MGM Half Marathon (WW # 136)



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Montgomery Half Marathon
Montgomery, AL

March 10, 2018

Half Marathon # 53

Alternate Post Titles:

• The one after a 3.5 hour root canal
• Hills, hills and hills for breakfast
• What do you mean you ran out of grits and eggs?
• Do high doses of antibiotics cause cramps?
• You just can't beat the swag!

Saturday marked my 4th time running the Montgomery Half Marathon.  It's never been one of my faster finish times.  It's usually warm and humid and very hilly.  Always hilly.  I was so happy to be blessed with a cool morning this year.  Even though I wasn't gunning for a course PR (I'm marathon training and elected not to do the traditional taper) I hoped it would translate into a decent finish time. 

Well, I'll cut to the chase -- I felt fantastic until mile 9.  I was thrilled to successfully navigate those early hills and middle miles.  Then,  the cramps started.  AGAIN.   I had already taken in plenty of electrolytes. Just like Mercedes, I was forced to stop when the foot cramps reached my calves -- yes, both.  I also had a weird cramp in the back of my right knee.  That was new.   I limped across the finish line with a 2:12:14 gun time (oddly, they don't record chip time).  My Garmin recorded 13.24 in distance.  I wasn't very good with running the tangents. I was 7th out of 54 in my age group.

I admit to beating myself up for a hot minute over my time.  No, that's not accurate.  It wasn't exactly my finish time that bothered me. I've actually done worse at this race!  It was going from such a strong race to a barely-limping-in one.  If you read my alternate post titles, you've figured out I had a root canal this week.  It did not go well and I spent 3.5 hours in the dental chair.  I've also been on a high dose of antibiotics for two weeks, along with my allergy medicine (see pink azalea bush above).   There may have been a few factors working against me.  Or...maybe I'm looking for excuses. 

The swag included a large beach towel, a
truckers hat, socks, a tattoo sleeve, a pair
of arm warmers, a T-shirt and a car decal.
The photo-bombing diapered dog, not included.

Regardless of performance, I was out there doing what I love.  It was fun hanging out with a couple of the ladies from our weekend running group.  The band was rockin' and the sun was shining.  You can't beat that.  I was a little miffed that they had run out of some of the breakfast food when I came through the line.  I had been thinking about those grits and eggs for a few miles.  But, they had record attendance this year and I think I caught them in a restocking phase.  I didn't feel like going back.

Always fun catching up with Laurie and Kaye.

I crossed another finish line and hopefully learned a few lessons I can apply toward my next race. Another theory for my recent cramping is running with inserts in my shoes.  I do think they are helping my poor, sad, previously fractured metatarsals, but maybe they are a part of the cramping equation?  I think I'll try training in them but not racing in them.  

And that's a wrap!

What's the best race swag item you've ever received?

Do you run with inserts?  Like them?  What brand?

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