Last Sunday I was relieved to run that left hook around Discovery Green and finally have the finish line on Avenida de las Americas directly ahead. Relief and excitement were combined in a strange cocktail, however, as it felt like my heartbeat was located on my shoulders as I touched down on those chip mats.
One might think I'd have a been-there-done-that feeling about Aramco Houston Half Marathon number six, but I don't. Oh, sure, I can never quite duplicate the experiential thrill of the first time back in '06 -- although I can sort of re-live it by watching my belly wobble over the finish line on the recording I made of the ten o'clock news that night. But there's satisfaction in being older and slower (**sigh**) and yet still deciding to show up and run.
Showing up was a bit tougher of a decision as we had some of the most challenging race weather I've ever seen. I think everyone involved had their eyeballs on the weather forecast all week long, and when Sunday a.m. arrived, we were lined up on La Branch and Crawford streets under cold showers and facing directly into a 17-mph head wind. I shivered some in the corral trying to keep warm in shorts, two long-sleeve layers and one of my venerable C9 wicking hats. After Ryan Hall fired the starting gun, one thought kept repeating in my head -- "I'll be OK if I can just get moving." I had that thought on fairly continuous repeat for half an hour, because that's how long it took for my "open corral" in the rear to finally make it to the starting arch.
And I was right. Once I started plodding forward, I felt much better. By mile 5, the rainfall eased and I was able to shed my outer layer and wrap it around my waist. I was in a fairly good groove, mostly sticking to the 10:1 intervals we were doing for many Saturdays beforehand. Then the challenge became one of covering the distance, From mile 10 onward, I pulled over multiple times to stretch out my complaining calf muscles. At the turn onto Allen Parkway, I unknowingly made a cameo appearance onto the KTRK-TV broadcast.
Once again, the organization of the Houston Marathon Committee shined through. Thankfully, the wait for the start was definitely the longest of the morning. Porta-potties, food, finish chute presented little in the way of bottlenecked lines. I didn't check in a gear bag, but I didn't see any significant lines there if I had. The spectators were still out in force supporting their runners, but I think the weather dampened the enthusiasm of the residents who have houses along the route.
Just for the sake of completeness, let's check the splits....
Mile 01 - 12:11
Mile 02 - 11:56
Mile 03 - 11:44
Mile 04 - 11:49
Mile 05 - 11:40
Mile 06 - 12:46
Mile 07 - 12:13
Mile 08 - 11:45
Mile 09 - 13:07
Mile 10 - 14:07
Mile 11 - 14:19
Mile 12 - 13:25
Mile 13 - 12:19
Last .27 - 2:57
Elapsed half marathon time - 2:46:18 per Garmin Forerunner 110
Elapsed half marathon time - 2:46:14 per timing chip
I'm pretty sure I've turned in slower times on this course only twice, I walked the 13.1 miles last year, and finished in something like 2:47 way back in 2006. So it feels like I'm back where I started.
And now, time to ponder my spring running. . . .
