Shamrockin' Half Marathon - Sactown, CA.

This was the first time running this race. I wasn't so sure about the course because it looked a little "crazy." It was, but I'll get to that later.

First off, thank God that I am healthy! I was able to stay in relative running shape after the CIM, so that I didn't really train much for this run. I got in only two 10+ mile runs, maybe a handful of single digit runs and one speed workout since the New Year. However, I've been hitting my gym workouts (legs in particular) pretty hard and that has definitely helped me.

The funny thing is that I kind of forgot about this run...I actually made plans to go to a friend's house on Sunday and pick up a bunch of keystone block for a retaining wall. Thursday before the run is when I realized that I couldn't go over there because I was running. It's not that I truly forgot about the run, I guess my anxiety level was non-existent...this is an example of when the mental aspect of running can definitely do wonders for your psyche. I was running with only one goal...finish below 1:40 so that I could then have a humongous burger afterward! On this day, it was as simple and as fun as that!

We left the house at 6:40am with our core group of runners/friends. We knew we were cutting it close. As we got close to Raley Field, the traffic was crazy. Kendra and I actually jumped out of the car to try to get a light warm-up and make a bathroom run. I got to the 1:30 pace group two minutes before the gun. Talk about close.

The first mile was whacked! The pacer took the group out at 6:32! Which is WAY too fast! I was slightly annoyed and verbally asked, "Are we banking time?" I dropped my pace and fell behind the group. Mile two was at 7:07, a little better.

I was getting into groove and the course seemed to be straight forward. The course map looked as though the course zig-zagged over each other...which it did but thankfully I was close enough to the beginning that I wasn't within a large group of people.

My splits were pretty tame as was this part of the run:
Mile 3 - 7:06
Mile 4 - 7
Mile 5 - 7:13

I told myself to hold a low 7s pace at least through 10 miles and then give all I could for the last 5k. However at mile 6 is when I started to feel the 1.5 inch wide x 2 inch long blisters on the outside bottom of both feet. I then cursed myself for not wearing the socks I should have worn. I guess this would be a negative aspect of "kind of forgetting" about the run! ;).

I was able to stay relatively focused and pushed hard through the mid-point.

Mile 6 - 6:58
Mile 7 - 6:56

It was also at this point when I formally decided that anything near 1:30 would not happen...I was totally ok with it too! I just wanted to hold as close to that 7 minute per mark...

Mile 8 - 7:10

I started to have fun with the crowd because I was beginning to get tired. They were great! I loved how my name was on my race bib! I heard, "GO LEE!" on several occasions and it helped me.

Mile 9 - 7:40
Mile 10 - 7:44 (Splits speak for themselves!)

As I made the turn heading into mile 10, on the top of the river bank, I got kicked in the face by a nice headwind...considering I was already feeling tired, I had to really concentrate and grind for for the next two miles. I told myself, "Just get to mile 12 and you'll be home...1.1 after that and you'll be golden." After getting passed and then nearly spit upon, I decided to mark the guy that inadvertently spit in my direction. I got on his right shoulder and drafted behind him for about 1/4 mile. I think I annoyed him but he should have spit in front of him and not to the side of him...headwind or not. He darted hard left so as to expose me to the wind again. I didn't care...as I was able to hit a good rhythm...until...

Mile 11 - 7:29

Heading into M12, I'm feeling good...but I sense the course getting a little tight and I see an increase in cross-traffic, human and cars. As I am heading toward a slight uphill, this elderly lady and her walking shopping cart attempt to cross from my right to my left. I'm thinking, "Oh no she is not trying to walk across the course without an escort!" (which there was one only about 30 feet down the road from where she was). After playing "Frogger" with the first lane of runners heading in the opposite direction of me, she now ventures onto my side of the course. She doesn't even look...and mind you I am at full gate (or as full as one can be at M12) with a nice rhythm. I yell, "Come on! Damn!" Which I now feel bad about yelling. However at that time I was not going to alter my line. I end up hitting her shopping cart with both of my hands so as to push it/explode it of the way. I am not sure what happened to her or the cart as I couldn't even turn around because I was too darn tired and too focused on finishing. I hope she is ok, I'm sure she was because no one who finished behind me said anything to me about it. So "Frogger" didn't make it across my side... or at least not with me:)

Mile 12 - 7:22 (not bad after sidestepping said cart and little old lady:))

Mentally, I am done! I am just telling myself to hold on for the last 1.1 miles...which is pretty much what I did. I managed to find a kick in the last .1 - .2 miles and passed some people. I was going to do my Usain Bolt finish but realized that there were way too many people around and I didn't want them to feel like I was trivializing their finish. I crossed the line....DONE!

Mile 13.1 - 8:31 (told you I was hanging on!!)

I loved the finish inside of Raley Field. For that alone, I would consider running this race again. But I definitely didn't like the cross-traffic in the last 5k.

Total time: 1:34.57
Splits: 7:15 per

I was nowhere near my PR but I am very happy to have finished just under 1:35.

I'll finish as I started...Thank you God for my health and for allowing me to finish in a relatively good time without as much training as in the past. I'm looking forward to my next race! And by the way, the big burger was awesome! and so was the cheesecake:)