Over a year ago, I started out with a 5 k walk run for Cystic Fibrosis on Grosse Ille, the Rock CF half marathon / 5 k race.
Last year I ran the 5 k or I really should say moved faster than normal for 5 k. I did it in a time of 44.5 minutes.
this year I have run numerous 5 k's , and got my time down to 35 minutes. However the real benefit is the 45 pounds of weight I lost, and the reduction in all the medication I used to take for high blood pressure etc.
This year my goal was to run a half marathon, and I have been training for the Rock CF Half Marathon which I ran yesterday.
I have done a number of 13.1 training runs, and hoped to come in under three (3) hours. best i have done in training is 2 hours 49 mins.
Yesterday started out as a beautiful day for a run, and right at 7:30 the gun went off. I started out at a nice easy pace, low and slow, the tortoise strategy. at 3.1 miles I was 34 minutes??? wow record for me. At 5 miles I was 58 minutes, again a record for me. at 7 miles I was 1 hr 25 minutes great pace.
Then the monster mountain rose up from mile 7 to mile 8 a gentle slow climb up hill for a mile. So when they say the course is flat and fast? I guess it is on average flat and fast? however, that 1 mile up hill took something out of me. At mile 10, I was still at my pace, 2 hours 6 mins. Then disaster struck, I had a blister problem on my right heel that had been developing from mile 8, and it broke open and started to bleed.
I stopped , put a bandage on it, but if you ever had a blister, you know how hard it is to walk. I kept going, my only goal was to finish???. I started favoring my right foot, and developed a hitch in my gate. Somewhere along the East river road of Grosse Ille, my right knee joint fell out? At least that is what it seemed like at the time. that was at mile 12.
The Last mile from 12 to 13 was very pain full to say the least.
However, I limped in to the high school stadium and was greeted by my wife and step daughter cheering me on. I mounted one last bit of strength and determination, and I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 58 minutes.
Not bad for an 63 year old previously fat guy.
Well, what is the next challenge??? My wife Brenda and I are registered for the October Detroit International half marathon. Where the bridge climb will be like running up a mountain, and the riverside run in Windsor is up and down, culminating in a 1.2 mile run through the tunnel, again, 1/2 of that up hill. then through downtown Detroit to finish.
What is my goal for this run??? number 1 finish, number 2 finish, number 3 finish??? get the picture?
Finish and survive.
take care and check back later
randy
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