13.16mi @ 8:03/mi (1:45:53) (PR); 30th/77 in age-group (167th/1523 overall) The event's official site can be found HERE. Official event results can be found HERE. Official King of the Mountain results are HERE. Official Queen of the Mountain results are HERE. Photos, courtesy of KC Running Company, are HERE. All photos in this post are courtesy of KC Running Company. New for 2014 is the Longview Half-Marathon. And new for me is running a distance race in sub-freezing temperatures. Sure, I've done many a 5k in the nastiest of weather (namely, last year's Great Santa Run 5k), and even half-marathons in inclement weather (hail, wind, lightning...the Garmin Half). But never a freezing long-run. Even during my Heartland 39.3 training during the winter, my runs over 6mi were all indoors. But, alas, running is all about finding and pushing your limits. As I train for the Disney Half in January, I can safely say I no longer feel incapable of running long runs in the nasty freezing bits of winter. It's miserable, but it can be done. Yes, the Longview Half-Marathon was....cold. Pre-Race Course Preview For my in-depth race preview with course preview Virtual Run, check out my post HERE. Race Day Parking As expected, parking was quite the process. Entrance in to the park on Pittenger was coming from both north and south Raytown Road. And, given the already-miniscule entrance, combined with trickle-in one-by-one parking, I was actually surprised when it only took 30 minutes to get from the exit off of I-470 at Raytown to my parking spot. And that was having arrived an hour early as well. Many others were seemingly not so lucky. I can only assume that for those that arrived as much as only 15 minutes after I did at Raytown Road, the line to get in to the park was much longer (the parking lot to the north on Longview Road -- which is labelled on the map above -- was blocked off...not sure why). All the way up to the scheduled 8am start time, cars were still working their way in. Organizers decided to push back the start, "5 to 10 minutes" at first, eventually all the way back to 8:15, much to the chagrin of early-arrivers in the starting chute (read: actual groans of protest). As per exiting the park post-race, drivers were allowed to leave while runners were still on course, diverted on to the north-bound lanes heading south (one of the first sections of road to clear of runners). Once the southbound lanes heading south were clear, drivers were diverted there. North-bound (i.e. back to I-470 was out of the question until the last runner had finished. Race Time After parking and subsequently dressing to the nines in my running shoes, calf sleeves, running tights, running "swish" pants, synthetic/fleece base layer, long-sleeved tech-tee, wind-proof shell, fleece neck-warmer, and running beanie, I was out of the car and in to the cold ten minutes before the original 8am start time. Approaching the start line, the first 5-to-10-minute delay was announced. I decided to grab a spot in the massive port-o-john line (they provided enough of them, by the way -- I can only assume it was due to hypothermic diuresis...look it up). Halfway through the line, 8:10 approached, and organizers announced an 8:15 start time. I made it to the front with 1 minute to spare. I stepped in to the start chute at 8:15 and change, just in time for the count-down. 8:16am (give or take) and we were off. Official temp at the start was actually warmer than forecast: 26 degrees, winds out of the south and east at 5-10mph, and wind chills struggling to hit 20. As the morning progressed, the temperature would remain, winds would pick up, and snow chances would increase. I felt lucky being given an extra 5 degrees to work with, but I was still damn cold. Especially for the opening miles south on Raytown Road (wide-open roads). My plan was to ease in to the opening miles, and give a legitimate effort in for the King of the Mountains competition only 2 miles in (essentially, the 2-mile marker through just short of the 3-mile marker). I wasn't quite sure when exactly they would place the beginning timing mats for KoM, but it ended up being right at the 2-mile marker, which meant a little bit of flat-ish roads before the serious climb picked up. I was placed right behind the 1:40 pacers, and it didn't seem like too many were opting to shoot for the KoM competition, so I gunned it. The opening meters I was picking off runners one-by-one, biding my effort until the top. Halfway up, the numbers that I passed slowed -- still none seemingly shooting for KoM points around me. I passed the 1:40 group on the way up, and found an open stretch for the final push. My heart rate tipped 180-plus -- normally an enormous red flag for so early in a distance race. At the top, just short of the High Grove turnaround, I passed over the second set of timing mats. 5:58. After the race, I'd measure the KoM section at 0.79mi, putting me at a 7:29/mi pace, good enough for 30th out of 564 male KoM participants. No top-15, but still a damn good showing. At the turnaround, I, no doubt, was pretty damn tired. I coasted down High Grove, this time runner after runner picking me off. Eventually the 1:40 pacers would pass me, and that'd be the last time I'd see them. Totally fine, as that would represent a massive PR for me, and I wasn't expecting any PR's in such frigid conditions, only six days removed from another half-marathon race. And besides, my shins were beginning to hurt. I sat in and took the pain for the next few miles, shin splints eventually subsiding at mile 6, heading back north on Raytown Road. For the first time, I started to wonder if I'd over-dressed. I removed my neck warmer, took off my gloves, and opened up my shell. At a few points, I considered taking off my long-sleeve tech-tee (but didn't). What was more, also nearing the half-split, I realized I hadn't taken on any fuel. Call it the cold, or just a finicky stomach, I hadn't had any ability to take on gel at all. Eventually, I forced it, nursing a vanilla GU over the next three miles (that's one GU -- over three miles). It was just past the 8-mile marker that the turn off of Raytown Road and on to 109th street came around. My watch beeped Lap 8, and for the first time, I glanced down at it. 8:04!!!! That was PR pace, and at 8 miles. Did I actually have a shot at this? And also for the first time