Following back-to-back half marathon weekends, I originally eyed a return to the High Bridge Ultra 50K for a second consecutive year, but seeing the possibility of thunderstorms and probability of nonstop rain in Pamplin, Virginia, I decided instead to go back to the Danville Half Marathon, taking place on October 14, 2023, that I ran a couple of years previously in the eponymous city, also in Virginia. Albeit I expected rain here and there, if I could have foreseen to what extent, from packet pickup all the way to the end of the event without a break, I highly doubt I would have signed up with two minutes to spare prior to online registration closing the night before.

Because I recalled this course as mostly flat, I shot hard from the start for a sub-two-hour run, but whether I am still out of shape from the summer or the heavy rain, soaking my shoes early on, affected me, or perhaps my legs have not sufficiently recovered from the two half marathons in just over a week, I felt fatigue hit me earlier than I imagined. Periodically smelling pungent weed odor throughout the trail predictably riled me up as well as confuse me what weirdo(s) would come outside early in the morning in this heavy rain just to get high. (For years now, there has been almost nowhere I have been able to freely run or even walk without the likelihood of encountering stoners or at least the smell, so I am extra sensitive toward these inconsiderate senseless dolts who shamelessly smoke in public and brag about their drug use.) Approaching the finish, I no longer cared strongly to push to my limit, as I had already blown this run, but a face I recognized from packet pickup pulled up from behind and said hello with just over half a mile to go, and I told her, “I am running the rest of the race with you.” Amber was running her first half marathon after just having gotten over pneumonia, and conversing with a fellow runner took my mind off the boredom and slight exhaustion, and I for certain would have finished later without her entrance, for which I thanked her. My bizarre finish time of 2:07:34.66 still placed second in my age group of 30-34, so I cannot be too embarrassed!

PC: Fit & Able

Following a disappointing half marathon last weekend, I registered for another race in the same distance at the Cary Greenways Tour, a rare mere twenty-minute drive, which took place on October 7, 2023. The event started from the marathon all the way down to the 5K and had scattered starts due to the trail being narrow and open to the public. I had never been asked to briefly stop in the middle of racing due to traffic, which somewhat snapped my flow early on.

PC: Fit & Able

I knew the chances of my performing worse than I did a week ago were slim to none, but because of the unexpected suffocating humidity, exacerbated by my wearing the event’s not-very-breathable black T-shirt that led me to begin sweating like a mad pig from the very first mile, I deliberately moved much more slowly than I typically do. This, comparable to the previous race, had more downhill running the first half and returned back up the second half, and though I ran consistently for the first ten miles, I slowed down drastically toward the end, thanks to my deciding to walk a few of the climbs to preserve energy and run faster on the flat and downhill portions. With the course not being USATF-certified, I was not surprised the distance stretched over 13.1 miles, 13.33 with an elevation gain of 627 feet according to my COROS, which would not have been a big deal if the temperature would have rested about 15 degrees cooler. I would normally be more embarrassed by my finish time of 2:14:48.79, but considering the hills, humidity, and the temperature much higher than forecast and that I am just returning to racing from the summer, I am content simply having challenged myself and put some fun mileage in over the past week. I am often amused that individuals try to predict what Earth will look like millions of years from now when they can hardly ever accurately predict the following morning’s weather.