My Race Experience - 4/5
My first Marathon Training (with PinkNation) started in early June, and as per the schedule my first half marathon should ve been Patrick Henry in August end. But being a newbie i was in a hurry to achieve my half colors. During one of the Sunday runs, I heard few runners discussing about Lynchburg half and the hill at mile 4. After the run, curious-me googled 'Lynchburg half' and found this low key half marathon just 2 hrs away. I read a few reports which gave me some idea, but most of them were by sub 2 hr runners, and i was wishing to be finished by 3. I was still confused but then my new enthusiasm got better of me and I signed up for Lynchburg half, even before we touched 10 mile in the training.
Just 2 hrs away from Richmond through I-64 and route 29, Lynchburg is in the foothills of Blue Ridge mountains. It's a quiet city, the only exception being the big LU sign (lynchburg University) monogrammed on mountain side near the campus.
The packet pick up was at Riverside Runners store, who are the organisers of Lynchburg half and many other key races in the area. The T-shirt was nice but as i later found a size too small, and my Bib number, in red over white 336. Anything with a 3 lucky for me, that's a good sign I thought.
My hotel was just a few miles away from start line. I woke up very early with butterflies in stomach. That was new, which meant I was worried even in my dreams. It was still dark outside, but i got ready just exactly i was instructed during our training runs. Everything looked fine, except the longest i ever ran was 10 miles.
I reached the start line before 6 am. The race was still 1.5 hrs away, and being a small race, organisers were still finishing up with the preprations. The advantage of reaching early, I parked just near the start line. Not so good part, now i have to wait for people to show up. The start/finish line float was already setup, so it was an out and back route. The start line was just near the James river and i saw a bridge for river crossing. Later i found that its called James River Heritage trail which would take us to Percival Island.
Get, Set GO
The race started on time, the weather was decent with mostly clear sky. We started on the heritage trail passed the bridge and off to the paved road on the Percival Island, which is a long thin strip of land in middle of James. It was more like running on trail, a well-maintained trail. We crossed another bridge and went to other side of James on Heritage trail.
After the first SAG i saw a few fast runners coming back, so turn around must be near I thought, which in reality was almost a mile from there.I was at my comfortable pace. Oh, I forgot to tell before, I actually met a runner from MTT running the half, Cori, she was preparing for NY marathon, so this race was in her early schedule.
As I approached mile 4, the uphill started and it was not just a normal hill, it went on for almost a mile and raised us by 300 feet on paved trail. I was beat, by the end of it, I was walking just like most or runners with me.
The scenery totally changed, now there were proper roads and buildings like a campus area (it was CVTC). The next two miles were rolling hills, and the half distance was complete.
I reached the loop around point and someone directed me to downhill route back to trails. I happily obliged. And then it ocurred to me, as per race instructions there were two loops around the campus, and i did just one. I was already downhill .2 miles, and then I saw another running coming back, he went half a mile downhill before realizing. So we again went back uphill to complete our loop.
The other runner argued with volunteer directing runners, while i thinking its nothing more than waste of time, carried on. I was pissed, but then arguing with a volunteer not going to solve it. I continued on completing my 2 mile loop and then correctly exited the loop for downhill this time.
A downhill mile dropping 300 feet felt good at the start but then it was too hard on legs. By the time i reached back in the Heritage trail, i was wishing for downhill to be over. It was almost 10 miles and just 3 more to go. The only issue was that i did not know what happens after 10. Around mile 11 I saw Cori coming back. She yelled 'Good job !'. I yelled ' I was lost for quarter mile!' Don' know why.
I was tired now, and started run-walk, then mile 12 i did more walk less run, and in final 13th, well a little more walk. As i crossed the Pervical island i could hear the music at the finish line.It was a small race and i could see lot of people already finished and just handful of us are left. I ran with whatever strength left for last quarter mile and completed my first half marathon.
My only goal was to finish my first half marathon and I did it. I was really happy. I looked at my first medal for some time and then flopped into the grass. And did i tell, that this was my first race medal..EVER. :) :)
My first Marathon Training (with PinkNation) started in early June, and as per the schedule my first half marathon should ve been Patrick Henry in August end. But being a newbie i was in a hurry to achieve my half colors. During one of the Sunday runs, I heard few runners discussing about Lynchburg half and the hill at mile 4. After the run, curious-me googled 'Lynchburg half' and found this low key half marathon just 2 hrs away. I read a few reports which gave me some idea, but most of them were by sub 2 hr runners, and i was wishing to be finished by 3. I was still confused but then my new enthusiasm got better of me and I signed up for Lynchburg half, even before we touched 10 mile in the training.Just 2 hrs away from Richmond through I-64 and route 29, Lynchburg is in the foothills of Blue Ridge mountains. It's a quiet city, the only exception being the big LU sign (lynchburg University) monogrammed on mountain side near the campus.
The packet pick up was at Riverside Runners store, who are the organisers of Lynchburg half and many other key races in the area. The T-shirt was nice but as i later found a size too small, and my Bib number, in red over white 336. Anything with a 3 lucky for me, that's a good sign I thought.
My hotel was just a few miles away from start line. I woke up very early with butterflies in stomach. That was new, which meant I was worried even in my dreams. It was still dark outside, but i got ready just exactly i was instructed during our training runs. Everything looked fine, except the longest i ever ran was 10 miles.
 |
| The bridge to Pervical Island |
Get, Set GO
After the first SAG i saw a few fast runners coming back, so turn around must be near I thought, which in reality was almost a mile from there.I was at my comfortable pace. Oh, I forgot to tell before, I actually met a runner from MTT running the half, Cori, she was preparing for NY marathon, so this race was in her early schedule.
As I approached mile 4, the uphill started and it was not just a normal hill, it went on for almost a mile and raised us by 300 feet on paved trail. I was beat, by the end of it, I was walking just like most or runners with me.
I reached the loop around point and someone directed me to downhill route back to trails. I happily obliged. And then it ocurred to me, as per race instructions there were two loops around the campus, and i did just one. I was already downhill .2 miles, and then I saw another running coming back, he went half a mile downhill before realizing. So we again went back uphill to complete our loop.
The other runner argued with volunteer directing runners, while i thinking its nothing more than waste of time, carried on. I was pissed, but then arguing with a volunteer not going to solve it. I continued on completing my 2 mile loop and then correctly exited the loop for downhill this time.
A downhill mile dropping 300 feet felt good at the start but then it was too hard on legs. By the time i reached back in the Heritage trail, i was wishing for downhill to be over. It was almost 10 miles and just 3 more to go. The only issue was that i did not know what happens after 10. Around mile 11 I saw Cori coming back. She yelled 'Good job !'. I yelled ' I was lost for quarter mile!' Don' know why.
I was tired now, and started run-walk, then mile 12 i did more walk less run, and in final 13th, well a little more walk. As i crossed the Pervical island i could hear the music at the finish line.It was a small race and i could see lot of people already finished and just handful of us are left. I ran with whatever strength left for last quarter mile and completed my first half marathon.
 |
| Maiden Half Marathon Finish |
My only goal was to finish my first half marathon and I did it. I was really happy. I looked at my first medal for some time and then flopped into the grass. And did i tell, that this was my first race medal..EVER. :) :)
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