31/3/15 – Another Half Bites the Dust

*** Apologies for the delay in posting this entry, we had internet problems whilst out in US ***

I’ve done some strange things on holiday (stop it now!) but getting up at 4am to drive 90 miles to run in a Half Marathon is right up there with the best of them.

Whilst away, we needed to get in a long run to stick to the plan, which helpfully said ‘Enter a Half Marathon: run at Race Pace’. It wasn’t clear whether that should be Half Marathon Race pace or Full Marathon Pace, so having stuck (pretty much) to training speed in last week’s Half, I opted for the former.

Despite the early start I was quite excited by the time we reached Ormond Beach  and lined up on the start line for the Tomoka Half Marathon: an out and back run along the Halifax River and into the Tomoka State Park. Gotta love Americans: we were treated to The Star Spangled Banner in our start pen. All runners were instructed to remove their caps whilst the anthem was playing and, not wishing to offend, we did too. Sue just about got hers untangled from her ponytail by the final note, only to notice that most of the natives hadn’t actually bothered.

Due to the Florida heat, races start early here, we were still in darkness at we set off on the stroke of seven. The first mile consisted of a steep road bridge up and over the river and I was surprised at the amount of people who chose to walk it.

Indeed, just a quarter of a mile from the start, well before the bridge, a few runners began to walk which seemed rather perplexing, given they still had almost 13 miles to go. Turns out the Run/Walk strategy is big out here, so much so that after the race we noticed in was described as a ‘Run or Run/Walk Half Marathon’ on the race posters.

There’s even a code which lets the runners behind know when they are going to slow to a walk, which involves raising your right hand.  I thought momentarily we’d stumbled into a Nazi Party rally, although given the amount of Trump Signs in the front yard, maybe the notion wasn’t that far-fetched.

Although the heat was more muted than we expected, the humidity was full on. I was completely drenched after the first mile, as if I’d stood under a shower. Nevertheless, I was moving well and by mile 3 had outstripped the 2:20 pacer. Cheered by plenty of enthusiastic locals out watching from their driveways, jangling cowbells and holding comedy slogans like ‘Don’t Trust a Fart after 5 Miles’, I was feeling happy and strong.

As we hit the 5 mile mark entering the gates of State Park, I slowed slightly to take a gel. Oh Yuk! These American gels are very thick and although it was supposed to be orange flavour, it tasted overwhelmingly of chocolate. It was like trying to swallow a chocolate mousse. I somehow got it down and was thankful of a nearby water stop to wash away the questionable taste.  I was further discombobulated by being overtaken by the 2:20 pacer and her group at that point.

Although I hadn’t checked behind me, I had assuming that I’d put some distance between us. It was a rather dispiriting moment, but I tucked in behind the group and fell into a chat with another runner who informed me that the tree to my left was the famous Oak Tree, the largest in Florida. Having seen the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, I was prepared for a colossus, but it was a spindly V-shaped thing – divided in the middle; much smaller than a normal British Oak.

I began to suspect her information, when at the turnaround point she decided that actually an equally unimpressive specimen must be the tree. Later research revealed that the Oak isn’t even in that Park, despite featuring on the Massive medal, it’s a few miles upstream in Bulow Creek State Park.

I’m not sure what it is about races that put a local landmark on their medals, yet you don’t run anywhere near it on route, On my Tonbridge Half medal, there’s a picture of a Castle – I didn’t even know there was a castle in Tonbridge. Similarly the Brixton 10K went nowhere near the Academy, but I can forgive that as it’s such a gorgeous medal. But I digress…

After my second equally disgusting gel at Mile 10, washed down by some noxious Gatorade this time, I left the pacing group behind again and began running alongside a burly Marine-type who amused me no end, when he casually trotted across the road and wordlessly booted one of those Trump Yard signs into oblivion. I’m sure there are laws against that sort of thing over here.

The heat never materialised in the end, indeed the later stages of the race were conducted in light cooling rain, which was most welcome as I was wet through anyway.

At Mile 12, was another curious sight. A beer stall! Free beer on offer (to 21 and overs, natch) but no water or Energy drinks, just beer! With that bridge looming large in the sights, I swerved the offer, although Sue admittedly later she had partaken.

With most of my peers electing to walk the bridge, I found a buddy to run it with, spurring each other on to the crest. We let gravity take over for the downhill and it felt like we were flying down the other side. Sue’s Mum and Dad were also on the bridge trying to take a photo of me in full flight and I’m sure it would have been an impressive shot had the camera not been on selfie mode at the time.

We circled back underneath the bridge and managed a sprint to the line in 2:18:21 – my second best half marathon time which I was incredibly pleased with, given the humidity. Upon checking my splits, I realised I’d managed to keep an eleven minute mile off the card. That’s the first time that’s ever happened and that just added to my delight.

One thing the Americans do very well is post race refreshments: Free Beer, Pizza, Bananas and some curious but tasty, Cheesey Biscuits filled with Peanut Butter – which hit the spot a treat as I waited for Sue to come through. Mind you, any old crap tastes great at the end of a long run.

After her PB six days before in North London, this was slower run for Sue. A combination of the conditions and getting tangled up with Run/Walkers made for a much less smooth race which was ultimately reflected in her time. That said, we both recovered very quickly and had no lingering aches and pains which we took as another positive step toward our Marathon goal.

For the rest of the holiday, we did a gentle 5K (36:20) and then a pacier 5 miler (57:30) as well as some long walks on the beach, with our sights firmly fixed on the big 20 mile training run back home on Sunday.