The alarm went of at 5 and we were out the door, walking to the stating line, by 5:30. It had been a long week already; we had been in Mazatlan for 5 days already due to orchestra activities, and then my allergies had flared up terribly at the hotel we were staying at after the rest of the orchestra went home. By Saturday they had calmed down a bit, but I was behind on my sleep from wakin up early the day before to see the 5k and 10k races.
On our way to the start, we passed a club, in front of which a party form the night before was still going on. Dudes fondling girls, chics dressed like hoes, beer cans everywhere.... not a pretty sight. Such a contrast between that and the swarms of runners waddling to the race!
I was feeling a bit nervous before the race. I had decided on a 4:42-4:45 min/km pace, but I wasn't sure if I could hold it. I have been feeling strong and fast, but I just wan't sure. The crowd was dense at the start, but my strategy to stay to the left worked and I didn't get boxed in. My first km for 4:50, which I felt was good. The second was 4:42, right on track. Sadly, I could already tell that it was too fast. I was too tired for only 2km into the race.
My pace stuck around 4:50/km for the first 12km. I didn't feel too tired at that pace, and I was much more staedy than several people in my pack. I passed the Mazatleca girl from the malecon at about 12 km, and finally she wasn't able to pass me again. Right before 13km came the 1st turn-around for the 1/2 marathon.
The sun was getting very strong by this point. I was glad to have my hat, but it didn't help with the blinding reflection of the sun off the wet pavement at each water station!
Sadly, after the turn-around, they had not marked the kms for the people running the half. I felt lost! I knew was starting to feel fatigued, but I had no idea what pace i had dropped to. I was distracted with trying to measure my pace against the full-marathon km marks (i passed kms 24-27 or so), but it didn't really work. I felt like I have started too fast and I fell into a "comfortable" pace which I could not get past. I wanted to be breathing harder and running faster, but my body just wouldn't get into that next level.
Andrea and Slava met me on the course a few times and I really enjoyed their cheers. Someone yelled at me "falta uno! falta uno!" And I felt my adrenaline pick up. I latched onto one girl in my pack and decided not to let her beat me. I felt the internal struggle of "yes you can finish strong, no you can't, give up now" etc, but I did sprint at the end and I finished with a smile on my face. Sadly, as soon as I crossed the line my smile changed to a frown and I realized that I hadn't reached my goal. It was my last race in Mexico, my last as a member of Club Atletico La Milla... and I had failed. My time of 1:42:26 was strong, but not what I had aimed for. It was the first time I had not reached a goal in a race! How tragic!
My sadness only lasted a moment, though. I knew I had run hard and after I saw some friends, I realized that everyone had run a but slow that day. I was only 2 minutes from Blanca, and only 1 minuted from earbud-guy. I beat the doctor and gabriel both! It was a good run. Hot and unmarked, but good.
In the last week or so, I ran faster in my training. My "easier" runs had all sped up to 9min pace or faster, and my 1200s were between 5:05-5:12 for 2 sessions of them. I still felt "behind" somehow, and I think it has to do with the 2 months off in the summer. Escuinapa was my best race so far, and although I had taked February off, and part of December, I hadn't stopped training for longer than a couple of weeks at a time for an entire year. I think that is why I feel less prepared right now.
But enough whining! I had a great time at the event, and I can't wait for my next one: the Los Angeles Marathon 2008!
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