btchance
11-12-2006, 03:05 PM
I did this 1/2 Mary yesterday, and it was the first one I've done. I have pretty mixed emotions about the race, basically the first 10miles I loved and had a great time, the last 3 the organization of the race became horrible and it kinda got to me mentally.
Anyways, it started out in mid 50 degree weather, with it misting on us for the first 1:30. I wore my tri-shorts and top with a long sleeved shirt over it, used knit gloves, wore my hat, and carried an extra pair of socks if needed (didn't have to use them). For nutrition I used sports beans and the gatoraid on course, and had a gel with me in case I needed it.
They advertised the course as "pretty-flat", which I should never have believed. I mean, it starts on a road called Mountain gap. It wasn't too bad on the hills, though. Not enough to really affect me going up, but enough to let me roll down. The first 3miles were a loop through a neighborhood, then headed out towards the greenway. I kept a good pacing schedule going, running around an 11:30 - 12 min mile up til mile 10. During that time I only walked through the aid stations. I actually felt pretty good around mile 9-10 and was planning on picking up the pace and seeing if I could come in at 2:30 (I mean, I had 30mins to go and a 5K left, I've ran that speed plenty of times and felt pretty good at that point). However, at mile 10 I turned and had a head wind the rest of the way, the temp was dropping (ended up at 45), and had some issues with race management (I'll get to that in a minute). The last 5K ended up taking me 45minutes, so I finished in 2:45. That time I'm pretty pleased with; my goal was to be between 2:30 and 2:45, so I can't complain about that. I also think this will help me down the road with the tris, and being able to push myself on the runs, something I had issues with last year.
After the race, though, I felt like my body just shut down. I barely was able to walk to my car, and getting my fingers enough to get my car key out and my race belt off was entertaining. I dropped both at least once. Yesterday all of my joints were killing me, especially my left knee and ankle, and my bunions and toe-nails. Today those all feel fine, and it's my muscles, especially quads, that are horrible. I can barely sit down without using my arms to help me; I usually just collapse. I went and walked for 30minutes, and did a short 10min bike ride to help get the soreness out, and I'm actually feeling a little better now.
Now, I hate to complain about the organization of a race, especially a local race, but there were a few issues I had with it. The course was to remain open for 3hours, with the finish line open for 3:30. The first hour, hour 1/2 it was well manned, but for us slower people, I felt like we kinda got left out to dry. It started in the first 3 miles. I had a friend who I passed and a couple of miles later I looked back for her. We were supossed to have a police car behind the last person the whole way, and when I looked, there was only 2 people behind me, then the car, and she wasn't one of them. The police car stayed right in that position until we got to the greenway, then pulled off and parked. When I doubled back on the greenway, I saw her behind me, and a number of other people, all of whom the car passed. Then when I came off the greenway, with a number of other people I might add, the car had already left and I could see it a good mile ahead of us. I thought the car was there for safety reasons, but we were just left out there (and we all finished under 3 hours, by the way). Also, on the way back there was no one at any of the aid stations (which were not where the race flyers said they would be - wrong locations, not enough of them), and there was nobody at the corners telling us where to turn, and there were no signs left saying where to turn either. There were just little white arrows (4"x2") painted on the road, under leaves, telling us where to go. I'm sorry, but I don't watch the bottom of the road that much, and ended up relying on other racers around me to guide me back. I kinda felt left out there, that the people who took more than 2hours didn't matter, and what would have happened if I, or someone else got hurt? There was no one to help us. I'm sorry, but if the race advertises that the course is going to stay open for 3hours, then make sure there is volunteers out there to help everyone out if needed for 3 hours. It's for safety, and courtesy towards us.
Sorry about complaining so much. The first portion went great, and was well organized. I just feel like it fell apart towards the end.
I'm planning on doing another one eventually, but it will probably be a bigger one where I know the course will be properly supported.
Anyways, it started out in mid 50 degree weather, with it misting on us for the first 1:30. I wore my tri-shorts and top with a long sleeved shirt over it, used knit gloves, wore my hat, and carried an extra pair of socks if needed (didn't have to use them). For nutrition I used sports beans and the gatoraid on course, and had a gel with me in case I needed it.
They advertised the course as "pretty-flat", which I should never have believed. I mean, it starts on a road called Mountain gap. It wasn't too bad on the hills, though. Not enough to really affect me going up, but enough to let me roll down. The first 3miles were a loop through a neighborhood, then headed out towards the greenway. I kept a good pacing schedule going, running around an 11:30 - 12 min mile up til mile 10. During that time I only walked through the aid stations. I actually felt pretty good around mile 9-10 and was planning on picking up the pace and seeing if I could come in at 2:30 (I mean, I had 30mins to go and a 5K left, I've ran that speed plenty of times and felt pretty good at that point). However, at mile 10 I turned and had a head wind the rest of the way, the temp was dropping (ended up at 45), and had some issues with race management (I'll get to that in a minute). The last 5K ended up taking me 45minutes, so I finished in 2:45. That time I'm pretty pleased with; my goal was to be between 2:30 and 2:45, so I can't complain about that. I also think this will help me down the road with the tris, and being able to push myself on the runs, something I had issues with last year.
After the race, though, I felt like my body just shut down. I barely was able to walk to my car, and getting my fingers enough to get my car key out and my race belt off was entertaining. I dropped both at least once. Yesterday all of my joints were killing me, especially my left knee and ankle, and my bunions and toe-nails. Today those all feel fine, and it's my muscles, especially quads, that are horrible. I can barely sit down without using my arms to help me; I usually just collapse. I went and walked for 30minutes, and did a short 10min bike ride to help get the soreness out, and I'm actually feeling a little better now.
Now, I hate to complain about the organization of a race, especially a local race, but there were a few issues I had with it. The course was to remain open for 3hours, with the finish line open for 3:30. The first hour, hour 1/2 it was well manned, but for us slower people, I felt like we kinda got left out to dry. It started in the first 3 miles. I had a friend who I passed and a couple of miles later I looked back for her. We were supossed to have a police car behind the last person the whole way, and when I looked, there was only 2 people behind me, then the car, and she wasn't one of them. The police car stayed right in that position until we got to the greenway, then pulled off and parked. When I doubled back on the greenway, I saw her behind me, and a number of other people, all of whom the car passed. Then when I came off the greenway, with a number of other people I might add, the car had already left and I could see it a good mile ahead of us. I thought the car was there for safety reasons, but we were just left out there (and we all finished under 3 hours, by the way). Also, on the way back there was no one at any of the aid stations (which were not where the race flyers said they would be - wrong locations, not enough of them), and there was nobody at the corners telling us where to turn, and there were no signs left saying where to turn either. There were just little white arrows (4"x2") painted on the road, under leaves, telling us where to go. I'm sorry, but I don't watch the bottom of the road that much, and ended up relying on other racers around me to guide me back. I kinda felt left out there, that the people who took more than 2hours didn't matter, and what would have happened if I, or someone else got hurt? There was no one to help us. I'm sorry, but if the race advertises that the course is going to stay open for 3hours, then make sure there is volunteers out there to help everyone out if needed for 3 hours. It's for safety, and courtesy towards us.
Sorry about complaining so much. The first portion went great, and was well organized. I just feel like it fell apart towards the end.
I'm planning on doing another one eventually, but it will probably be a bigger one where I know the course will be properly supported.