A new Half PB!

So the NYC Virtual Half was just supposed to be a run to qualify for the race a year from now. The real thing, running a half marathon through the streets of New York City.

Days leading up the race, my training plan was going as scheduled with just a short taper. However being March up here, the weather can be unpredictable. Looking at the forecast weeks ahead I was aiming to run my virtual race the second race weekend (as there was a ten day window), but as the race came closer the forecast changed and I had to make an adjustment to the plan. I moved up race day by a week shortening my taper, not a big deal right? Well the Tuesday afternoon of race week after my hard bike session and afternoon lift, I started to feel some pain in my left knee. I iced it and rested it for the night feeling some discomfort that evening.

The next morning I booked an afternoon appointment with my PT. She felt that it wasn’t much to worry about and just some rest needed and to test it out a few days later. She also advised me to rest more than I was intending by lowering my bike rides this week as well.

Thursday, knee test day…. I felt better the next day but waited another day to run just to be sure. I did my rehab exercises and rested. On Thursday, I started with an extended warm-up and set out as an easy run for the first km. As that felt good, I decided to push it to race pace and hold it for a few more km. All felt well and was happy with how my body was feeling.

Friday was a long spin on the bike 2 x20 @70% of FTP. I felt good and shut it down after that.

I was having thoughts of a shake out run or an easy bike on Saturday, but a last minute text message from my PT advised to give it another day to rest my legs. (something I’ve never done before, but figured, she knew more than me about injury prevention).

Sunday - Race Day. With virtual races, it allows you to pick a start time. At 10am the weather was going to be around 5 degrees celsius, so I aimed for that. I had the usual race day breakfast, peanut butter and english muffin, and a banana. I made my homemade gels of maple syrup and a mashed up banana to have pre and during the race. I set out my water bottles at my feed stations (my car and my house) and got everything prepped.

The race started off as usual, I plan to run this according to feel, because really I didn’t know how else. I know training for eight weeks wasn’t enough and I lacked speed sessions to really push my feel for the run. I started at 4:30/km and decided to just keep going to how I felt. As the run continued, I was feeling pretty good, and by my first third of the run, beside a bit of a stitch, I was feeling good as I picked up the pace. Ran through my “feed” station and kept my pace going. Second third of the race felt really good while I approached my second feed zone, a bit early so I had to run with the gel and water for a few kms. Still feeling pretty good, I started to feel and ache in my knee as I made a few sharp turns and slowed down to set my empty feed containers at the side of the road (don’t worry, I went back to pick them up after the run). As I approached the final third of my run I looked down and saw I was still making good time and was feeling good (well as good as you can be 16km in). I kept pushing and while glancing at my watch I knew it was going to be too much to go sub 1:30 (as I was running out of distance) so I pushed for a PB. With virtual races there is no finish line, even your GPS can’t be relied on, so you have to run a bit further past the intended distance, just to be sure. So when I finished, I didn’t really know what I ended up with as I had to wait for a Strava update to get a final time.

I was quite pleased with my result given the circumstances. I am more excited that hopefully I will be running through Time Square New York to the finish line.

Looking forward to next year, but until then I will wait for the fall races in hopes that in-person racing will return by then.