I'll Meet You Halfway

One reason I was put-off by my running accident last week - other than road rashes, a broken phone and a bruised ego - was that I knew I had my first big race coming up only five days from that tumble. 

This last Sunday, I did my first half-marathon since November 2023. 

I was slated for one in September 2024, but you know........stress fracture. 

While I have done some smaller races since that injury, I did re-sign up for half marathon training in January. And I've been pretty diligent with it all - the run lengths, the speed training (ick) and the bad weather. 

I knew I wasn't up to a full marathon for Spring, and after the Cleveland one last year, I kind of swore off full marathons in the Spring time - ever (that will probably change over time). So, half it would be. 

My plan - kind of - was always to do the Glass City race. Or, Owens Corning Half, if you will. The distance suited me, but more importantly, it was a relatively flat course. Only (!) 233 feet elevation gain - but that's over 13 miles. Even my knee can handle that. 

Actually, 710 got to choose. There were three races last weekend, each one in a different Ohio city. I figured if he was tagging along, he should be able to decide where he'd rather go. He should get something out of this. He really chose Toledo. 

The trip was fairly uneventful, save a hotel that did not live up to his standards. Or most anyone's probably. We ended up farther than expected. Actually - in another state!

The morning was cool, when he dropped me off an hour before the race. 39°F. It's a long hour to be out there in shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt. I neglected to pack a throwaway shirt - so, live and learn. But I survived just fine. It's weird how the body adapts.

Unlike other big races, the energy level and the start just sucked. There's no way around it. I did love that is started at 06:30. I'd be done early. 

For all my faults - and there are many - I have a pretty good success rate at guessing my race time. I was literally 3 seconds off on my first half (in my favour) and 15 minutes off in my first full (again, in my favour). 

While I really wanted a sub-two hour half, I really figured my time would be 2:10. And it kind of was: 2:09:15.  Pretty damned close. 

As that was markedly better than my first two half marathons, I was pleased overall. Naturally (?), I calculated in my head if I had only gone 30 seconds faster per mile..........

For the run, the skies were clear but the temps never rose above 43°F, which actually turned out to be perfect. 

My knee and hip held up, which has been at the back of my mind all season. Twinges of pain, of course, but I'm in my 60s. I assume that is just life anymore. For me, nothing is 100% pain free. It is just a fact of my life. 

It's Glass City - you kind of expect the "medals" to be glass. Or the sponsor, Owens Corning, it could be Corning Ware or at least Pink Panther fiberglass. But no, it's just a medal with a rocket on it.....because...University of Toledo Rockets. 

I'm back. I think. I hope. We'll see. 

funnyish anecdote: after getting my medal, a child and her mom walks by. The kid is maybe 1yo. She looks and me and goes, "daaaaddy".  Her mother goes, "that's not daddy".  And I chime in, "don't think i'm paying for your college, kid!". 

Mom laughed. 

Song by: the Partridge Family