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First half - Smuttynose Half and Rockfest, Hampton, NH, 10-26-08 (Read 770 times)


Fool

    They say you shouldn’t do anything different before or during the race, so I spent the night before drinking and carousing until 2:00am. The scariest ten words in the English language – “It seemed like the thing to do at the time.” The scariest sound – the 6:30 alarm clock. My first half, and I’m already reaching for some hangover helper – not the best sign. It was a quiet ride up to Hampton Beach. Dead This was the first year of what will hopefully be an annual race by Loco Running. ½ Marathon for walkers and runners, followed by a concert at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. Though I would not be attending the concert, this years performer was a local favorite, Entrain, and would have been a good show if I had the time to stay. The first surprise was that the race finish (and parking area) was underwater from previous rainfall. This forced some relocations which were confusing, but mostly handled with good humor by the staff. I grabbed my number and timing chip and watched as the crowd filled in the beach. With the usual fanfare, the race started and we enjoyed the first mile, or as I call it, the bobbing sea of heads. I am in the middle of the pack, and soon catch up to the 9:00 minute pacer, Bob. I decide to follow along for a bit, resisting the urge to push further for the time being. A barbershop quartet sang as we passed, the first of several roadside performers I saw that day. About two miles in, the effects of the previous evenings crapulence begin to fade and by the third mile I’m enjoying the foliage and spiffy landscaping of Hampton’s recent developments, a complete contrast to the honky-tonk atmosphere of the board walk. At this point, the weather is pleasant, I’m in a groove behind the pacer and feel pretty good finishing, and even wondering if I can break under 2 hours. The next 3 miles of gentle inclines, I’m feeling great about the prospect. I realized at this point that I wasn’t really racing so much as enjoying a group run, I felt like I had some gas in the tank and decided to surge ahead. One minute later, I’m ahead of the pace-pack and pushing about a 7:40 pace, and suddenly I’m hit with a wave of nausea. I slow back down to a bit below a 9 pace and fortunately the feeling subsides. At this point, I am officially back in the pace group, just about 30 yards ahead. Just short of the seven mile mark, I find someone in the distance running around am 8:40 pace, and try to keep pace behind them. As a chatty person, I found the half pleasant in that there is a bit more talking. For miles 7-9 as we coasted back to the coast, I had a decent chat about running and hiking with another runner, a nurse from Exeter who had run quite a few of these, as well as several Marathons. The course here was really pretty, late season foliage on the right, crashing waves and breakers to the left, and the gentle roar of distant surf joined the echo of footfalls and heavy breathing. At this point my drafted pacer, ‘the guy in the green shirt’ starts pulling ahead and I try to keep up – at the expense of losing conversation. I try creeping ahead in speed, and notice that without concentration, my speed kept dropping back under 9:00mm, By mile 11 my thoughts of this being a breeze were pretty much over, and I took great comfort in a comment offered recently – “a PR is SUPPOSED to hurt.” I think to myself “H, T, F, U!” on each footstep and slowly I began to pass people, including more than a few who had burned out and began walking the last mile. It wasn’t easy, nor was it supposed to be, but I was glad I had trained enough to be out there. As I approach the final turn before the finish, I see my family waving and my daughter holding out her hand. As I get closer, I see what she has, and make the hand-off. This requires some explanation - For the last several years, my friends and I have been involved in the Fool Scouts, a group that provides trail magic to Appalachian Trail thruhikers – I think we’ve handed out more ice cream at elevation than anyone… we can be spotted easily by the groucho-nose glasses (as seen in my avatar). So here I am – in the final stretch, It’s been 13 months since I got off my lazy 235lb ass and started Couch to 5K, and here I am looking at the finish line of a half. I’m 35 lbs less, getting a final kick on, and wearing my nose glasses for the finish. Though I can’t wait to see those pictures, I am even sadder that I will never see the face of the person who finished ahead of me… when they get their finish photo and discover a lumbering lunatic charging behind them. I cross the finish line at 1:55:56. Simultaneously pleased with myself and immediately haunted by desire to go further and faster as time and training allow. Not sure where this running will take me, but I suspect this could be a lot of fun. Big grin Splits --------- 1- 8:41 2- 8:35 3- 8:51 4- 9:00 5- 8:54 6- 8:49 7- 8:30 8- 8:52 9- 8:58 10- 8:37 11- 8:41 12- 8:50 13- 8:35 .1 14:34 (I forgot to shut off the Garmin... :rollSmile
    wanderingoutlaw


      Great job on the race! I look forward to seeing your finish line photo.

      John

        Way to have fun, enjoy a beautiful day AND grab a PR. Doesn't get much better than that, congrats Russ!

        E.J.
        Greater Lowell Road Runners
        Cry havoc and let slip the dawgs of war!

        May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your SPF30, may the rains fall soft upon your sweat-wicking hat, and until you hit the finish line may The Flying Spaghetti Monster hold you in the hollow of His Noodly Appendage.

        theyapper


        On the road again...

          Great job! Hope my first half goes as well.

          I write. I read. I run. One time, I ran a lot on my 50th birthday.

          Paul

            Great job! Nice report as well! I'd love to try that race next year.


            Gotta TRI

              Great job!! We finished at just about the same time! How about that "bridge" to the pavillion to get food? Big grin It was a great race! I'll have to check the pics when they come out and see if you're behind me. At least I'll know who it is!
              2010 Dec. California International Marathon 2011 Jan. Disney Marathon


              Fool

                Thanks all, it was a fun race, and I'd recommend it. I'm going to wear out the photographers website while I wait for them to post photos. TheYapper Good luck on your half, looks like we've been on fairly similar training programs, C25K, OHR, etc. Andytrihard I decided to skip the 'bridge' to the pavillion... I had parked at the spaces nearest the beach, and had a bottle of Chimay Grand Reserve waiting since I started training for the half. It was delicious. Given my times, I wonder if I can get my pace down to near 7:30mm in the next couple of years. I live too close to Boston to not consider it. Evil grin
                budget3


                  Did you see this ?? http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/NEWS/802150427 BTW does anyone know what the AG prizes were ???


                  Fool

                    budget3 Didn't see anything like that. Might have been an earlier event (or misprint) The article appears to be dated February 15th. Does give me something new to worry about. How awful it must have been to get injured right at the finish. As for AG awards, I thought they were gift baskets - the tops in each age group received a sample pack of Smuttynose Brew.


                    Gotta TRI

                      Headed to Florida for the Disney Marathon next. You in? ( Jan. 11th.)
                      2010 Dec. California International Marathon 2011 Jan. Disney Marathon


                      Flat footer

                        Wow what a great run Russ. You make us Massholes proud!


                        Fool

                          Thanks all, the pics are up, but I guess they didn't get a clear shot of me finishing in the glasses... However they did get in the shot of the person finishing ahead of me... Big grin http://www.capstonephotostore.com/search.php?eventnum=194 Background fool - Bib #574 Unmasked fool #685