Race report

Finally I get to write a race report.

Today was the Gettysburg Blue Grey Half Marathon and a great fall day for a race. I will say the North won and not only did I get a super medal but I got a great coffee mug as a bonus prize.

I started the day with my normal routine with coffee and as usuall did not eat breakfast. A bad habit that I must learn to break. Erin (AFD FF/PM) and I drove the 40 minutes to the race site. It was a windy and cold 40 degrees but not to bad for this Chicago Boy. We picked up our race packets and had 90 minutes to the start of the race. We talk with some other runners and just relaxed. Pretty lame start to the race, some how I managed to explode a gel pack all over my shirt, shorts and hands in addition to poking a hole in a water bottle that spilled all over me. I have no idea how I did this but I did.

The race was on rolling hill country on back roads through Pa farmland and the color change was in peak bloom. This by far was the most scenic race I have done and imagined myself on that page in Runners World that has really cool scenic run pictures. I have been sick for a couple weeks and have not run in 5 days, and had 4 days of Antibiotics. I had no goal for this race other than to servive and finish. Paceor time I didnt care.

the weather at the start of the race was nice, the sun was bright and started to warm things up and the wind had died down. I had a great start with a 31 minute 5k but I knew I was in trouble because my lungs were burning, my nose was running faster than me and the lung butter was massive. Mile 4 I took of my running jacket and the temp was perfect. I was able to maintain my pace through mile 6 and mile 7 was a turning point. My breathing started getting worse, I now had a cough and the wheezing started. I backed off a little but was still making good time. I had a brief thought that I could break 2:30.

I miked water with gatoraid  for fluids and by mile 8 my goal wasmake from water stop to water stop. Mile 9.5 is where it got worse and I am sure people behind me ( the few that were) were thinking bad thoughts about me as I have left a 9 mile sputum trail  nice thick yellow stuff.

Amazingly at 9.5 I had 50 minutes to break 2:30 and PR this event. The wheels came off at 10 (1:55) and my breathing was in the toilet and should have stopped but this jerk on the course had gotten to me and I coulnt. He had been using me as a pacer and was being an ass about it. As I would catch up he would sprint ahead, look behind him for me and than take off again. He would change sides of the road to be next to me and spent his whole race doing this. I know in his mind his goal was to beat the fat guy.

The next mile this continued and I really got pissed and I forgot about my breathing and respiratory issues. In my mind the race is over at mile 11 and anybody can push out 2 miles. So at mile 11.5 I caught up to him looked at him smiled and said "see ya!" the last thing I heard him say was "fuck."
I pushed through to the end and was greated by my son and wife. All the pain went away with family hugs and another race completed.

I have some work to do but over all I am very happy.



2012
March 17th- DC Rock and Roll Half Marathon (2:45)
April 8th- Charlottesville 8K Road Race (55:36)
April 27th/28th- American Odyssey Relay- Gettysburg to DC (32:04)
Sept 9th - Heroes Run Annapolis, Md (32:26)
Oct 21st - Blue-Grey Half Marathon, Gettysburg Maryland (2:35:47)
November 18th - Philadelphia Marathon
December 8th- Seashore Marathon, Rehobeth Beach. De.

2013
January 13th- Disney World Marathon #3
Febuary 2nd - Fight for Air Stair climb. Boston, Ma
March 16th/17th Shamrock Marathon Whale Challange. 8k and 26.2
April 26th/27th - AOR #2 Gettysburg to DC
May 19th - Columbia (Md) Tri
June 23rd - Rev3 70.3 Williamsburg, Va
July TBD
Aug 23-24th - 24 Hours of Booty, Columbia Md
Sept 8th IRONMAN WISCONSIN
Oct Rev3 Ulman Cancer Fund HalfFull