1) I talk about how little training I do
2) I describe the race that involves a melt-down somewhere along the way
3) I say how i'm glad i was able to finish, and i could do better if I would train
Unfortunately, the Merge 25K is really no difference to the formula. Since the last Race (Thanksgiving Day) until this race, i had done 11 runs. January was a decent month for me, but then i fell off the wagon - and the last run I had done prior to this race was February 20th, over 1 month prior.
That being said, I knew this was a good run for training prior to the Flying Pig.
Got down to Durham around 530, and caught the bus to the start at Chapel Hill. This was a cool point to point race, and I hope they do it again. It was a great course - really showed me how many hills we do have in this area (and there were a LOT!)
I was also under a gun in that following this race, I needed to get home to take my son to ice skating lessons. In my mind, i figured that if I could keep it under three hours, i would be able to get him to his lessons no problem.
At the start, I happened to see a few folks that I know, which was pretty cool, and was able to talk to them for a few minutes to kill time before the race started. It was a relatively cool morning and was a perfect day for running.
All my splits in this race are in Kilometers, this truly was a race based on the metric system.
Lap 1 - 12:00
Missed the first K marker. This ran over 40, and I found myself wondering what the people driving on 40 were thinking as they saw this big mass of folks running over the highway.
Lap 2 - 6:10
Lap 3 - 6:32
Lap 4 - 6:22
Lap 5 - 5:03
The start of this race was pretty flat and enjoyable.
Lap 6 - 5:56
Lap 7 - 7:15
Lap 8 - 11:32
Stopped to deal with a GI issue this lap....It is funny how when I used to run for time, I would take immodium prior to running. Now, I just deal with things as they come....
Lap 9 - 4:55
Lap 10 - 6:12
Lap 11 - 6:09
Lap 12 - 5:47
Lap 13 - 6:18
Lap 14 - 6:19
Lap 15 - 6:34
Lap 16 - 7:53
Between laps 15 and 16, there was a hill at Mile 10 that broke my spirit....I had been beaten up, and that hill at Mile 10 - it won. but I was pretty happy with my effort and pretty solid splits up until this point.
Lap 17 - 12:59
Lots of walking....
Lap 18 - 7:39
Lap 19 - 6:40
Lap 20 - 9:07
More walking.....
Lap 21 - 7:24
Lap 22 - 6:46
Lap 23 - 7:09
Total - 2:48:53
Overall, happy with the effort, had a lot of fun. I couldn't stick around for the after party, because I was trying to make it to skating lessons, but really enjoyed the race and hope they have it again next year!
