Rock n Roll Dallas

Yes, I know... I posted on the day of the expo and then nada.  No worries, I'm still here.  I've just had a lot of stuff going on and unfortunately blogging wasn't in the top priorities. But here I am, and I have A LOT of catching up to do... hopefully I'll be getting to it all in the next week or so.  But first, Rock n Roll Dallas...


(BTW, I was a terrible blogger this time and took ZERO photos... I guess I was focused??? Maybe!)


This photo is from RnR Dallas LAST year, but let's just pretend... funny, I went to the race with the same people - Robin D and Monica!!!

In my expo post, I wrote my goals:
A goal - 2:00 - Honestly, I'm not sure I am quite here in my training, but if the race gives me a good day and I can negative split this course, it might be a possibility, even if slim.


B goal - 2:03 - This is my "I'd be happy with it" goal.  I'd like to be able to pull off steady 9:15s the whole time.  I think I can...

C goal - 2:06 - Just PR... I'll admit, I'd be disappointed still, but at least the day wouldn't be a total loss!




Well, the weather was not exactly what I had expected... it was in the 70s in full sun for most of the course.  


The plan, for the first time ever, was to negative split the course.  I negative split it last year (it's mostly uphill for the first 8, then a mostly downhill finish for the last 5), and I thought that would be the only way I could possibly hit my goal.  


I started with Karen, Jason of CTER's wife.  She was awesome to agree to run with me!  We were supposed to run with Shannon too, but had trouble finding her before the race!  It was kind of rushed for me trying to get from the potty to the start.


The plan was to go out at 9:15s...


Mile 1 - 8:53
Mile 2 - 9:10
Mile 3 - 9:06
Mile 4 - 9:11


And there ya go... right out of the gate, the top mistake... going out too fast.  Ugh.  What was I thinking?  

Mile 5 - 9:28
Mile 6 - 9:22


So defeating... pace was already slipping so stinking early in the race.


Mile 7 - 9:41
Mile 8 - 9:40


And it just continued to slip, but I knew the hills were over at this point and maybe I could pick it up, but as we hit the turn to the downhill section, Karen turned to me and asked me if I was ready.  I thought I was, but when I went to kick in the next gear, it was just missing... the legs would not go any more.


Mile 9 - 9:31
Mile 10 - 9:41
Mile 11 - 9:58


It was hot.  There was very little shade, and I was withering, just like my pace.  I was done.  I wanted the race to be over so badly.  Somewhere around here I lost Karen too.  I just couldn't keep up.  I had been chasing her the whole race, and she'd check on me if I fell too far back, but I was spent.


Mile 12 - 9:49
Mile 13 - 9:22
final 0.31 - 8:55


In my normal manner, I always find a way to crank up that last mile a little, but still not the pace I should've been running.  I couldn't believe the heat (and unfortunately, I saw a few too many people lying down on the course with heat issues).  It was easily in the 80s at the finish.  But I should've had that pace in me, but it just wasn't my day.  


Official time 2:05:22... a PR by a whole 41 seconds.  I guess I hit my C goal.  I was a little disappointed, but I knew that was all I had in me that day.  I pushed every bit I could out of my legs, but it just wasn't there.  I could have raced smarter, but I couldn't have pushed any harder.  I'll have to take it, and live to meet my goals another day!


As soon as I finished, I started cramping really badly, and realized I was majorly dehydrated, so was trying to down as many fluids as I could find.  Another oopsie.  I really need to be more consistent on my hydration during runs.  Another lesson learned.


The odd thing about this race was that I was so focused, that I missed everything... last year, I remember all the bands and what they were playing.  This year, I couldn't even tell you where we ran... I was so zoned, and my legs were so gone.  I don't hardly remember the bands either.  Sad, because I actually really like how much on course entertainment there is at the RnR events.  Oh well, another half in the books - #21 !!!


(Note to self:  If you wait this long to write a race report, you forget a lot of details... duh!!!!!)