Race #133
Half Marathon #41
South Carolina Half Marathon #30
2017 Race #16
2017 Half Marathon #6
Race 13.1 Greenville Half Marathon #1

I went into this race with the goal of making this a test race for Chicago training. At almost exactly a month out, this race fit perfectly into the schedule. Of course, I also want to run all the half marathons and having this new race in my “backyard” means that I would be here to run this regardless.

Mom and I pulled into University Ridge at 6:30. This turned out to be exactly the right amount of time. From the moment we walked up to the start area I was impressed. The organizers had everything set up with very little confusion possible. The time passed by speedily thanks to an excellent DJ and a quick moving portopotty line. There were a few people that tried to bypass the line and come around the other side, right as I was about to walk up to a recently emptied one. One guy even opened a door where a person still sat inside. I told him, “there’s a really long line dude.” He looked up, saw the line and said, “Oops.” I just shook my head.

When Mom asked me when I expected to finish, I hedged and told her, “definitely under two hours, maybe under 1:50.” I did not tell her that I planned to find the 1:45 pacer and stick on him like glue for as long as I possibly could. I had no idea how long I would be able to stay with him, which is why I hedged.

Right on time, 7am, we were off. We headed down the hill from University Ridge into the Park and onto the Swamp Rabbit Trail. I knew that hill would suck big time at the end of the race when we had to come back up.

That first mile felt like a cluster. I tried to stay with the pacer but so many people jostled back and forth, somehow unable to find their pace. One guy who had been running a couple steps ahead of me for a few tenths of a mile suddenly looked to his left, saw a gap and took off like a gazelle leaping to the left around the pacer between a couple other people and off in front of them. It looked like he was the ball in a pinball machine.

After that first mile we settled in and headed down the Swamp Rabbit Trail towards the Zoo. This meant that we would go through the section that has been closed for construction for months. I used to hate that janky bridge that crossed the river down there. The bridge consisted of metal grates that bounced as you ran over them. Several other times that I have run through that section I have slowed to a cautious jog over that bridge. The janky bridge survives no longer. Wow Greenville. This section looks so impressive and they aren’t done yet! It will be beautiful and there will be bathrooms on the trail! That’s something the downtown section of the Swamp Rabbit has lacked for a while.

We reached the turn around for the first section around mile 1.5. The gradual uphill began here. The only thing I kept telling myself was to keep with the pacer. Keep with the pacer.

If I want to BQ at San Francisco next year, I need to incorporate serious hill work in my training, especially with regards to mental toughness. Greenville hills have nothing compared to San Francisco.

That was when I first started entertaining thoughts about dropping back from the pacer.

We had already started some conversations though which kept me connected. The pacer asked if we had any first timers or veterans. I said that I was running my 41st. The pacer reached back with the 1:$5 sign and joked, “here, you should take this.”

David, the pacer, told us that he ran even splits and he was true to his word. All of my splits when I ran with him *spoiler alert* were within 7 seconds of each other.

Mile 1: 7:56
Mile 2: 8:00
Mile 3: 7:57

Once we turned onto the portion of the Swamp Rabbit that headed towards Furman the incline started to level out and I got my legs back under me. The next several miles felt like a honeymoon portion. I felt fairly good even though my legs started to protest, gently. I ignored my watch and let David do the thinking.

We talked off and on throughout these miles which I enjoyed. The miles passed fairly quickly although as we approached the turnaround, not quickly enough.

Mile 4: 7:55
Mile 5: 7:55
Mile 6: 8:01
Mile 7: 8:04

We all felt like we lost a little momentum on the tight turn around just before mile 7. This is also where I started wondering just how many miles I would be able to stay with the pacer. I kept telling myself, “get to mile 8. Get to mile 9. Get to mile 10.”

Then came the hills just beyond the Swamp Rabbit Cafe. In the grand scheme of things these hills are barely inclines. When pushing for a pace that’s faster than normal in the back half of a half marathon, these hills can prove to be mountains.

I stuck with the pacer up these hills but my legs held onto the increased effort feeling tight and heavy. I just couldn’t shake it. I had come this far. A little more than 2 miles remained until the end of the race. My legs did not want any of the encouraging words David offered at that time. They clung steadfastly to the pain of the hills and would not let go.

Mile 8: 7:59
Mile 9 7:56
Mile 10 7:59
Mile 11: 7:56

When I passed the Mile 11 marker, I dropped to a walk and dropped away from the pacer.

The last two miles could best be described as a “struggle fest.” I do not regret it at all. I knew I had chosen an ambitious pace. By holding on as long as I had, I had almost guaranteed a sub-50 time.

I ended up walking again at 11.5 but then told myself to power through until the end, only 1.5 miles left. I could do this.

Then came the hill I dreaded from the moment I saw that the race started and finished in the parking lot at University Ridge. This is the hill I knew as we ran down in mile one would challenge me right up until the finish line.

When you reach this hill, all you have left of the race is a little over a quarter mile yet I had to walk again.

Once I made it out of the park I picked it up again. With the finish line now in sight, I could do this. I pushed as hard as I had left and crossed the line meeting my secondary goal, sub 1:50.

Mile 12: 8:22
Mile 13: 8:49
.2 nubbin 9:43
Overall Time: 1:46:47

I like those numbers!!

I really, really, really enjoyed this race. I hope they keep coming back to Greenville.

Race Review

Registration and Packet Pick Up
While I do not remember much about the actual registration, packet pick up went off without a hitch. I loved the location in Union Square, much easier to find than the location from 2012. I don’t even remember where that was. Oops! That was from a different race.

Race Shirt
I haven’t put the shirt on but I love the bright yellow and the technical fabric. My only complaint was with all the people wearing the shirt before the race started. The shirt has the word “FINISHER” in giant letters on the front. Clearly people, you have yet to finish the race. Yes, I am just a bit OCD.

Prerace/morning (evening) amenities
The start/finish location, although in a parking lot, was decked out by the race organizers complete with a DJ and customer support tent.

Course
The ending hill nearly kills you although not as much as the one in the last .2 of the Marine Corps Marathon. Other than that, the Swamp Rabbit Trail provides a nice flat-ish course with a few rollers just challenging enough. Greenville runners certainly are spoiled to have the Swamp Rabbit Trail in our backyard.

Course Support
Race13.1 had plenty of pacers, which I obviously took advantage of. The out and back format of the race with plenty of runners provided a cheering squad of runners. It’s so cool to be able to cheer on people both in front and behind me. The water stops were well stocked with volunteers doing a great job.

Finish line and Post Race Amenities
The start and finish line were well stocked with the DJ still going strong. All sorts of things were available from water to fruit snacks to Papa John’s pizza. Now, I like pizza just as much as the next person but I do not understand the appeal of room temperature pizza at 9 in the morning. I am an odd duck though.

Photography
Official photography should be available within a few days.

Results
You could not escape from this race without knowing your results. Not only do they text you but they have an instant results tent where you can look up your bib number and print out your results including age group breakdown. It also updates nearly immediately.