Fortunately, Ottawa has a small half marathon as part of the Beat Beethoven event on October 31. I signed up on Tuesday.
Niagara is known for it's crappy weather. This year, the weather was perfect. The Niagara weather would be saved, apparently, for me for today. Ugh - rain (downpours at times), wind and not all that warm.
I was pretty bummed about the weather, and, I had a pretty negative attitude going into the race - it seemed like nothing was really "right" for me for this race. Things that weren't "right" included:
pretty crappy last 3 weeks of training (2 runs/week)
crappy weather
out and back course with no spectators
I didn't know anyone else doing the race
I like big crowds at races.
small race - 100 people max. in the half marathon
my left knee and right hip have been REALLY bugging me lately.
So, yeah, needless to say, my attitude going in was pretty horrible. I almost didn't go this morning. I really felt like it was going to be a waste of time.
My original goal was 6 min/km - I had a feeling though that that wasn't going to happen, so, then I thought, 6:15/km. Worst case scenario for me was 6:24/km (2:15).
The race
The race starts, I try to find my groove. My left knee and right hip start bugging me almost immediately. The field is already pretty sparse, and I'm running alone almost immediately. I put my music on and just try to "run by feel" and at a comfortable pace.
km 1 - was apparently 5:28 - i think it was measured short (5:43/km pace) - I was feeling just okay...
km 2 - 6:09 - that made more sense. I didn't think I was running faster than 6/km
km 3 - 6:33 - oh look, I'm getting slower and slower. This included a walk break. I start wondering why I'm out here.
km 4 - 6:48 - this was a stupid idea. I think about quitting.
km 5 - 6:19 - (31:19 for 5km) during this km, I decided to turn around at the 5km mark and see if I can do a 60 minute 10k and call it a day. At about 600m into the km, I start eavesdropping on two women that are chatting, and I join in their conversation. I keep running with them when we pass the 5km sign, so, I guess I won't be turning around.
km 6 - no sign marker. I lose the two women and they are running a tad too fast for me. I make my decision that at 6.5 km, I will turn around and make it a 13km LSD.
6.5 km - I pull off. I take off my bib. I stop my watch. I hang my head in shame and start walking back to the start line. I walked for 100 m and tried to think about what I would say in my race report. I realize that Tori ran a couple of weeks ago with H1N1. I realize that Ironboy did an Ironman in a downpour. I realize that I'm being a wimp. I remind myself that Irongirl is NOT a quitter.
I turned around....and got back on the course! Yes, I added 200 m to my race. I re-started the watch. I decided to try to pick off all the people that I let pass me in that time.
7 km - 6:21/km pace since I joined the race again. (so, for the last 500 m)
8 km - 6:12 - I've covered the garmin and I'm trying to just enjoy the race. I'm slowly catching people.
9 km - 6:49 - start thinking that this was a stupid idea..but, since I'm pretty close to the turn around, I might as well go the whole distance. I'm seeing people coming back and that's helping with a bit of motivation. I also start playing leapfrog with a guy.
10 km - 6:22 and 1:05:24 for 10km (34:05 for that 5km) I'm starting to feel like i'm in a groove and realize that I'm close to 6:25/km overall. Of course, my watch distance is screwed up now, since I have gone an extra 200 m!!
turn around - thank god. I decide to think of it as a new race and see what I can do for the way home. I'm still playing leapfrog with the tall guy and am picking off people slowly....
11 km - 6:28. I am having some fast spurts. I start doing 5 minutes of "comfortable running" and 5 minutes of really pushing it (then a 1 minute walk break). This seems to work well for me.
12 km - 6:11 - I'm passing tall guy sooner into my 10 minute run than before. I think I might finally pass him for good soon. My hip and knee are dull pains now.
13 km - 6:26 - My 5 minutes of fast running has me holding a pace faster than 6 min/km - and I'm really picking people off. (Like 1 person/km, since there are so few people on the darn course.)
14 km - 6:24 - 2 thirds done. Time to bring it home and finish this stupid thing.
15 km - 6:13 (31:45 for that 5km) - I'm feeling good, thinking that 2:15 may be in the cards, but, realizing that I'll probably miss it by a tiny bit (about 200m worth, in fact!)
16 km - 6:43 - crap.
17 km - 6:27. realize that 2:15 won't happen....keep pushing hard for the 5 minute interval. Feeling strong, and knowing that 4km will be over soon. I'm really shortening my stride when I'm doing the 5 minutes fast and I'm starting to be a little proud of myself.
18/19 km - 6:28/km - really hoping this stupid thing will be over soon.
20 km - 6:07 (32:39 for 5km and 1:04:14 for 10km)- that's right, baby.....I'm finishing this stupid thing stronger than I started. Negative split the 10km......
21.1 km 2:16:25 (on my watch) - 2:17 on the clock.....since I had stopped my watch.....2:17 is obviously my official time.
The BEST part about the race was that Ironboy had brought the Ironkids. I'm sorry I made them stand in the rain for 10 minutes longer than they should have.
I'm glad that stupid race is done. I'm really sore still and limping around a lot....but, it's done.
Ironically, I'm already thinking about my next race. I'm considering doing the Cookie Run next weekend - I would like to do a 10km under 60 minutes - prove to myself that I can do 6 min/km for something.
I had the 
