RAK Half Marathon

Conditions were ideal, with lots of PBs and, among the elite, 8 men under an hour and 9 women under 1:10. Those are both world records, though the winning times weren't.

It was not my finest performance. A year ago I should have been quite pleased, but I did 1:31:12 on a slow course on a warm day in December. This time, I was hoping for much better than 1:31:56. I did take 2nd Veteran (over 55), but four minutes behind the 1st Veteran, who had never beaten me before. He overtook me at 11 km and I just couldn't keep up. It was one of my key runs of the season, and I was really well trained.

Here's how it happened. The first inkling I had that anything was wrong was about 10:30 the night before. As usual, I got my kit together, attached my bib, checked my Garmin, looked for my shoes. I usually take two pairs of shoes. Two empty shoe bags. I contemplated returning to Abu Dhabi, but I would only just have got back in time for the start, even if I managed to stay awake at the wheel. I decided to ask around before the race. Must have looked pretty stupid in walking shoes. I didn't realise it, but this year they had a small fair, where there were two shoe shops. Delighted, I went to the Saucony one and asked for a pair of Kinvaras my size. They only had one. Fine. One shoe, not one pair. In fact, the whole shop was stocked with right shoes to save space, though I don't suppose it did much for sales. So I tried the other shop, which sold Newtons. Fine. Only women's Newtons, Huh? But they did also have some Salomons. I bought a pair. Almost big enough. Ten minutes before the scheduled start time. The Preferred Start pen was supposed to be closed by then, but I managed to get in. Have you ever tried running a road race in trail shoes?

Much embarrassment, but $680 prize money was some compensation.

I forgot to mention my feet. My right foot actually. Even after a week, it's really stiff.

What an idiot!!!!!!!

Sounds like the nightmare that you have during taper!  Glad you made a go of it, but take care of that foot, Chris.

Very nice job all things considered!

Ah.  Now that a good f'up.  Haven't done that one yet.  nice cash prize!!   

I agree with Michele - it sounds like a taper nightmare, except for that whole winning $680 part.

I was half expecting you to give up and run the thing barefoot.

Chris Coleman wrote:Two empty shoe bags.

there were two shoe shops. Delighted, I went to the Saucony one and asked for a pair of Kinvaras my size. They only had one. Fine. One shoe, not one pair. In fact, the whole shop was stocked with right shoes to save space, though I don't suppose it did much for sales.

So I tried the other shop, which sold Newtons. Fine. Only women's Newtons, Huh? But they did also have some Salomons. I bought a pair. Almost big enough. Ten minutes before the scheduled start time. 

Have you ever tried running a road race in trail shoes?

No sir, I have not. Better than fiction!

C U in April ... bring your shoes.

Looking back, it was all rather surreal - a mixture of nightmare and Alice in Wonderland - going around in walking shoes when most people are already lined up for the start, a right-foot-only shoe shop and, at the end of it, huge prize money. Partly made up for it last night by setting a new 6.8-kilometre, twice-round-the-park, over-60 course record, and winning a bottle of wine - not for the record, but for predicting my time precisely. Oh, and Saucony let me have a new pair of shoes at half price.

Chris, that really sucked, but you gave me a heck of a smile this morning!  That is freaking hilarious!  I will be happy with your time and I am 43 and have two shoes!

KBFitz wrote:C U in April ... bring your shoes.

What? Both of them?

Chris Coleman wrote:

KBFitz wrote:C U in April ... bring your shoes.

What? Both of them?

Naw. Two left shoes ought to do. You can always buy a right show at the expo.  

KBFitz wrote:

Chris Coleman wrote:

KBFitz wrote:C U in April ... bring your shoes.

What? Both of them?

Naw. Two left shoes ought to do. You can always buy a right show at the expo.  

I'll be sure to arrive early and hop along to the expo.

But do you still hold the UK record for the race in January?

ounce wrote:But do you still hold the UK record for the race in January?

Yes, both 10K and 5K, but they are not records - just best age-group performances SO FAR this year, and the racing season hasn't really started yet. It's a curiosity of having my season out of sync with the UK. When I'm at my peak, they are doing their winter training.

Hmm quit the interesting race, with a good result. I have never done that with my shoes, but did leave my Garmin at home one year for Boston. Good thing Lisa is a runner too and that she brought hers with, then again I could always live without a watch for a race. Shoes now that is another story, unless I was Mark B!  

It has't been so good since. I was foolish the first week or so after the HM and did too much too fast. Now I'm suffering for it. The physio has me on 20 mpw of jogging. I started at 40, but he's a better negotiator. He's going to tell me tomorrow if I can do a 10K on Friday. I don't need a 10K, but it's my own club organising. I've never felt like this before, but I almost hope he'll make me marshal. I guess I should be mature enough to make my own decision whether to scratch, but I'm not.

Chris Coleman wrote:It has't been so good since. I was foolish the first week or so after the HM and did too much too fast. Now I'm suffering for it. The physio has me on 20 mpw of jogging. I started at 40, but he's a better negotiator. He's going to tell me tomorrow if I can do a 10K on Friday. I don't need a 10K, but it's my own club organising. I've never felt like this before, but I almost hope he'll make me marshal. I guess I should be mature enough to make my own decision whether to scratch, but I'm not.

We are runners I don't maturity is part of our make-up  when it comes to using common sense!

Schuey wrote:We are runners I don't maturity is part of our make-up  when it comes to using common sense!

True. Perhaps it's because we don't feel our injuries when we're running hard.