Seasons sometimes appear to change on a dime. One day it's Summer and the next it is Fall. certainly this is true astronomically as it occurred on September 22 this year. In North Carolina, Fall arrives much later and is welcomed from the hot, humid summers. When that perfect day arrives, you definitely want to be running a race somewhere. If you read this blog regularly, which I am sure most don't, you will know that I had 10 days of slices and dices where I needed to take caution when running and actually fast-walked most of the days since The Baltimore marathon. I had the urge to run the Raleigh City of Oaks half-marathon on Nov 2. It was actually much more than an urge but more of a will to run. I registered on Friday night for the Sunday race, visited the small expo, got my shirt (that looks the same every year) and set my mind on a good 13.1 miles. This would be my first half-marathon in more than 2 years, since 2012 when I ran 3 all under 2 hours. The half-marathon distance is a fine distance. I can see the ever-increasing appeal of it. Its a challenge and allows you to go full tilt for the entire distance. It doesn't beat you up as much either.
On Saturday, since I had not run that much the 10 days prior, I decided to go for a 6 mile run on the American Tobacco Trail. Although laced with pines there were also many trees swirling in fall foliage, oranges, reds, yellows, and browns. The sun was glancing through the falling leaves onto the trail with runners doing their final preparations. Many of these runners would be running in the City of Oaks race. For me, it was a shakeout run as Bart Yasso calls it. With all the rest the previous week or so I needed to get the blood pumping again through my newly restored mitochondria. I was tight at first but loosened up by mile 4 and finished feeling ready for the race.
Race morning is always an early morning for me. Well, any morning is generally an early morning for me typically up by 5 AM. Raleigh has an early start at 7 AM which is perfect with setting the clocks back. Unlike a marathon that would take me a morning to complete, I knew that I would be done by 9 and home by 10 and still have the whole day. Both the half-marathon and marathon at City of Oaks are easy logistically. There is ample parking near the start/finish. The start and finish are at the same place and your personal spectator can see you at the 8 mile mark near the ample parking. The weather this year was perfect - 45 degrees, crisp, dry and sunny. It is my perfect weather for running. I wore my long sleeve Baltimore Marathon shirt with sleeves underneath, shorts, and calf sleeves. It was a bit windy but that helped with the cooling. The weather was like this the previous two years - last year running the marathon and the previous year running the half with my nephew Shawn.
Standing at the start with a time goal of under 2 hours, I line up around the 2 hour pace group. I also bought a new Garmin 220 and would monitor my run with it. When the horn blew (I love hearing air horns start races), the 2-hour group surged about 20 yards ahead. With a crowded start (marathoners, half-marathoners, relay runners) I just let the crowd thin and worked my way through while settling into a pace. Within a half mile I found myself passing the pace group. I thought that I would just run the pace of comfort on the verge of uncomfortable. At mile 1 this turned out to be 8:30. My first thought was, "this is too fast." Some of this mile was downhill though and I knew that City of Oaks has its share of hills, both up and down so I needed to take advantage of the downhill's to turn even splits. What I am really enjoying is being part of this scene, the running scene, the running community, the people who have come out to put themselves on the verge of uncomfortable. At mile 3 I got this rush over me thanking God for allowing me to be apart of it all. Mile 3 is a section where you see other runners going in the opposite direction. I saw the leaders and I saw the last runners. I thought, "running is all-inclusive, what other sport allows for this diversity in ability." It was a warm and fuzzy moment. Through 5 miles and into the hills, my pace is at 8:27. I'm managing the hills well and took my first Gu and running through water stops. There is a long climb at mile 7.5 to mile 9 and my pace slowed to a 9:16 at the top which was expected. I then settled back into an 8:40 pace and hit mile 10 at 1:26:58. At this point, I am thinking how happy I am that I don't have to go the marathon distance and to continue to hold this pace through the end. Near mile 11 and Meredith College, the marathoners split off onto the greenway. I ran this portion last year and the fall foliage is spectacular. It is a nice Fall, out and back jaunt through a Callide scope of colors. The run to the finish down Hillsborough street is a nice finishing stretch, a tiny bit rolling but net downhill. I turned the last .1 mile in 7:58 for a finishing time of 1:54:47. that was a seriously good run for me with an age-graded time of 1:40.
During the run I thought of what was waiting at the end, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Papa John's pizza and Lone Rider beer. I downed two doughnuts and two sausage slices. I know when I have a great run when I have a great appetite in the end.
On Tuesday I ran 6 miles on the Tobacco Trail and again I couldn't help notice the freshness, crispness of the temperature and the beautiful Fall colors. Thank God for glorious seasons. I have always said that you need to pay attention to the details. Each colorful leaf falling is a detail. Get out and enjoy the details of the Fall season.
Days 306-312: 35 miles, 2014: 1,463 miles
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