Heartbreak Ridge 1/2 Marathon

woke up early, and headed up to camp pendelton for a good exercise in running. got my race number and sat around for a bit waiting for the start.

i lined up towards the front, anticipating being in the faster portion of the race (out of nearly 1,000 people, i'm hoping to pull a top 50 or so). They have the pre-race meeting, basic rules, and what not, then they raise the flag and honor those that serve and have served the country.

then it starts, of course everybody is caught up in the excitement, and comes out at a fast pace, so i just hang around a pace that is slightly faster than i anticipate being able to hold the entire time. i figure i'll hold this for 1 or 2 miles, then settle into something that is more comfortable.

which worked out well, because just past 2 miles, the race course began climbing for a couple hundred feet or so. this proved to be an interesting climb, i held a good effort up the climb, and was rewarded with a nice downhill on the other side, i let things go, and made some good time on the descent. the first 7 miles were difficult, my calves were pretty tight, and i couldn't really find a rhythm.

at about 7 miles, i decided i would pick up my pace every mile until i either blew up, or finished. it was a bit uncomfortable, but felt good, the rewarding part was i just kept running people down, i'd see them off in the distance, and know that it was only a matter of time until they would be watching me pull away from them.

then at mile 9, there was a bit of a climb, my legs were beginning to revolt a little, but i pushed them through it, and at the top the pace quickened a bit more. then some descents and that is always good for my average speed. i ran down a couple people, and somehow missed the 10 mile sign, then there was the last of the climbs, which is followed by a nice descent and flats to the finish.

so i tried to push up the climb, and was able to make up a little ground, then on the descent i once again let it go, 1 of the other runners tried to hold me off on the downhill, i came up on his shoulder, and i could hear he was breathing hard, so i doubted he would be able to hold me off. i just relaxed into it, let gravity do the work, and watched him fall away. at the bottom, there was the 11 mile sign, and i was able to pick up the pace yet again. as i came around the corner, i saw a slew of people, maybe 10 or 12, within 2 miles, i had almost 1/4 mile to make up on these people, difficult, but plausible.

so i kicked it up a notch, and could feel my legs revolt a little, and my breathing was harder. but the group was getting closer, and their was only 2 miles left. a couple more corners, and i was within 1 mile of the finish, and the people are within a couple hundred meters, a little more push, and i am through the group. a couple more people to pick off in the last mile.

finally i come around the corner into the finish chute, my legs where pretty tired, and definitely burning, but i mustered a bit of a increase in pace to finish strong. a good effort and exercise in being uncomfortable. i need more running time on my legs to get them used to continuing when i'm tired, so a decent pace becomes almost second nature.