Notes
I felt good warming up and the weather was ideal, so i knew I would have a good race if the glute played nice. At the half mile point, it started to get worse and I almost dropped out.
At this point, realizing I don't know how long I would last. I decided to run very hard, about 5K effort to at least get a good hard workout. And it the pain wasn't too bad, I would finish but I am sure really slowing down. However, glute was steadily getting worse. I went through mile 1 in 6;42 and pushed mile 2 hard in 6:28. In 2014, my first 2 mile splits were 6;50 and 6:36, so I was running 22 seconds fater, but also with more effort.
When I ran through the lumpy grass around 2.5 miles, the glute complained even more and by the time I got to the start of the 'hill' at 2.7, I knew I would fall apart on the hill risk further injury on the steep decent. so I dropped out.
I was on 6:54 pace for mile 2 to 2.7. It would have been over 7:00 if I made it to mile 3 as the hill would have started. In 2014, this mile was 6;57, so i would have been slower for sure.
I jogged back to the start at slow 11:00 plus pace and the glute and hamstring was very sore.
I made the right decision. I would be even more messed up if I finished the race. and it might have ruined me for the rest of the year.
I still plan on doing the DRC Half Marathon on September 23rd. But I need to take time off because like this, I cannot train properly. I will take 5 days off and do some bike rides and run Monday to access my situation.
I struggled sleeping. Lower hammy was cramping.