“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Nelson Mandela
Completing a half marathon was a bucket list item for me. I tried to follow the Hal Higdon half marathon training schedule. Right off the bat I had a hard time keeping up with the cross training days. I did pretty well at getting in my training runs and stayed on schedule until the last two weeks before race day. Life got a little busy and the weather decided to throw a curveball into my training.
Race day arrived and I felt ready, but knew I really should have had a few more miles under my belt. I didn’t really feel nervous at first. I got ready like I would for any run. On the drive north I saw some local wildlife. First I saw a mother fox and her kit running down the side of the road, then a few miles later I saw an average sized black bear cross the road. Just another day in the north country.
As I pulled into the parking lot my nerves began to tingle. I was finally here, about to start the longest race of my life. 13.1 miles, could I really do it? My longest run so far had been 10 miles. I got my bib and t-shirt and headed back to the car. I needed to walk around and get my muscles warmed up a bit. Then a last stop at the bathroom and out to join the crowd at the start / finish line. I did see someone else a knew and chatting helped to calm my nerves.
I was standing in the crowd of participants listening to the pre run announcements and waiting for the gun when the announcer shouted “go”. It threw me for a second because I was expecting a gun shot. That was it, the race had started. I was about to run 13.1 miles and recross this same start / finish line. I thought it would take me 3 hours. My pace on my long runs during training was generally around a 14 minute mile. I had my fitbit synced so I would know how I was doing pace wise.
The first two miles were rough. I was seriously worried that I would not be able to finish. My fitbit kept notifying me that I was running at a 12 minute mile average pace. I was thinking, this is too fast. I am not going to make it all the way if I keep up this pace. By the third mile I had my running legs and things seemed to get a bit easier. By the fifth mile I actually felt great and was keeping up the 12 minute mile average pace. When I checked my splits on my fitbit app later I noticed that my fifth mile was my fastest overall.
The first half of the race was mostly flat terrain leading to a covered bridge then a big hill. I decided it was time for the Gu that I brought with me. I sucked it down just before the water station, then washed it down with some water. I walked the hill to conserve energy. I was now more than half way and feeling pretty good overall. I definitely felt the energy effects of the Gu. I started running again at the top of the hill and ran the entire two miles to the next water station. This water station was in a loop off the highway in the shade. I took advantage of the shade and walked a bit here. This was my last walk break. I was able to run the rest of the way to the finish line. My overall time was 2 hours and 41 minutes. I kept up the 12 minute mile average pace through the whole race. I am satisfied with my finish. Before the race started I was worried about my knees. They did not bother me at all during the race, but were quite painful later that evening. I iced them down and kept my feet elevated and they were much better the next day. My arthritic knees survived the ordeal and even feel a bit stronger for it. I feel very accomplished and even though this was a bucket list item I am not completely sure that I won’t do another one.
The NH/VT Covered Bridge Half Marathon starts in Colebrook NH. Runners cross the bridge into Lemington VT; run for 7 miles on Route 102, then cross the covered bridge to Columbia, NH and follow Route 3 back to Colebrook. Once in Colebrook runners weave through the streets back to Bill Bromage Drive where they cross the same start / finish line they started from. Water stations are approximately 2 miles apart and whenever possible are located in shady areas. The first half of the race is fairly flat, after the one big hill a little more than half way through, the second half of the race is fairly flat also. There are a few gradual hills along route 3. This was a great race for my first half marathon. Now I am looking forward to a local street fair 5k. I am going to start working on my speed and see if I can run my fastest 5k this summer.
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