It was a pretty good run as Half Marathons go. Could I have done better? - Sure! But I woke up at 3:00 a.m. on a Sunday and ran 21.1K!!! (And did not die enroute) and that is awesome in itself. After every run where I did not PB, I nitpick post-run on how it could have gone better - I could have pushed a little harder, I should have slept earlier last night, should have done this differently, should have done that another way - but I did not, so its pointless, so I shan't.
Prasad from Nitros had kindly agreed to pick me up on his way to the venue and so I had company to chat with and exchange running notes up until the flag-off. I also got a few selfies in at the start line (which I never do otherwise) thanks to him.
The flag-off was at 4:30 and the weather was ok-ish at the start. The humidity was at about 55% when we started which although bad was manageable. Was pouring with sweat just a few minutes into the run. The first half of the run went really really well. I was going as planned. I finished the 1st 3K at around 21:30 (a minute and a half ahead of time), 6K at around 43:45, 9K at around 1:05:30 (still ahead) and then it went all downhill. At the 12K mark I was behind by 2 minutes but I was still feeling good and running at a steady strong pace between 7'00" and 7'15". It was around 6.00 a.m. and the humidity had climbed to 70%... From the 12K point onward my pace started slowing down a lot and I was behind by 6 minutes when I reached the 15K point.
The humidity was still climbing and I found it a huge effort just to keep running even at a slow pace. Between the 17K mark and the finish line I had to take quite a few walking breaks. 18K point was passed at 2:17 and I was so looking forward to seeing the finish line. At around the 19K point when we reached the tree lined Besant Nagar avenue I knew the end was so close but I didn't have it in me to push harder. It was 2:24 something and I knew I couldn't PB so I chilled. :-) Slow jogged and walked to the finish from there. 2:41:12 was my official timing. Not my best but also not my worst. I'll take it!
For the first time ever I stayed at the race venue post-run. I had breakfast and hung out with some of the Nitros Runners, and my buddy from D2D. It was nice not to have to rush off. Another first during this run was a random stranger asking me to pace him (this happened at around the 7K mark) and insisting that I maintain my current pace so he could follow suit. I didn't want the responsibility of managing his finish time along with mine so I politely declined. Plus (and more importantly) is this really a done thing??? Can you actually go up to a stranger and demand to be paced that too when there are plenty of official race pacers around?
Overall, it was a good run. The event went off smoothly - I am happy to report that the scare about the blockades being lifted post 6:00 a.m. didn't materialize in the end. I felt good at the end of the run. Not sore or achy (or injured). Immensely looking forward to #5.
Kudos!!
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