This morning, I ran the Clearwater Distance Classic Marathon in 3:15:26, 26 seconds over a BQ time:
On the plus side, thanks in part to the two prior years’ events being cancelled at the last minute, the field was apparently quite small. How do I know this? Besides the bib numbers topping out at 1700 for ALL distances (5K, 5 miler, half marathon, marathon, and ULTRA 50K), I also know for a fact that it had to be a small field because I placed second overall.
This isn’t even a “would you believe…” comedy setup. I really did place 2nd overall. Huh.
There was a 3:15 pacer and I never saw him again after we started so I assumed I was either just ahead or way behind him. I was making better time in the opening half and slowed considerably in the back 10. I want to say it’s because of a series of pedestrian bridges over the highway (I lost track after 3… I think there were 6 but like in the original Dirty Harry, in all the excitement I lost track).
The reality is, I ran as fast as I could and it just wasn’t quite a BQ pace.
There weren’t a lot of runners around me. Long stretches felt like it was just me alone huffing and puffing along like a little engine that might. I could’ve maybe paced a bit faster but that seems inconceivable to me — I was struggling there for a good long while. Would you believe I was a little engine that choked?
In any case, some photos from the run to illustrate the above without thousands and thousands of more words:
I’m a bit zonked at the moment and having some trouble composing coherent thoughts, let alone getting words to appear in any semblance of readability. I might revisit a few stray thoughts from today later… or I might just let this stand.
The old “promise one thing but never mention it again” trick.