Race #142
Half Marathon #46
South Carolina Half Marathon #33
2018 Race #3
2018 Half Marathon #2
GHS Swamp Rabbit Race to Greenville #5

I had zero goals for this race. I know I have said that before but today I truly meant it. After Hilton Head, my quads were incredibly sore, much more than I thought they should be since it did not feel like I had put in a hard effort. Then, with life, I struggled to get all my work done and get a decent amount of sleep. I ended up getting two runs in the week after Hilton Head, Friday and Saturday, and then my normal three weekday runs this week but one of those runs I had to cut short because I had been up until midnight the night before getting work graded and prepared for the following school day.

When I arrived at the start we had a little snafu of my own making. I did not check the packet pick up site and assumed that it would be in the parking lot of Travelers Rest High like before. It was not. Everything worked out. I got my bib and started to walk to the start with Ellis. (Mom had started her long run towards Greenville so she could be there at the finish.) Then I realized that my teacher brain had helped me forget to charge my Garmin. I had very little charge left. I knew I would not have a full enough charge for the half so I determined that I would have my Strava app ready for when the Garmin died.

As the race start approached, I decided to use only the Strava app so that not only would I have the complete run but my Garmin would not die mid run and leave thousands of steps uncounted. (Yes, I am OCD.) This had the added benefit of running blind, removing the temptation to check pace or distance or time.

Ellis took some pre-race pictures.

Wave for your mom!

That’s more normal.

A few minutes later and we started. I had seen the 1:52 pacer up ahead. He apparently had lined up to far to the front and moved back in the line before the start. I considered moving back as well and just sticking with the pacer but decided against it. I would, instead, see how far I could get before he caught me and then I would try to keep up.

Once we started I knew that the first few miles would be full of people passing since I had no intention of running anywhere close to a PR pace. I steeled myself for this and settled into a strong and steady race effort pace.

Although this course is a net downhill, it is impossible to find something completely flat in Greenville. Most of the more significant hills are in the first few miles when we run an out and back through parts of Travelers Rest. None of these hills felt difficult. I kept plodding away feeling pretty strong.

Once we got back to the start location, I looked for Ellis who took a few photos and then headed to Greenville to meet up with Mom.

I try to smile for the camera but had no idea I looked this cheesy.

Mile 1: 7:54
Mile 2: 8:07
Mile 3: 8:13

I ended up feeling fairly strong through the entire race. I did not encounter any of the usual negative thoughts about quitting or the race being too hard. I settled in and only occasionally counted down the miles.

Starting at the second water stop, I did slow to take a Gatorade since the muggy warmer weather that plagued me in Hilton Head two weeks ago made another appearance. I had only water in my OrangeMud. Even with these brief walks to drink all of the Gatorade in the cup, none of my miles dropped below 8:33.

Mile 4: 8:26
Mile 5: 8:16
Mile 6: 8:32
Mile 7: 8:20

Somewhere in the section between where we first enter the Swamp Rabbit Trail by Travelers Rest Family Practice and before we reached Furman, a runner started to pass me on my right. Not an unusual occurrence but then he asked me, “is that for entertainment or pacing?” Although only a second or two, it felt like it took forever for my brain to realize what he asked about and then to process the question. He meant my music which I play through my phone without headphones. I have never thought about that question. I still think it was an odd question. I managed to say something like “just something to keep my mind occupied,” even though it’s not really that. He responded, “Yup, after an hour it gets kinda boring” and then pulled away.

So odd.

As we approached the crossing of Blue Ridge, the largest road crossing of the Swamp Rabbit Trail with four lanes of traffic, I noticed that a little bit of a gap had developed between the runner right in front of me and the next runners up. I understand why the cops stationed at these roads attempt to let cars cross between gaps in the runners. However, the second of the two cops policing this section clearly has no experience as a runner who has to deal with street crossings and people who drive too close to comfort.

I tried to pick up the pace a little so I could close enough of the gap that it would not be a temptation for the cop to let a car through but did not manage to do so. Instead, a gap just barely wide enough for a car to pass remained when I reached Blue Ridge. When I say just barely, I mean it. The first cop held the cars back but I saw the second motion for a car to go. Involuntarily I cried out “No, please no!”

The van ended up passing in front of me with barely a foot, twelve inches, to spare. Technically enough room physically but not psychologically.

While the van passed incredibly close in front of me the cop, in a condescending tone, responded, “I’m letting just one car through,” as if my cry was driven by the fact that I thought I would have to stop for a line of traffic.

Um. No.

I shouted back, now safely back on the trail, “That one car nearly ran into me!”

Until you are in the situation, you have no idea how disconcerting a close pass like that can be. In your car or from a slight distance, you may think that there was plenty of room but…

Soon after that we reached the second to last water stop. I tried to get a Gatorade after grabbing a pack of chews but the cups were not being handed out in any particular order. I ended up missing the table and when I asked the last volunteer and she said that she had water, I kept going, glad to have the chews so I could get in a few calories.

Mile 8: 8:33
Mile 9: 8:26
Mile 10: 8:33

Soon, only a 5k remained and I still felt pretty good.

When at another street crossing about a mile and a half out, a cop held a car when a gap about the same size as mentioned above existed between myself and the runner ahead, my “thank you!” was extremely heartfelt.

In the last couple miles I started to pick up the pace.

Then with a little over a mile left, I happened to glance down at my Garmin, which displayed the time and realized that if I finished within 11 minutes I could finish under 1:50. I had no idea I was running that well.

Although I was not quite able to manage a sub 1:50, I still ran a minute faster than Hilton Head in a much better paced run.

This year the final, sharp turn did not take me by surprise.

Coming in for the final turn towards home. That hip collapse is still there but perhaps not as bad as Hilton Head

My life glute and leg…also known as what happens when you forget that you zoomed in earlier.

Still more work to be done to strengthen those glutes

That looks pretty good though.

Mile 11: 8:20
Mile 12: 8:24
Mile 13: 8:18
.3: 7:51
Final: 1:50:33

I will take that for sure, take that and continue to work on my base, on strengthening my glutes and working out whatever has been bothering my left heel after my runs.