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Cary
Half Marathon Report
March 15 my friend Karen and I completed the Cary Half Marathon.
Many in the Chicago area runners circles look at this race
as the kick off to the running season. For me, it was smack
dab in the middle because I really enjoy training in the
winter. Well, I guess I wouldn't say that I really relished
those 0-14 degree F days...but I'd say my optimal running
temperature is 35-50 degrees F. And that's what we got for
race day!
This race course is notoriously hilly and having trained
primarily in the streets of Oak Park, I did not get much
hill exposure. However, some of the days my training partner
Karen and I would run over the Circle Ave. bridge in Forest
Park about 5-6 times in order to get some climbing in. Two
weeks prior to the race, we went out to Oak Brook where there
is a road we know well as cyclists–Spring Road. It is hilly,
and is surrounded by hilly side streets. That day was good
preparation for us–as it was about 20 degrees F, windy,
snowy, and hilly! We completed our last long run of 11 miles
that day and boy did we feel it afterwards (see picture).
Race day both of us were feeling great. I had some aches
and pains in my upper neck/back that was radiating down my
arms (primarily due to continual use of the computer and
head-forward posture). I had received Prolotherapy for this
injury a few weeks prior to the race, so I was feeling fine
about that situation. It was 27 degrees at the start of the
race, so both of us were wearing two shirts, hat, and gloves.
However, as the start of the race approached (8:35AM start
time) the sun was peeking out and the temperatures were beginning
to rise. Needless to say, I stripped off that second shirt
before mile number three and ditched the hat and gloves.
We were clipping along at 10:40 pace which is great for me.
My goal was to finish in 2:30 or under preferably, so we
were on course to do that. By mile 8, I was getting a bit
fatigued, overheated, and my right hamstring was really hurting
me, in addition to my upper back. But it was all tolerable.
The last half of the course is loaded with hills, so unfortunately
the pace slowed down a bit for me (and Karen). I finally
realized I was just too hot (hard to believe) so I doused
my head with some water and felt much better. But at this
point I only had about 2 miles to go.
But, I finished my second
half marathon in 4 months. Same time - 2:30...but hey, at
least I finished! I really enjoyed the training, probably
more than the actual race. Karen and I stuck w/ a three or
four day per week training schedule and that included many
mornings getting out on the road at 5:20AM in the dark, frigid
temperatures. When it would get just too frigid, we'd meet
at the gym and do our workouts on the treadmill - talk about
torture! But all-in-all it was a great bonding experience.
We next plan on doing a triathlon in June (Karen) and I will
probably do the duathlon (we'll see). The big ride we are
going to train for will be the Dairy Land Dare in the Madison,
WI area in August. LOTS more hills there too...see you on
the road... |
Marion and Karen
training for the Cary Half Marathon. |
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