Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon

Topeka-To-Auburn Half-Marathon Jan 17, 2009

I WIN: Met the early registration deadline by one day, so got cool race + a ton of cool swag for cheaper price.

I QUESTION: For the race, I could wear my Vasque Blurs, which are primarily trail running shoes, but new-ish and broken in. Or I
could wear my regular road-running shoes, which I have screwed for winter running. Or I could wear an older pair of shoes that still have some life/cushioning left, but are rather heavy and I've never really liked. Decide that I don't want to take the screws out of my road runners (so they'll stick better) and the Blurs will do.

I LOSE: Driving to the finish line, no roads in Kansas were marked with anything helpful, and it takes me a half-hour longer than planned, arriving at 10:07 when the last bus to the start is scheduled for 10:00

I WIN: The last bus is running late, and I make it to the start (this is a point-to-point race, rather than a loop)

I LOSE: I underestimate the temperature (by about 30 degrees) and didn't look at the forecast, and am wearing way too much clothes

I WIN: I successfully navigate something I've never tried before: submitting & labeling a drop bag for transport

I LOSE: My too much clothes + shoes mean my small running bag is overflowing

I WIN: But I make it all fit somehow

I ???: I believe the announcer asked the audience to sing along with him for the National Anthem, but I don't hear anyone singing, so I do sing, but quietly

I LOSE: 0.25 miles into the race, I realize my legs are still recovering from the 20mi at Clinton Lake last Saturday (or something) and are much more tired than I expected, and question my ability to hold sub-8:00 pace

I WIN: (or at least I think I do) I remember to keep it steady for the first 4 miles, and cruise along at 8:00 pace

I LOSE: Legs are quite tired; start drifting above 8:00 pace

I WIN: I remember that today is the day for another experiment. In my 7 years of running & racing, I've never used an aid station. I always hydrate well enough ahead of time and haven't raced further than a half that I don't need to. So I take Gatorade at the 6.8mi station. And it doesn't upset my stomach

I LOSE: But it does upset my breathing rhythm and I get a nasty sugar-aftertaste

I LOSE: 7.5mi -Seems I've improperly tied my shoes; it's pressing unevenly on my foot, and my big toe is feeling it. Have to stop twice in a half-mile to redo them

I WIN: Stopping gives me a burst, and I get some pace back

I LOSE: Legs are really tired; barely holding 9:00 pace now. Dang. Shoes feel heavy.

I WIN: 8mi mark - Gravel! Not pavement! Sweet softer surface.

I LOSE: Big toe still getting boxed, and some of the soreness from last week Clinton is coming back as well

I WIN: I keep going?

I LOSE: I keep going slowly

I WIN: Coming into town, I see I am going to finish at my safety goal of under 2hr

I WIN: Somewhere I get a burst - wasn't even looking for it - and pick it up with energy from space or something for the last half-mile

SOMEONE ELSE LOSES: The race was again, warm, and I'm down to my T-Shirt (with thoughts of removing it), with my long-sleeve tied around my waist. I tied it specifically so that you could still read my number pinned to it, now situated on my backside. But guy (race volunteer?) is yelling "Where's Your Number?", now yelling insistently, now yelling angrily! Sounds very angry! Aaah! Hurriedly untie my shirt while still running & hold it up, totally blowing any semblance of a finishing kick. And it turns out they only wanted to see the number from the front so the finish line announcer could call out my name as I finished for the multitude of people there who knew who I was. Grrr.

I WIN: Finishers medal! Ooh! Forgot about that!

I LOSE: 139th of 270. Not a big deal, but I have a "thing" about finishing in the top half.

I WIN: Stretching feels good!

I LOSE: Big toe really took a beating. Even though Vasque Blurs aren't made specifically for pavement running, I thought with my
insoles they'd be just fine for this run. Beginning to think toe box of Blurs is not my friend

I WIN: Pancakes! 2 helpings!

I LOSE: Ow. Toe. Limp. Ow.



Addendum: That evening - toenail does not look good. As in, looks like stage 1 of the time it eventually fell off. Crap.

Addendum 2: Ran again on Sunday at WyCo, this time in my screwed road runners on the trails. Toe no better but definitely no worse. Am really starting to suspect the Blurs, especially after how sore I was in unusual places following Clinton the week before.

Addendum 3: Soaked toe in Epsom salts for an hour after WyCo run, trimmed toenail gingerly, feels MUCH better