Race Reports/Encouragement/Kudos - 16 and 17 June
- Thread starter Big Vic
- Start date
FireDancer
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2008
- Messages
- 13,255
I did the inaugural Canton half marathon this morning down in Canton, OH. It was by far the worst race I've ever run.
The event itself was pretty good, especially for a first year event. The starting area was in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, walked down to a parkway not far from the HOF, and finished on the field of the football stadium next to the HOF where they play the HOF game in the fall.
The course was much hillier than I thought it would be. The hills were non stop and frequent. There were plenty of water stops, on GU stop right after 7, and a fair amount of course support. We got a tech shirt, nice medal, and one free entry to the HOF that is good until some time next May.
Non of that was the issue, my body just decided today wasn't going to be my day. I started out really well and was with the second group on the road through the first 5k. I did notice even at the first water stop though that something just didn't feel right and eventually I felt that my body wasn't absorbing any of the water I took in. I hoped it would work itself out but right around mile 6 I knew I was just going to have to suffer through feeling like I was a water buffalo. I could literally feel the water slopping around in my stomach. I'm not looking forward to seeing the pictures, I will probably look a bit pregnant with a water baby.
I slowed down and powered through and finished in 1:29:17. By no means a terrible time but looking at my splits I left at least 2 minutes out on even that hard course and might have even left more if I got a kick for the last 5k like I did in Cincinnati. In the end I was 35th overall and 5th in my age group but I think I could have been top 25 which would have been at 1:27:30, half a minute slower than I ran Buffalo.
Oh well, it is what it is and in a few weeks I start my marathon training which will include probably 2 more halves and part of a relay team for the Akron marathon.
Hope all the fathers had a good father's day and any runs went well.
The event itself was pretty good, especially for a first year event. The starting area was in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, walked down to a parkway not far from the HOF, and finished on the field of the football stadium next to the HOF where they play the HOF game in the fall.
The course was much hillier than I thought it would be. The hills were non stop and frequent. There were plenty of water stops, on GU stop right after 7, and a fair amount of course support. We got a tech shirt, nice medal, and one free entry to the HOF that is good until some time next May.
Non of that was the issue, my body just decided today wasn't going to be my day. I started out really well and was with the second group on the road through the first 5k. I did notice even at the first water stop though that something just didn't feel right and eventually I felt that my body wasn't absorbing any of the water I took in. I hoped it would work itself out but right around mile 6 I knew I was just going to have to suffer through feeling like I was a water buffalo. I could literally feel the water slopping around in my stomach. I'm not looking forward to seeing the pictures, I will probably look a bit pregnant with a water baby.
I slowed down and powered through and finished in 1:29:17. By no means a terrible time but looking at my splits I left at least 2 minutes out on even that hard course and might have even left more if I got a kick for the last 5k like I did in Cincinnati. In the end I was 35th overall and 5th in my age group but I think I could have been top 25 which would have been at 1:27:30, half a minute slower than I ran Buffalo.
Oh well, it is what it is and in a few weeks I start my marathon training which will include probably 2 more halves and part of a relay team for the Akron marathon.
Hope all the fathers had a good father's day and any runs went well.
annabanna
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2011
- Messages
- 171
I ran my first official 5k. And by official, I mean the first race I have done with the purpose of preparing me for the PHM. I was pretty happy with the race. I don't run in the mornings at all, so I figured the heat would be an issue. But, it wasn't that bad. There were a few, "this is crazy, I can't do this" moments, but overall I was proud of myslef. I finished strong - I actually had a complete stranger who had long since finished the race run the last 500 yards with me. It was great! Talk about a big boost.
I finished with a little over a 15 min average.
The thing about finishing this, is that it made realize that I really can do this. I really can run a half marathon. I never was much of an athlete on the ground. I am one heck of a swimmer - I swam competively all the way into college, but I have always been a slow runner. So, this is pretty neat me.
I finished with a little over a 15 min average.
The thing about finishing this, is that it made realize that I really can do this. I really can run a half marathon. I never was much of an athlete on the ground. I am one heck of a swimmer - I swam competively all the way into college, but I have always been a slow runner. So, this is pretty neat me.
