Last Race of 2011 The Ashland Half Marathon

Today I wrapped up the racing season by returning to the scene where I began my rebound from foot injuries that hampered me for 2 years. The Ashland Half was where I tested the foot that gave me trouble. In 2010 it was a test to see if I could climb the constant elevations of this street course. That day was blustery, cold and gloomy and my running time of 2:24 was not a big concern as I just wanted to prove to my body I was not done. Though depleted and sore, I came away unscathed and determined to proceed with plans to run my second marathon. The racing season was conservative as I entered limited races in 2011: Columbus Half Marathon - May Shoals Indiana Catfish 5 k- July Chicago Marathon - October Trunk or Treat 5k- October Ashland Half Marathon- December So this morning I went back to where it started. The temps hovered around the freezing point but the sun seemed determined to chase away all traces that reminded us of the season we were facing. Coming to the race, I had much higher expectation than to finish a long distance race. I was feeling good and in probably the best shape I have felt in three years. I knew I had trained hard for this race because I was determined to empty my tank. Most of the last weeks involved significant training on hills. Living on the edge of the country afforded me many opportunities to get ready for the hills I would encounter in this race. About 300 half marathoners toed up to the start and soon we were on my way. Running on a moderate downward slope forced me to a more up-tempo pace than I normally apply when starting a long race. At the half mile mark the hills start dominating the landscape. Here was the place that I started testing out if my hill work was going to pay off. I was pleasantly surprised by the surging I experienced on the hills. Though I tried to warm up before the race the cold and terrain was causing my shins to tighten and reduce motion for the first 2.5 miles. There was a time that would have worried me but I knew the race was long and my legs would catch up in time. At the 3 mile mark I hit 25 minutes for an 8:20 pace. I toss Kelly my gloves as I was convinced they were no longer necessary. Happy to have full range in my feet again, I simply focused on running a healthy pace, unconcerned with those around me. I preached to myself to run my own race no matter what.

At mile 4 I took my first and final drink of the race. This is not normally what I do nor recommend but on this day it worked for me. I remembered how much time I lost hitting all those water stations in Chicago and probably over corrected today. When my legs were finally fully back under me I was able to climb and descend hills with steady confidence. I was feeling strong as I clipped past miles 5, 6 and 7. When I hit that 7th mile and saw that I hit the 60 minute mark at that point I was very encouraged to know I was running an average of 7 m.p.h. even with all these hills. On the hills I found I fatigued very little and gained ground on other runners at key points on the course. For the first time in awhile I was actually thinking as a competitive runner. There are many games played among experienced runners and I was actually getting to employ a few tactics along the way that surprisingly worked. It also indicated that my mind was staying alert as I pressed up and down slopes of this college town. I knew that at around 9.5 miles would be the biggest hill on the course that ran west of Ashland University. This was the place that really tested and drained me last year. What would it be like after all this training under my belt this time? I'm not going to say it was unchallenging but it did not seem nearly as menacing as it was last year! When you get to the top you know you have conquered your biggest nemesis of the race and what I had forgotten was that it lulls you into the false sense of security that hills are behind you. Turning west one last time you are greeted by roller coaster hills, and while not nearly as steep, they are strategically positioned to add some misery on your way to the final 5k of the race. Here is where determination, focus and steadiness are essential. It was evident that those last climbs were taking their toll on many as I was able to sweep past a half dozen runners on the descent back toward the main intersection of town which marked the beginning of the end. Nearing the 12 mile I spotted a tall runner tapering off a bit. Noticing that the back of his jacket touted some 100 mile race he had run, I thought it would be great to finish ahead of an ultrarunner. When I passed him I felt good but it was short lived as he retook the lead about a quarter mile later. I trailed him as we made the final turn toward the stadium that marked the end of this 13.1 journey. The final half mile there was uphill and it was obvious that the cluster of runners near me seemed discouraged to find one more climb before making the left turn to the stadium track. Last year's run was kind of a depressing ending. Dark and cold, most of the onlookers had packed up and left. By the time I crossed that line, only 6 other runners were still on the course. But this morning was different. There was energy and the crowd was cheering all runners as they looped their last .25 miles on the track. I have always felt that finishing strong was more than a phrase but it is my mantra as a runner. I had 7 or 8 runners between me and the finish who were also tired, as I was but something happens to me when I near a finish line. I saw an opportunity to pass a big cluster if I had it in me to sprint to the finish. As I rounded the final bend I noticed a runner look over his should to see who was behind him. It was as if that was my signal to run as fast as I could to the end. As I sprinted, it came so easily as if I couldn't even feel my legs underneath my hips. I poured out everything I had left and crossed the finish line with a 1:57 time, nearly a half hour quicker than last year! The best part was I bested my time from the Columbus half in the spring by almost 3 minutes, which had far fewer hills than I just encountered. I wrap up the racing season deeply gratified for God's help in overcoming adversity, injury and mental barriers that held me back. I am eager to greet 2012 and it's fun to begin thinking about the possibilities of running in a new decade of my life. I glance at the calendar and it's still December though. There are yet 27 days left in the year and I am not done! No big races to finish the year now. Instead I am chasing one last audacious goal as a runner- reaching the 3000 mile mark of my career. After today's run, there are just 126 miles standing between me and a new milestone. If the weather keeps giving me breaks, I hope to reach it. No matter what 2011 will be remembered as the year I got back in the game.