure you are ready for the tough training. Can't wait for you to do that tri!