My outlook on the Cayman Islands Marathon and Half Marathon was to run the half as a training run.
Although the 5am gun time (required to spare slower marathoners the heat of midday) was inconveniently early, I did awake before my 3:30am alarm. Breakfast was a Clif bar, and to avoid later portapotty use I didn't even have a cup of tea. The start/finish line was a 1.3 mile walk from my condo, so I was there with lots of time to spare.
I seeded myself at the back of the pack. My plan was to run out in zone 2, and back in zone 3. I carried no water, but did have a few items in a runner's wallet strapped to my racebelt.
The race was well-supported with aid stations every mile. The roads weren't closed (except for the start/finish block), but drivers were considerate and careful, and we did have police and volunteers at major intersections.
One of the cute bits of the run out was running past the house of the Miss Boddens. It was still dark, and they had left their Christmas display ablaze. Here's a pic that the visiting Instapundit took of their display last week:
Instapundit link. I saw one of the runners stop to take a pic himself.
Shortly after the turn-around, I spotted a timing chip on the ground. I picked it up, and ran back a few yards to hand it to the volunteer staffing the intersection. Upon reflection I realized that I should just have put it in my runner's wallet and turned it in at the end myself. So, #456, I hope the volunteer got it turned in and so you didn't get dinged the $35 for a missing chip.
On the return leg my heart rate quickly headed for my zone 3/zone 4 threshold. By the mile 10 marker I had had enough of restraint and decided to run comfortably hard. I was surprised at how high my heart rate went without sucking for air or feeling distressed legs - I suppose my lack of endurance training has made me more succeptible to heart rate drift. I saw my heart rate go into the 190s and kept with it. It was when I saw a heart rate of 201 that I thought I had better bring it down a bit (back to the mid-to-low 190s). I haven't seen 201 for almost four years, since last getting a maximum heart rate estimate on a treadmill. I had thought my max heart rate might be lower than that by now.
I finished in about 2:20, and then hung around for while. Took in some fluids, including some coffee. Chatted with a few folks I knew. Watched the first couple of marathoners cross the line, and then walked home. BTW, for progression purposes I'm counting that as a 14.5 mile run (half credit for the walking before and after).
My thanks to the volunteers, sponsors, and organizers!
