Bronx Half Marathon Race Report
August 15, 2010, 7am
Weather = cloudy (yay!) 70 degrees (yay!) 73% humidity (can't win 'em all!)
Stats: Total finishers: 5043, total women: 2105, 35-39 age group = 847 (297 women)
Me: overall place: 3234, gender place: 1023, age place: 144.
Finish time: 2:07:49, 9:45 pace, 53.3% (My PR!)
I didn't take any pictures, but there are some great ones of the race here: 2010 Bronx Half Gallery
This was my 19th half marathon, and I set a Personal Record! I was 5 minutes faster than my previous PR, set just this past January at the Manhattan Half (2:13:07). It was my fifth running of the Bronx Half, which I’ve run in both freezing temperatures when it’s been held in February, and steamy temperatures when it’s been held in August. Each year I say it will be my last, and somehow they keep sucking me back in! Two years ago in 2008 was the last time I said it would be my last running. This was the first year I attempted to finish the NYC half Marathon Grand Prix by running half marathons in all five boroughs. That year, my cousins announced their wedding the day of the last race, Staten Island. I spent hours and hours trying to figure out how to run the race and get to the wedding on time (I was performing at the ceremony). Logistically it was impossible since the race was in the farthest borough. My biggest regret had to run the Bronx yet AGAIN.
So, 2010 is my attempt to finally complete the Grand Prix, and so far so good. They moved the Bronx race back to the summer, which I dreaded. But we lucked out with the weather, 70 is luxuriously cool for NYC in the summer, especially this summer, which has been brutal. We had cloud cover, also magical since much of the course is shadeless.
Why is the course so brutal? The Grand Concourse. It’s just awful. It’s ugly, they allow cars on the service road (exhaust!) and it is damned HILLY. The hills are strategically placed at miles 10 & 11, the most brutal part of the half distance. The sections in the Kingsbridge neighborhood and on the Mosholou Pkwy are pleasant enough.
Leading up to this race I’ve done some speed work (if lame) and strength work (if lamer), and it paid off. I went out quickly, as I often do. My friend once told me that Paula Radcliffe said “I went out to go as hard as I could and just hung on,” and this is always my race strategy, none of this “don’t go out too fast business!” I mean, seriously, I’m lucky if I can maintain 10-minute miles by the end of a half, why not run 9s at the beginning if I have them in me?
So I did. My first mile was 9:15. I have no Garmin and haven’t taken the time out to set up splits on my lame Timex Ironman, so I have to guesstimate the rest of the splits. But through mile 8 I was running 9-9:45 miles. Insane for me. I think I may have had a 10K PR in there as well! Mile 9 had the first hill, and I ran it at a solid 10 minute pace. Miles 10 & 11 were brutal, I busted it out on a hill in mile 10 only to have to walk at the top because I was so out of breath! Mile 10 was also a 10’ pace, but mile 11, the worst of them was an 11. But it was okay, because I had those 8 miles of sub-10s behind me, so I had some leeway for the hilly miles, which have never been my strong point.
I ran the last 2.1 miles in solid 10 minute pace, also a huge goal for me (typically I do a lot of walking in miles 10-13, but not this time! I only walked to take water. Awesome.)
So there it is. I went out strong. I held on as long as I could. Then I held a 10-minute pace, which was my actual goal pace, and ended up running a 9:45. One of the biggest things that happened to me during this race was that I believed in myself. For 15 years I’ve been “racing” and for 15 years I go into races with fear, doubt, and anxiety. Oh, I have fun, and I’ve accomplished a lot. But I’m always worried: 1) what if I don’t finish? 2) what if I’m too slow? 3) what if I get injured? 4) WHAT IF I GET INJURED BY RUNNING TOO FAST? This last one is absolutely ridiculous at my slow-ass pace, I know. But I always, always worry. I think to myself “I’d rather stay healthy and keep running than risk injuring myself by increasing my pace.” Who thinks like that? Yesterday in the Bronx, I gave it my all, and answered those questions with logical and mature answers 1) so what? 2) so what? 3) I’ll get through it 4) this is stupid and illogical; also see answer #3.
The best thing about all this is that I spent time during my run applying these questions & answers to other aspects of my life (yes, the epic dissertation) and I had a total epiphany. I’m afraid of all the same things when it comes to my scholarly work. During the race, I pushed through and overcame by fears. I’m going to try with all my might to apply that physical/mental resilience and strength towards my intellectual work. Somehow, it’s easier for me when it comes to running…….
Thanks for reading my first blog entry! I’ll get better over time (at both blogging & running)
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