The Big D Marathon/Half Marathon is not a huge event by any means, but still had close to 3,000 participants between the two events. It was very low key with no corrals or even a start banner. They had the timing arches setup and everyone lined up behind those. I got there about an hour before the race and parking was a breeze. The last half marathon I did was Rock 'n Roll Phoenix in 2006 and it was a mad house. I know a lot of people love the crowds and the energy it brings, but I was excited to be able to focus on the task at hand without the worries such large events bring.
After my warm up I had about 20 minutes to go before the start of the race. I made my way to the start line. I took in a few deep breathes and walked through the race plan in my head. I have a very bad habit of going out way too fast in any running races I do. I have been able to get away with that in the 5ks, 10ks, and a few 15ks I have done. I knew if I did that here it was going to be a recipe for disaster. I knew I would have to hold back and not get caught up in the mix of runners going out faster than me. The plan was to go out and run 6:40s for the first 6 miles and then pick it up from mile 6-10. Then the last three miles was give it all I got. With a few minutes to go I line up in the front and look up to the sky. I thank God for being there these last few months and getting me to the start line.
The gun goes off and away we go. I settle into a comfortable pace and let a group of about 10-15 runners go. The marathon and half started together and didn't know who was who in the front group. When I signed up for the race I read that it was a flat and fast course. After about a mile I found out it wasn't as flat as I anticipated. That was okay though! I just kept the effort where it needed to be and focused on my turnover and form. Before the race Torsten told me to run the first six in a controlled sustainable effort feeling I could run a lot faster. That was definitely where I was at. Within the first few miles a couple guys passed me and I let them go. As I got to mile six I had one of the guys that passed me in my sights. It was time to increase the effort a bit and I got on his heels for about thirty seconds before I was able to comfortably pass him and create a gap. As I continued to hold the effort the course turned slightly uphill at mile eight and continued like that for a little over a mile. At this point the quads are starting to burn, but the form and turnover was still there. On the hill I passed a few others and by the time I got to mile 10 I wasn't sure how many were in front of me. However, it was time to find another gear and get going! I picked up the pace and when I found a course volunteer I asked how many were in front of me. He said there were six men and I could see three of them up the road a ways. Within another mile I got on the heels of another racer for about a 1/2 mile and when we got to an aid station he walked it and I just grabbed a water at pace and never looked back! With two miles to go I could see Fair Park and for me it is always an energy boost to see the finish area. I was definitely hurting at this point, but there was not going to be any let up. With about a 1/2 mile to go I saw fourth place overall ahead of me. I looked back to see if anyone was behind me and there wasn't. I knew this was my chance to see if I had any kick left to catch him. If I did it was going to be a big confidence booster for future races. If I didn't it would be a lesson learned, but I wouldn't have lost any places in the race. I went for it and with about a 1/4 mile I passed him on an uphill and kept the foot on the gas. I crossed the finish line in 1:28:20 and ten seconds ahead of the guy I passed. Come to find out at awards he was in my age group and that pass put me in fourth overall and first in my age group.
This race was a definite confidence booster for me and can't wait to take what I learned and apply it in future racing!
