Evansville Half-Marathon Race Report

I would normally not include a short race like this in my posts on running but this race was significant for 2 reasons: First, It was the first time I competed in my homemade huaraches., and secondly because I finally got a half marathon PR!

Training has been much shorter since moving back but I still remained in half marathon shape. I spent the last 2 months attempting to keep my pace just under 8 minute miles since I was not running anywhere near high volume distance. On race day, I told bub I was going to try for a PR. He was a little pissed. "I haven't been running fast at all in these things!" He, too, was running in sandals. No matter, I knew if he were pushed he wouldn't wain.

My laces had about 150 miles on them so I went ahead and re-laced them 2 days before the race with a new material that felt a bit softer than my standard lace. The new material was not given a test run before race day. (Mistake).

On race day, Sing, bub, and Adrienne met at my house to carpool downtown. After a couple sips of coffee, a shitty rice cake, and short bus ride, we were at the top of Reitz hill  overlooking the river and downtown Evansville. We went to take bathroom break and lost Adrienne but had little time to search. We pushed our way closer to the the front of the start line and soon enough the gun fired.

On our way down the hill, while on Barker, just before crossing the Lloyd, at approximately 0.5 miles in, my left sandal suddenly got very loose at the toe. A very terrible feeling so early in the race. The damn knot wore off. It turns out, the rope I bought was clothesline and instead of a polypropylene core, it was made of cotton which is much less durable. So, I pulled off the sandal and continued barefoot contemplating continuing with one sandal. We ran about about a mile with my bare left foot slapping the smooth-ish yellow line in the center of the road while searching for something to use to force the lace back into the toe-hole. We finally came across some small sticks and got it back through just before the second mile marker We probably only lost 2 minutes re-tying it.. The laces were too tight now having lost about an inch of rope but it would have to do for the next hour or so.

We continued to push the pace at high sevens and at 9.5 miles, the other lace wore off. This one got very tangled and I was certain I would not be able to get this one re-tied as easily as the first.

I quickly took off my other a sandal and decided to try the rest of the way barefoot. The roads in this section were incredible rough. I made it to almost 11 miles before deciding I was not going to be able to finish like this. Caleb had left me because my pace had slowed dramatically due to sensitivity. I put the functioning sandal back on. The wrapped the broken lace around my foot and the sole like a caveman. After a few adjustments, I got it to hold. Although crooked and my toes touching the concrete, I was going to finish strong.




I gave the last 2 miles all I had. I finally caught back up to bub and we trucked in together at 1:42:04. A PR by 9 minutes

Life

So there has been little activity lately. Mostly because I have not ran many races this year. Been busy (excuses). My runs have shortened which has allowed my pace to quicken so that's not all bad. Only running between 25-30 miles per week but I am eager to slow down and go far again. As far as shoes, I have not laced up a pair of sneakers since the middle of October 2010. I have been running exclusively in my homemade huaraches. Some decent distances and even a half marathon. I am on my third pair. Not that they wear out, just in search of a better design. I started in 4mm Vibram Cherry. Very hard rubber. I ran >300 mile with virtually no wear. I then tried 6mm Vibram Morflex. A softer closed cell neoprene that is less dense then the cherry so the weight is the same even though its thicker. I have about 300 miles on this pair and and it has some very slight wear. I think this is easily 1500-2000 miles sole. That's very much conjecture. I suppose a lot can happen between 300 miles and then. I am very interested in trail running in sandals and more specifically, ultra trail running in them. The soles I have previously used are terrible in mud. There is just no traction. I have recently ordered a sheet of the Vibram Newflex, an aggressively treaded 8mm closed cell neoprene. They should be delivered this week.

So... other  updates...Graduated from optometry school,

Moved back to Indiana,

Bought an optometry practice inside a Lenscrafters in the mall,

Getting schooled on how to run a business with many long days. Finally, after 2.5 months, things are beginning to run more smoothly. Thus, I can get back to running, further and more regularly.

Last post I was considering running the Swamp Stomper in Vibrams...acheived.

Got some hot spots but no major blisters.

Stubbed my toe in the first mile and was pretty sure I broke my foot. It was swollen at the finish but healed quickly. The terrain was heinous, but dryer than years past. Finished in 7:18.

Liam just turned 2.

That's been it for length this year. I did not run a spring marathon. Being occupied trying to repair our house for selling after graduation. Finally setlled, finally home, ready for more.

More to come. There are big plans for 2012.