On August 13 I ran the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon. I had initially signed up for it because a friend was going to be visiting from out of town to run it, and I decided to join in. She ended up not participating due to a conflict, but I was happy to run it anyway!
Since I have about 8 weeks of hill training in my current cycle, in preparation for the Lake Tahoe Marathon in October, I thought that a chance to test my speed in the wine country would be a good idea.
I ran this race before, in 2011 or 2012, back when they were still running it on Labor Day, and pulled off a 1:45-something with a glute issue, so I figured that was a good target for this year's race.
Since my speed work has been a bit slower this year, I decided to start out slowly and see if I could manage a negative split. I figured if I ran 8:00 miles for the first 5 miles, which were pretty rolling hills with a gradual "upness" to them, then I could try for a 7:45-7:50 the second five, and hold steady around 8ish for the last 5k, since the last stretch offers up a 2-mile gravel road.
Pre-race I fueled with a banana, a Hammer Bar, Electrolytes, Anti-Fatigue Caps, and Fizz electrolytes.
The race started 10 minutes late, due to an accident on the road that slowed the parking process. Little did I realize how much that 10 minutes of cool would have helped, but these things happen. When we started, I resisted the pull of the crowd into the downhill launch, although I definitely did overrun that first mile - about 7:40. Somewhere in mile 2, I thought to myself, "Hm, that sun came out suddenly and hot". I stayed on target, and actually passed the 5-mile sign at exactly 40:00, so I was proud of that. Took a Hammer gel and re-energized for the climb.
The next 5 miles were so brutal, though, and I couldn't get anywhere near my target. Between mile 4.5 and 7, the course went mostly uphill, and I stayed steady, if slowly, between 8:20 and 8:30. Respectable, but I was so disappointed in myself, and began to have a lot of negative self-talk about reevaluating my speed goals. When the 1:50 pace group passed me just after the halfway point, I was crushed. I could have fought to keep ahead of them, but I didn't want the pressure of being tailgated, so I just backed way up and let them pass, hoping I would at least not lose sight of them.
To add to my mental stress, the race had a relay option, so there were some fresh runners in that 7th and 8th mile. I stole a few glances at their bibs to make sure I wasn't getting dusted by half marathoners.
At mile 10, I had another gel, and decided that while I may not be good in the heat, I will finish as strong as I could, and rallied for the last 3.1, most of which was gravel road. I was super thirsty and regretting leaving the hydration belt at home, but I stopped at every water station. The last 3 miles, I managed to pass a few people, which felt pretty good. Once we got off the gravel, there was a long road that rolled up and down, but the finish line was visible, so I rallied some more. I managed an 8:00 mile the last mile, and came in at 1:51:09. One of my slowest half marathons ever.
Once I was done running and had a little water, though, I popped right back into my usual self, and I didn't have any muscle soreness that day or the next. I think it was a hydration issue, and a heat issue. Lesson learned. The hydration belt is worth the extra weight on hot days.
I guess all of us 40-somethings suffered, because I ended up with 2nd in my age group (out of 69 finishers) and won a nice bottle of pinot noir.
They don't have race photos posted yet. I'll add one when they do (unless I look awful. Maybe even then).
