This is a race I have been thinking about for years. I did it in 2009, had a decent race, but ended up 4th – with 3rd & 2nd both less than 7 seconds in front of me- and winner 2 minutes ahead. you think about those seconds a lot after a race, and I have had 3 years!!. It’s a perfect race for me – starts at 7 am, big enough to draw some national competition – but not so big to have all the logistic issues of bigger marathons, you can park within a mile or 2 just 30 minutes prior to race, walk to the start and go.

My fall run training went well – but some work issue’s in the last 3-4 weeks had me tied in knots (no sleeping!) – and I was unable to fly down in advance of the race to acclimate to the heat – but I had a ton of aggression to release on a race – so I think it balanced out.

My goal was to beat my PR of 1:34, and my dream goal if everything went right, was 1:30. I knew the paces I needed, and after 3 half marathons, and one full, I had learned that pacing was everything. The temp was listed as low 60’s at 7 am, but seemed cooler when I arrived – so had a long sleeve jersey and a sleeveless team ER shirt over that. I started near the front, and as usual, when you have tapered down (and actually got a full nights sleep nigh before race!), the excitement of race, first 2 miles felt like I was running downhill – and even holding back at a 6:40 pace – time to slow it down. Goal pace was 6:55/6:56. After mile 2, I figured out that it was more than 60 degrees, and humidity was sky high. So I did a tricky shirt change (never slowed down) – and pulled off both shirts- put on sleeveless, all at a 6:50 pace (and weaving like a mad man with shirt over my head!!!) It worked – tossed long sleeve – only issue (did not figure it out till race was over) my team shirt was on inside out – oh well) I got in a good grove, found a small pack to draft off, and was falling into a solid 6:53 pace – perfect. First 8 miles were awesome, but then the sun came out – temp started climbing, and my body figured out it was not the 30 degree’s I have been training in for months!! I slipped to a 6:54 pace, and at mile 10 you head back in open towards the stadium. It’s all exposed, and even at 8 am sun seemed like it was sucking the life out of me. I focused, and really bore down. I got the 6:53 pace back, passed several runners melting down, and as I hit the last mile, I did the math that if I could do last mile in 6:45, I could actually come in under 1:30!! (It’s a very cool finish – you run behind stadium and do last half mile on stadium track – with announcer yelling, and crowds in the bleachers).

I put everything I had into last mile – and as I approached the finish watched it click over 1:30 – hit my watch – and 1:30:02.

I could not be disappointed- it was a fantastic race, took 4 minutes of my PR, and still did not get my win (Local Florida runner had a 1:25 for 1st) – but a 2nd, with a great time, is hard to complain about!!

Ken Frankenbery