OK, race report details Stats: I'm 37 5'6" 141 lbs, chip time 2:26:54 avg race HR 164, sunny and clear normal temps 39º- 50º Saturday (day before race) I've had a cold for a couple of days - minor sore throat, lots of snot. I do a just under 3 mile run with the last 2 at my planned pace 10:30- it seemed pretty easy. DH arranged for a boat ride with good friends to relax - we went out in Penobscot Bay and drifted around and ate roast beef sandwiches and chips, perfect afternoon. It's a bit cool for a sail so we have blankets and gloves. Sunday morning - up at 4am (I've been waking up all night - I'm really going to take DH advice and run more races next season so I can learn how to relax before a race) Coffee and Kashi waffles for breakfast. 4:45 DH drives us to Portland. Its COLD 35º We get to UMaine, everything is organized - its a small race (1000 marathoners, 1800 half marathoners - their biggest race ever) and everyone is friendly and joking around. I go outside to warm up and come right back in - its still cold! I put on on the nice new tech T over my nice old tech T and we go outside to line up. Wheelchair marathoner starts first and then the gun goes off unexpectedly - here we go! I'm a bit freaked out because I always run solo and all of a sudden I'm in a big pack - or local races are VERY small. Since I'm not wearing headphones I can hear everyone's footsteps - it sounds like a herd of stallions (in a good way) The plan is to run at 10:30m/m pace for 10 minutes and walk for 1 minute consistently for the whole race (2:25:00). Thanks Paul for the spreadsheet! I orginally wanted to run through (McMillian 2:17:00) and walk the water stations but I cramped in my last race 9/1 and still had cramping afterwards - I experimented with the run/ walk - no cramping -so this seemed right. I have a whole season to investigate that issue. Its very hard to slow down in the beginning - I find myself at 9:30 pretty often and have to check myself. most of the flem and snot is removed in the first 15 minutes - it seems the cold went on hiatus for 12 hours - I was breathing normally. Around mile 3, I'm in a little group - a pretty happy bunch, really chatty (are they running?) and we are all together until the turnaround - I notice that the most evenly paced people are marathoners. I lose them with my walk breaks and then catch up, as long as I can see them I know I'm OK. We see the leaders going home around mile 5.5 - its getting a little hilly, but I they aren't as bad as my regular hills. We turn around (1:13:00) and lose the evenly paced folks, a lot of people in my group are slowing down, so I move along to the next group - this part was a little lonely. By mile 9, 10:30 isn't easy - but I'm doing it. The wheelchair racer passes at my mile 10 -- he BQs. Mile 10.5 must high-five the chicken man (local nut bar) he does not give me a beer that I request. I get to mile 11 at my goal time 2:00:00, but I'm losing power. We get back to "Back Cove" which is the final 1.5 miles and I have to tough it out, it feels endless but actually I have an even split. Finally the end - there's a big unexpected sprint/ panic as we cross the HM finish line as everyone wants to get in before the winner of the marathon gets in (2:27x pretty close!) Post race - I'm not hungry - which is a shocker. DH scores space blanket. We talk to the race director - he is wonderful and he and DH talk about biking. Got a massage - which is why I can walk at all, suddenly I am incredibly sore, but extremely happy and proud. This is a great small city race, not alot of crowd nor music but beautiful views and lovely neighborhoods to run through. Cheap entry fee and nice T. I heard lots of good talk about the Maine Track Club - I wish I were closer to Portland so I could participate. Drive home, eat fish and chips, naps all around, snot and cold return... Today - I am starving. I eat normally (with the addition of an illegal brownie) and dream about food while making a model for work. I did gingerly walk for 40 minutes this morning. Tonight (Monday) - somehow made it up the stairs to my little office, after a late meeting, now sitting at computer with large glass of wine. I'm still assessing the whole experience. Lessons learned: 1. Follow the Plan, It Works! I'm a real improviser - this is so hard for me, I get excited and overdo it (in every aspect of life) I'm glad I had the willpower to stay within my limits (for my first HM) I don't have proper mile splits, because I set my Garmin for the 10/1 but each run segment was between 10:19 and 11:26. 2. Don't drink the Kool-Aid With love, A

Congrats Ayola! Nice to hear you battled through it with a cold. I can't tell right now if I'm getting rid of the last cold or starting a new one. Hope you feel better and thanks for the report. I love reading these before my race this Sunday.

Thanks guys, MrPH - always good advice. I had a super short run yesterday and I'm feeling back to normal today, which is good because I go to meet the weight trainer after work George - I hope you feel better - these perfect fall days here in New England help alot. A

Good day all!! Hope everyone is doing well, and enjoying this fine weather. I'm got my HM tomorrow at 7:0am and looking to break 2 hours. It's a flat course and weather should be good. It looks to be about 60 degrees at start time and close to 65 around 9:00am (hopefully the time I'm crossing the finish line), so it shouldn't be too bad. Personally, I'd prefer it to be a little cooler...but at least it's not too hot. After this race, I've got a 5K in November...then it's onto my full marathon in December (Huntsville). I'll post a RR on here sometime over the weekend.

Good luck Paul! My HM is Sunday. Course is hilly but still looking to break 2 hours too. Weather is ideal too!

Good luck to you too, George!!!

Ran 13k/8 miles last night, with 10k at my goal pace for the half marathon. Although I made the 10k in 50 minutes I am pretty sure I could not hold that pace much further. My problem, as always, is speeding up close to the end of the run- in this case the last 3k were the fastest, about 15 seconds too fast. Taking it easy now so there will not be too many miles this week, just saving my energy for the big day! Well done Ayola! Hope Paul and george had good races.... Simon.

Well done, Paul! I think the heat made it tough for you, but that's a very solid run. No doubt you will do even better next time. Simon.