Spartan Advance Half Marathon report:
@LSUlakes
2:06:53
Though not my goal of getting to 2 hours, or sub-2, I did PR by 2 minutes. This makes 2-straight half marathons where I've PR'd.
Weather:
Thursday's forecast had
@DopeyBadger and I thinking perfect 'shoot the moon' opportunity (53, with 5mph winds, dewpoint 41). By Saturday, the forecast had changed a lot: several bouts of rain since Friday morning. And the Sunday morning radar was not looking good. I correctly predicted 0745 rain start to go with the 0800 race start. Steady rain as we headed off. I don't know when it intensified (likely first mile), but I told myself it was "just a (flesh wound) steady rain". Then at mile 4 we crossed a road, and I could see that it was POURING. I also predicted that it would rain for just over an hour, which meant the first 7 miles were in a downpour. then it tapered and stopped, but the damage to the dirt and crushed stone Rail Trail was done: puddles, mud, several dozen runners ahead of me mixing it all into a nice slippery paste with each step. No rain by the last few miles, but boy was it cold in the post-race area.
Packet pickup:
Unable to do Saturday due to Greyhounds in Gettysburg. Arrived around 0645 Sunday, which turned out to be most fortunate. No line for packet pickup. But... my name was not on the list for my section of alphabet. Not on the master list either. Not on the alphabet section if my first and last names got swapped. Supervisor was very nice, and helpful, as were the rest of the check-in staff. Not on the master computer list either. "Let's get you set up at the day-of table so you can get started on your warmup". Unfortunately, no more shirts in my size. XL was HUGE, so I took a medium. When I asked later if they could please set aside a large if one was traded in, they told me they had already planned to do that. Then I walked out to the lobby, where another supervisor called my name. They somehow found a large somewhere and gave it to me. DW was able to send a photo of the acknowledgement letter from February, which I then forwarded to the staff, as requested. In the end, it could not have gone smoother for what could've been a bit snafu.
Race:
Sometimes, the inside of my left leg, above the ankle around the shin, gets tight. Seems to happen with speed work, but I suspect it was the sloped parking lot (for drainage) I used for my 3 runs leading into race day. This tightness has always loosened up/gone away in the first mile of a run or race. Not yesterday: pain for the whole 13.1 miles. As a result of that, and the sloppy surface, I just didn't feel I could push it for the mile 8-13.1 segment as planned. But, during the back half (maybe more) of the race, I was passed by only 1 other runner. I was able to use the switchbacks/railroad crossings and tangents to get past several other runners. Aspercreme, legs elevated, and preplanned massage seem to have really helped the ankle.
And, I lost 1/3-1/2 of my Sport Beans during mile 4 when I took the packet out of my shorts pocket. I'd preopened the packet at home and put some extras in there. Likely too much tugging to get them free of the pocket.
Post race:
Jimmy John's 2-bite subs, Turkey Hill chocolate milk and Iced Tea, bananas, a massage therapist, muffins, cookies, 2 physical therapists stretching runners, Maple Donuts, Gatorade, water. Sadly, unlike 2017, no Smoothie King mobile truck. Medal is among the biggest I've ever received. Shirt (Sport-tek) is a nice dark grey with green writing.
I think I could've gone faster, even in the rain, were it not for the ankle. I was kind of hoping there would be on-course Biofreeze. I would've taken some.