It was -15 overnight, so when the race was starting at around 10:00am, it was probably around -11, plus there was a windchill. I stayed huddled in the hotel until there was about 10 minutes to go, then ventured out with an extra scarf tied around my face to protect it from the wind. And, of course, as I was heading toward the start line, there was a guy dressed in shorts! I actually saw a few people wearing shorts over the course of the race and seriously questioned their sanity.
I, on the other hand, was fully prepared in my winter tights, long sleeved shirt, sweater and windproof jacket (and gloves, earmuffs and scarf). It wasn’t too cold waiting for the race to start… lots of bodies huddled close together.
We started right at 10:05 (not sure why 10:05 for the start time…) and within 10 minutes, I was nice and toasty. My scarf has a new home on a tree somewhere on New Street – I’m sure some homeless person will appreciate it.
I was really hoping to finish this race in under 2:30. I was only over that in Miami by less than 2 minutes and I figured the conditions were perfect for a new PB – flat, cool, I was feeling good… Things were going great for the first 14km. I hit the halfway mark in 1:13 after not really pushing myself that hard and was planning to continue coasting till about the 16 km mark and then really push it.
Unfortunately, at around the 14km mark, I developed a cramp in the muscle on the outside of my left leg (I believe that would be my glute, but could be wrong). I tried every stretch possible (well, except for the one I should have done) to get rid of it but nothing was working. I was able to continue running, but I stopped 3 separate times to stretch, plus I had to walk way more frequently than I otherwise would have. My pace for the last third of the race was pathetic.
Anyway, I finished in just under 2:35 which, considering the fact that I wanted to stop and sit down at about 19km, isn’t bad. I guess I just wasn’t meant to get under 2:30 today. I’m not sure what I did wrong. I probably didn’t drink as much water yesterday as I should have, so that may have been the problem, or maybe I didn’t drink enough on the course. Regardless, it’s done… on to the next.
The next HM is the Blue Nose in Halifax in May. I’m not even going to try for a PB there, as the course is somewhat hilly. My next big race is the Around the Bay 30K at the end of March. At least there I’m guaranteed a PB since I’ve never done it before!
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