Since I wasn't able to attend the Seawheeze Half Marathon last week and the Windward Half Marathon was cancelled this year I decided to sign up for the Hickam Half. I ran it in 2013 and in the 2 year break I guess I forgot how brutal the race was. Add in the fat that it's like the hottest summer ever and you get a challenging morning.
I had been worried about this race all week. I've been super tired and have had some leg pain and my runs hadn't been going well at all. The heat and humidity have been sucking all the energy out of my and my runs have felt sluggish. In all honesty I was looking for a reason not to run the race and as I waited for my friend Elaine who was going to get me on base I was also secretly hoping that she wouldn't show up.
Lucky for me by the time I got to the race and used the portapottie with the long line it was time for the race to start so I didn't have much time to think. As I lined up with the other runners I decided to run at Marathon pace and aim for 10 minute miles. As the gun sounded there was quite a bit of jostling. I wasn't too worried because we were starting behind the timing mat and I assumed that it was a chip time (I was wrong). I set off running with the pack and settled in to a 9:45 minute pace. All around me the runners were sprinting off and passing me and I let them go. I knew that the sun would be up soon and that I needed to run smart. We continued on around the base and I reminded myself how lucky I was to run this race. The first 3 miles are very scenic and take us through housing and on to the water. I love running past the officer's quarter's and the Officer's Club. From there we head out along the beaches piers and toward the golf course. I love this part of the run because it brings back great memories of my youth spent at Hickam fishing, crabbing, and playing at the beach. Once we pass the canal though, it gets really hard. It's a hot straightaway directly into the sun and completely brutal. All the concrete, black top, and planes make the air hot!!! On today's run there were tons of golfers trying to weave and pass us on the road and it was a little scary.
I was happy when I got to the turn around and told myself to run the next 7 miles strong and on pace. By this point I was hovering around a 9:55 pace but I slowed down to about a 10 because the heat was getting unbearable. I took all three gels and threw water on my body at each stop. Thankfully there were many stops, but sadly none had any Gatorade which I really needed.
For the last 3 miles I was staying strong in my head and passing many runners who were walking. I gave myself a mental high five for sticking to my game plan and playing it smart. As I looked at my watch I knew it was going to be close to get in at 2:09 as I neared the finish line I realized that the course was long and I was not going to make it. I ran strong to the end and finished with a 2:12, my slowest Half this year but pretty good considering everything.
After the race I was rewarded with a medal and a free massage and I ran an extra mile around the track to hit my week's scheduled LSD of 14 miles. All in all a great day and just like that Half Marathon #17 is in the books!
T
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