Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon Race Report

I treated this race as a an "A" race. I spent the past week really relaxing and allowing myself to get healthy. I was ready to go. I woke at 5AM. I started the coffee. I ate some cereal and fruit. I took a shower and waited for my ride. At 6:15 my ride arrived. We got downtown by 6:30 and I met up with Dane. Dropped my stuff off with the CTC tent. Headed to the port o lets and waited in line. The line was to long for the time left, so we headed to the start.

I was feeling a bit rushed and anxious to get lined up with my pace group (3:30). That did not happen. The horn sounded, and we were off.......Kind'a. The clock was ticking and we waited 2 minutes to cross the start. Not to bad.
The first 2 miles were slow. Jack(center of photo) and Mirana caught up to me and we started chasing down pace groups. I stuck with Jack through the first four miles before I started rolling off 7:30s

Along the way we passed RW editor and the 1968 Boston winner, Amby Burfoot. Friday during the expo I went to a speaker session of his. He was quizing us and rewarding good answers with lifesaver mints which he claimed would help us during the race. I let him know I had my mint on board, chatted for a moment and pushed forward. It does something for the condidence to pass a Boston winner.

Just past the halfway point I realized that I was on target and getting faster. I also realized that my inability to use the lu was going to be my doom if I didn't deal with it. Luck was on my side as a port a john was being vacated as I approached it. I got in, took care of business, and jumped back into the race.
I had lost 2 and a half minutes. It was time to get busy.
I caught Jack quickly, and soon caught up to Craig(left side of photo). By mile 9 I was with the 3:40 group. I squeezed out a powergel and kicked it up a notch.
My HR had been steady at 161BPM. Now it read 60?..81?...172...54.........forget it. I decided to ignore it and chase more runners down.
I thought I saw E-Speed and DaisyDuc ahead of me. I decided to try to catch 'em. As I ran up behind them I said "hello CTC"......It wasn't them. Oh well, I still had moved further up in the race and was on closing in on my goal.
At mile 11 I heard Dr Jod(formerly known as Jodi) yell my name from the side of the road. That gave me a nice pick me up and a smile. I ran over the bridge, passed the Jake, said hello to Lou and turned into the last mile....
During the final mile I began to feel the effects of chasing all day...If I could maintain a 7:45 I could finish with my goal of 1:45.
I was tired and my mind was beginning to wander. I thought for a moment that the wheels were coming off.
Screw that.
I set this goal in December and worked hard for it. A late start and potty stop hadn't kept me from m goal. This race was almost mine and it was time to focus and run.
I ran it in 7:46.
My chip time,
1:45.01

Goal accomplished!

At the finish I ran into a lot of friends. Jack, Craig, Cathrine and I got some coffee, And we headed back to the finish line to wait for Dane.
Dane(pictured) went out with the 4:40 group. At 4:30 I found a good spot to see her finish and waited. At 4:36(chip time) she cruised in. She looked fresh and happy.
I was proud of her. She rocked. Dane is now a Marathoner.
I had a great day. I am going to sleep now.

Also, big congrats to DaisyDuc and her Boston Qualifying time.