Eugene Women's Half Marathon--In the Slip Stream

Well, this performance is worthy of its own report

I signed up for today's half-marathon as a speed workout in preparation for the Humboldt County Marathon in October. It's a little spendy, as far as half-marathons go, and considering that it is the same route I run at least once a week, one might wonder why I even have to sign up to run it. But I had heard good things about the vibes of this run, I wanted the chance to test my fitness, it meant that I was paying for support along the way, and I like the idea of a race that is dedicated to women athletes. Plus the finishing medal is a sweet little charm.

I wasn't so sure what to expect today. Yesterday I spent the day fixing a roof in the sun, and was really exhausted when I got home. I tried to eat good food and stay hydrated yesterday and got to bed early. My sleep was peppered with really odd dreams, some about the race, and some about other things. Fascinating how the mind works. I lived a whole two years in about 6 hours.

Got up early this morning and ate oatmeal with banana and drank a cup of coffee and some juice. Before we left for the start, I drank a big glass of water. I was able to get my business done before the start.

The start of this race was so funny. I have to honestly say that this was a phenomenon unique to a women's race. When the pacers held up their signs, and we gathered around them, no one wanted to move forward to the line, even though the race director was urging us to get closer. If this had been a group of men, they would have been pushing towards the line, ready to surge the start, and rightly so...IT'S A RACE. But we are women, and there were very few elites in the group, so we all were looking to each other to try and suss out who was faster, and who should get ahead.

I decided at the last minute to get behind the 8 minute pacer and hold on as long as I could. There was a good size group of us, and I figured that after 4 or so miles we would get strung out and I could stay at the back of the line. I was SO HOPING for a new PR (EWEB Half, Nov 2009, 1:46:50), but not quite sure...

The gun went off. It felt easy, although my watch said we were running a 7:50 pace. I decided to give the pacer a mile or so to work it out, and then if she was still way ahead of the pace, to back off.

We went through mile 3 in 23:40, so she was still a little fast. I eased off a tad, and noticed that there was a woman who did the same. We formed our own group of three, since we were joined quickly by another woman who had eased off, and ran the next 4 miles in perfect 8s. You can see from the splits, which are at the bottom of the post....

At each mile, I tried to make a deal with myself that if I needed to, I could back off, and would probably still have a PR, but I was really comfortable where I was. I was in a little slip stream that the pacer and our group were creating, and I was afraid that if I backed off, I would lose contact and be in no man's land. Every time I thought about it, I would actually quicken a bit, so as to stay right with the group. I did feel a little tired at mile 7, but I ate a half a clif shot and some water, and reminded myself we were half way there already.

And then, at mile 9, we reeled the pacer in. She had slowed slightly, and we stayed on pace. After that, I was right behind her. At the same time, I lost my other lady, who slowed suddenly and was gone. Then it was just me, the pacer and two other women.

At mile 10, we celebrated double digits of perfect 8 min miles and the fact that all that was left was a 5K.

At mile 11, I warned the others about the dreaded Knickerbocker Bridge Hill and promised that if we could hump up it together, it was easy peasy the rest of the way. I said it out loud, but I meant it more for me, because at this point, I could taste the finish line...we were headed back to the finish instead of away from it...and I was getting a lump in my throat with anticipation.

At mile 12, I caught the pacer on a downhill and got in front. At mile 12 and a half I started to surge towards the next group of runners because now I could see the 5th Street Market where the finish was.

THEN I SAW MY DH at about mile 12.9, who I did not expect to be there. I yelled "TED! I am RUNNING FUCKING SUB 8 miles!!!!" and he laughed and told me to run faster, which was hard, because at this point I was crying. But I think I did.

And then there was the finish! 1:44:21 by my calculations...we'll see what the official time is later, but even if it is not sub 8s, it is a huge PR, since my best so far has been 8:11s. AND I did not fade.

So today was the day. Thank GOODNESS for the awesome pacer, who I did thank afterwards.

I plan to wear my finisher's charm, and bright watermelon colored shirt, with pride.

E Greenie<---hmmm, eggs and toast, or pancakes? Nap.

(Just logged on and saw the results: official time was 1:44:07!!!)

Splits:

1	1.00mi	7:45	7'44"/mi
2	1.00mi	7:54	7'53"/mi
3	0.99mi	7:57	7'57"/mi
4	1.00mi	8:00	7'58"/mi
5	0.99mi	8:10	8'11"/mi
6	0.99mi	8:01	8'01"/mi
7	1.00mi	8:06	8'05"/mi
8	1.00mi	8:03	8'02"/mi
9	0.99mi	8:09	8'09"/mi
10	0.99mi	8:02	8'02"/mi
11	1.01mi	7:59	7'53"/mi
12	0.98mi	7:59	8'04"/mi
13	1.00mi	7:39	7'38"/mi
14	0.06mi	0:27	7'02"/mi

Quote of the day!

EugeneGreenie wrote:"TED! I am RUNNING FUCKING SUB 8 miles!!!!"

Yes, yes you were! Fantastic work out there! You are in serious kick-ass condition! Nice job!

Great race and pacing! Congrats on the PR!

--Reina

Awesome performance.....but my take is that you lack confidence still! See that 8:11 in Mile 5? That's you having something to the effect of this going on in your head "oh shit, I'm running 7:50s...I can't run 7:50s in half...it feels so easy but must be wrong so I'll slow down..."

Well, now look your finish...7:38 final full mile and 7:02 for the last bit?!? TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE!

Seriously a tremendous race and huge PR and of course there's problems with following what I'm saying too much and saying the hell with it and running 30 seconds a mile faster than you should.....but......be that person next time who moves right in front of the pacer at the start of the race and runs from the mindset of you can do more and faster. Because that finish says you can.

Well done! Nice PR!

Thanks for the props everyone, and Chris, no worries, point taken

My husband asked the other night if and when I was going to change my name from Eugene Greenie to Eugene Veteran (or something like that). Of course the word "green" has other connotations here in the Willamette Valley, but the answer might be when I feel confident in my abilities...even after 7 years, 6 marathons, 7 halfs, countless 5 and 10Ks and hundreds of workouts, I am still a beginner. Maybe it's me, maybe it's Eugene...living in the land of giants does that to you

E Greenie<--crap, the vacuum cleaner is broken.

Well done Eliza, you crushed the half and now it is time to do the same in the full. Way To Go!

Really exciting race report and a great outcome. What's more, the splits say there is even better to come.

wow thats one great race lady! I think even speedier things are in your future go get em!