Notes
Dark places from mile 7 on - fought it hard until 22. Legs decided they had enough, so I walked it home. More later need food and bed...
Vermont City
4:14:27 (9:43)
59/158 in age group
Have dreaded coming back to this race report - this effort represents failure - plain and simple. Legs just didn't get it done. Conditions sure, heat sure - but another damn cycle left short. This is just what I needed - no time to dwell on it. Ready for the next one. Not gonna leave this bad taste in my mouth for long.
On to the report.... I knew from the first moment I stepped out of the car at the expo that this was going to be different. Heat so stifling that it took your breathe away. None the less, I put on my best game face and hydrated the best I knew how. Gonna give it what I got. Race day morning went well. No real issues - found Andy in the sea of people and we lined up for the start. Already sweating my ass off. I went out comfy and let Andy go - by mile 4, he was already beyond me. I kept my BQ pace for a bit. Then the highway hit. WOW, that was the place were dreams and people were shattered. Hilly with no shade - had to be mid-90s on the pavement. I've never seen so many people already walking in a race - it was only mile 6!
Came off the highway of hell and gave up my aspirations of a BQ - Decided that this was gonna be race of survival. Settled into a "comfy" pace, but really I was already done. Started to focus on form and just trying to conserve energy for what I knew was coming. Goal from mile 6-16: just hold on and try to break four hours. Those 10 miles ended up being the hardest thing I've ever done. Don't remember much of it to be honest - went into utter survival mode and a dark place. I've never felt that before. I honestly had no idea if I was coming out of this thing in one piece, but I knew I was not going to DNF (whether or not it was smart, I was going to finish).
Battery hill was next - honestly, compared to the highway an open heat, this thing was nothing. Loved the crowds and the drums were very cool. A good memory in an otherwise forgettable day. I must say, the crowds and support were incredible on this course - wow. Got over the hill, saw B and felt strangely energized from this.
Didn't last long - hit yet another long stretch of open highway with STIFLING heat. We again entered yet another neighborhood with lawn hoses every 10 feet or so - by mile 18 this got REAL old - feet were soaked and I was dodging them just to keep from blistering more. By miles 20 I was ready for this to end - hanging on by a thread and my legs began to hint at failure - yet, I told them to shut up and kept a pretty good pace considering. Went down a good downhill and onto the shaded trail - 4 miles left.
Well the trail was not what I expected - really it was not a trail at all, but bad pavement with many potholes and ankle breakers and slightly uphill for the first 3 miles - many people around me were walking and a few fell. By mile 22 legs were done - every muscle was cramping - ok to walk but when I tried to run - nope. Gonna be walking it in. Strangely enough, the only muscle that felt OK were my hammys - go figure. By miles 24 officials came onto the course and said the race was cancelled due to heat (Finish if you can, but stopping now is advised) - WHAT? Youa re asking us to stop at miles 24-25??? Obviously these "officials" have never run a race before and had to persevere - to a person, everyone around us totally ignored these idiots (could understand pulling people at 16, but miles 24-25?).
The finish was really pretty special here - this thing was lined with tons of people and very loud. Really a very inspirational way to finish - that is if you weren't walking the whole way. Honestly, that is a feeling I don't ever want to repeat - utter failure the whole way in. I was a wreck at the end of this emotionally. Wanted to punch every person telling me I'm almost there - can't they see the dejection on my face - SHUT UP and let me finish! Dark times to be starring at 4:14 - a PW (personal worst) for sure.
All this said - legs feel OK the day after and I'm pretty pissed off with this - Leaving VT energized and ready for the next race. There will be better days and after a good rest, I am more than ready to hit the training road again. I have unfinished business.
On a good note: had a great time with Deb and Mark Rix after - tried my first heddy topper and sip of sunshine DIPA - great food, beer and even better company - good way to finish off the day.