Great job guys! Firedancer, sorry you had a bad race...I know it doesn't help you feel better, but your bad day with be a fabulous day for most of us mortals 
Tough Mudder Indiana: What to say about this "experience?" Notice, I didn't say race, because the TM is not timed and in fact, you say the TM pledge at the start line, part of which is to state that the event is not about time, but about helping your teammates finish the course. Our team consisted of 12 people, but my husband was the only one I had ever actually met in person....gotta love Facebook! The course was 12 miles with 28 (I think) obstacles. The running was definitely the easiest part for me, even though it consisted of lots of hills and mud. 8 of the 12 of us were much faster than the other 2, so we split into 2 groups. Our 8 ran the first 10 miles pretty easily but then a couple guys got calf cramps and we had to walk some. Obstacles included things like 12 foot walls (5 of them), which had one step to help you but the step was so high I couldn't actually even stand on it! Ended up standing on one guys shoulders and jumping to grab the top....sorry Alfred
There was the arctic enema, which was a huge tub of ice water you had to jump into, swim under a long, and climb out...wasn't that bad actually, especially since it was almost 90 degrees! There were monkey bars (made it all the way across), balance beams, fire, hay bales, barbed wire crawls,etc...The 2 hardest for me were the really thick mud pits and the electroshock therapy. The mud pits were so deep and thick that it came over my knees and I kept getting stuck...the guys had to pull me out by my arms a few times! Electroshock therapy is the last obstacle, and consists of hay bales to jump over that are surrounded by hanging live wires up to 10,000 volts. By the time we made it to this obstacle, we had been on the course for 4 hours and I just wanted to be done (we probably could have finished in 3 hours if it hadn't been for the cramps and the lines at some obstacles). I gritted my teeth and took off running....the first wire I hit literally picked me up off the ground and threw me down sideways. It was very strange, because it didn't really hurt, it just felt like a force hit me and threw me down! Needless to say, I was a bit disoriented, so I rolled over the remaining hay bales and prayed I would hit any other wires!
Ok, that was long but TM is hard to describe. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it, but not sure I would do it again. It was fun to have a team to experience it with, but I much prefer a race atmosphere and really pushing myself!
Tough Mudder Indiana: What to say about this "experience?" Notice, I didn't say race, because the TM is not timed and in fact, you say the TM pledge at the start line, part of which is to state that the event is not about time, but about helping your teammates finish the course. Our team consisted of 12 people, but my husband was the only one I had ever actually met in person....gotta love Facebook! The course was 12 miles with 28 (I think) obstacles. The running was definitely the easiest part for me, even though it consisted of lots of hills and mud. 8 of the 12 of us were much faster than the other 2, so we split into 2 groups. Our 8 ran the first 10 miles pretty easily but then a couple guys got calf cramps and we had to walk some. Obstacles included things like 12 foot walls (5 of them), which had one step to help you but the step was so high I couldn't actually even stand on it! Ended up standing on one guys shoulders and jumping to grab the top....sorry Alfred
There was the arctic enema, which was a huge tub of ice water you had to jump into, swim under a long, and climb out...wasn't that bad actually, especially since it was almost 90 degrees! There were monkey bars (made it all the way across), balance beams, fire, hay bales, barbed wire crawls,etc...The 2 hardest for me were the really thick mud pits and the electroshock therapy. The mud pits were so deep and thick that it came over my knees and I kept getting stuck...the guys had to pull me out by my arms a few times! Electroshock therapy is the last obstacle, and consists of hay bales to jump over that are surrounded by hanging live wires up to 10,000 volts. By the time we made it to this obstacle, we had been on the course for 4 hours and I just wanted to be done (we probably could have finished in 3 hours if it hadn't been for the cramps and the lines at some obstacles). I gritted my teeth and took off running....the first wire I hit literally picked me up off the ground and threw me down sideways. It was very strange, because it didn't really hurt, it just felt like a force hit me and threw me down! Needless to say, I was a bit disoriented, so I rolled over the remaining hay bales and prayed I would hit any other wires!Ok, that was long but TM is hard to describe. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it, but not sure I would do it again. It was fun to have a team to experience it with, but I much prefer a race atmosphere and really pushing myself!
jmasgat
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
- Messages
- 5,247
Congrats to everyone....
Frank Given the conditions, a good solid result (but of course, we expect so much from you!)
annabanana Sounds like the race was just the mental boost you need for your half training. Great!
jimandami Tough Mudder sounds like fun---with the exception of the electric wires. I can't believe they can actually do that in a race. I bet the waiver form is a hoot to read! Great job!
Maura
Frank Given the conditions, a good solid result (but of course, we expect so much from you!)
annabanana Sounds like the race was just the mental boost you need for your half training. Great!
jimandami Tough Mudder sounds like fun---with the exception of the electric wires. I can't believe they can actually do that in a race. I bet the waiver form is a hoot to read! Great job!
Maura
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