Charleston Distance Run Recap
Five weeks ago, doubts were swirling in the back of my head
if running the Charleston Distance Run would even be possible. My quad and
hamstring seemed to be going in the wrong direction. Instead of climbing the
hill of improvement, sliding backwards felt like the direction that I was
going.
But as each week passed, they seemed to be getting a little
better. Good enough that I found myself standing on Kanawha Blvd in front of
the West Virginia Capital building ready to run 15 miles. “Ready” is probably
too strong of a word to use. Hoping, fingers crossed, or praying might all be
better ways of describing how I felt. Never the less I was committed. May be
more committed than I was in March when I attempted the Emerald Isle Marathon.
Even if I had to walk the last whatever miles of this race, there wouldn’t be another
DNF added to my running resume – not today, not ever.
To the many that don’t know, the Charleston Distance Run race
starts with the firing of a cannon. The announcer lets everyone know that no
two wicks are the same. Translation, no two wicks burn at the same rate so just
be ready to run when it does finally fire. And, yes, it does take while, but it
finally fires.
I move away from the starting line and head west on
Kanawha Blvd. Settling in to some 6:30 miles, I hope I am doing the right
thing.
Before the race, I came of up with 3 goals. Sub 1 hour and
40 minutes would be my “A” goal. 1 hour and 40 to an hour and 45 minutes would
be my “B” goal. Over 1 hour and 45 minutes would be my “finish” goal.
Having not really did much in the way of training this
summer, a 1 hour and 40 minute run was a stretch for me. But what is life
without some lofty goals.
I crossed the Kanawha River and headed toward Capital
Punishment hill. They call it Capital Punishment hill for two reasons. First, this
hill last for a little over 2 miles. Two, it isn’t for the faint of heart. It
goes up and up. Then, when I feel like I am at the top, it turns in a
neighborhood and continues to up. Testing not only a runner’s aerobic conditioning
but a runner’s strength at their core, most runners just want to walk at some
point.
Then, the course makes an abrupt change in direction and we
head downhill back in Charleston. This portion of the course is so steep that
it tenderizes what’s left of our guads.
Once I started up hill, I settled into a comfortable pace. With
each step, my brain was constantly monitoring my hamstring. Would it give out?
Would it hold up?
Perhaps, I was worried as much about the going downhill as
up. Whipping of my lower leg forward stresses my Bicep Femorus specifically. Several runners flew by me during the
downhill, but I stuck with my plan.
Crossing the bridge back in to downtown Charleston, there
were 7 more miles to run – all flat miles for the most part.
I followed these two guys until we came 12 miles. Up to this
point, I felt decent. No hamstring or quad issues. Other than general fatigue,
I felt good. About 12 and half to 13, I started going in the other direction. This
coincides with us moving away shaded areas of Charleston and out into the
direct sunlight.
Talking Danny before the race he said weather conditions
were lots better this year. If 72 degrees at the start and 93 percent humidity
is better, I am glad that I didn’t run this race last year. My singlet and shorts were
soaked early in the race. Coming down the hill into Charleston, my shoes had
the squeaking of being water soaked.
At 13 miles, I knew a sub 1 – 40 time was out the picture. Miles
14 and 15 were some of my slowest miles. I lost nearly 2 minutes off of the
pace I had been running up to 13. The lack of running and conditioning showed
up.
Strangely, I was both disappointed and happy all at the same
time. Disappointed in the fact that I was slowing down when I wanted to run
faster. At the same time, happy because I was going to run the entire 15 miles
with no hamstring or quad issues.
Finishing 17th overall was nice and first in my
age group. My time was my slowest ever: 1:42:47.
Looking back, this race turned out better than I even
expected it. The heat and the humidity don’t do me any favors. Of all the races
I have run, this is the only one where I routinely dump water over head. I even
held ice cubes on top of my head and in my mouth. No trick goes untried during
a hot race.
But I would go back again and again. There are some races
that you can just indentify with. The Charleston Distance Run is one of my
favorites and always will be.
Sweat soaked and tired,
The Cool Down Runner
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