this race, my legs felt good, and my stomach had calmed. I gave a burst of speed as I turned on to 109th. Then, the winds hit. 109th Street borders along the north side of Longview Lake, and sits atop the Lake's dam. With no trees to shield, the chilled waters not helping, the winds picked up and became bitterly cold. My neck warmer and gloves went back on and I zipped up my shell. No longer did I think I'd over-dressed. A steep hill presented itself at the 109th Street turnaround. Rounding the corner and heading back west, the winds picked up even more, with more of them against us now instead of at our backs. With the added chill, my legs began to weaken and ache. My pace slipped a bit. This stretch all the way back to Raytown Road I would have to suffer -- and I did. Off of 109th and back to Raytown Road meant only a couple miles until the finish. Though winds were out of the south, the winds off of the lake were no more. Things warmed up. I juiced the last bits of leg I had left, and my average pace, which has since swelled to 8:07, began to fall again. On to Pittenger, I rounded the corner and saw 1:45 blink across the timing board. 1:45 would be my next target for sure, given this PR. But at the very least, I didn't want to finish past 1:46. I pushed the final meters and crossed in 1:45:53, a 8:03, and a strong PR to boot. As I crossed, I was giddy. That. Was. Insane. All the doubt leading up to whether or not I should actually start this one, and I finish it in spades. 1:45(-ish) is an awesome pace no matter who you are. Although, my pace was probably fastest after the watch had stopped -- on the run back to the car. Damn, it was cold! Race Metrics
Keep R/B/S-ing. -tds ~~__o _-/<,_ @/ @
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2014 Longview Half -- Saturday, November 15th, 8:00am This event's official webpage can be found HERE. Another new half, this year will certainly be known as the "year of halves" for me: this will be my 7th of 2014. As far as late-autumn races go, this is certainly one of the most popular, and definitely the most popular late-season half-marathon after the Kansas City Half. This event specifically is dedicated solely to the half, and no other distances are offered. I've raced out at Longivew several times, but always on the bike, and on-foot, only on the surrounding trails. It is always an interesting perspective to run along a route you have biked so many times before. Packet Pick-Up
Race-Day Parking Okay, now this one is a bit tricky. I've been to numerous events out at Longview Lake, including at the specific site for this year's start and finish. There's likely to be parking near the start-finish in the grassy area behind the start area, but the only entrance and exit is on-course, so don't expect to get out immediately after finishing if you decide to park here. Instead, I recommend parking in the park area to the North of the start finish line, just East of Raytown Road, off of Longview Road (see map below). There is ample parking here, and although it is quite the walk to the start/finish line, you are guaranteed an easy exit (barring waiting for a break in runners). Really, though, it's just a tough area for parking. And the route in relation to the start/finish sort of "traps you in." Course Preview Intro This route has changed from earlier iterations. I believe earlier in the year the route included more of the Scherer Road climb, all the way east to SW Simpson Road, and didn't include the Raytown Road extension past Scherer. This means less climbing on route, as you are only going up (part) of the High Grove climb once, and then turning around at the top. Before, you went up and down and past the Scherer Road climb, then turned around, and went back up it from the other side again.Virtual Run is featured below for this race, although the pictures may be more few-and-far between. Other than Scherer, the course is straight and flat and straightforward. But more on that later. Route Basics/Metrics Here are the basics for the 2014 route...
Climbs & King of the Mountain Though you can expect undulation throughout the course (as is so-common for KC Metro area events), there is one significant climb featured on the course. New this year, KC Running Company is featuring a King of the Mountain Competition for the climb on-route. Sitting at just short of a mile, timing mats will be placed at the bottom and top of the High Grove climb (deets below). The fastest 15 men and fastest 15 women for the king of the mountain will be awarded special King of the Mountain (or Queen of the Mountain) plaques. The climb is pretty beastly, up 183 feet at an average of 5% (12% in a few spots), so it will by no means be an easy task. I have climbed this hill several times on the bike during various races (duathlons, mostly), and it's fairly punishing on the bike even (perhaps I will post a video of it on here soon). KC Running Company claims it to be closer to a mile than I have measured and experienced in the past, but it is possible that the timing mats will show up earlier than the true start of the climb, and after the true end of the climb (probably at the turnaround). Here is the information on the climb itself (as opposed to how the timing mats will be situated, which I have no information about)...
Aid Stations Aid stations with water and sports drinks are reportedly to be featured every other mile. At mile the mile 8 aid station, GU energy gel will be available as well (perfect for me, as I've been training with GU this year). Course Description w. Virtual Run Start to 2.00mi: The start line is in the parking lot of one of the many parks that line Longview Lake. This particular park is just off Raytown Road (West side of the lake), on Pittenger Road. The opening miles head out of the park along Pittenger Road to Raytown Road, first heading Southbound. From the start line to Raytown Road is actually uphill a little bit, so be expecting that (only about 30 feet of climbing before leveling out). From there, it is nearly flat. all the way to the first and only significant climb of the day. The scenery also remains the same, with runners heading South (in the Northbound/left lane, by the way), Longview Lake on the left. 2.00mi to 4.00mi: Just before the 2-mile marker, runners take a left on to High Grove Road. Not long after the turn (and the 2-mile marker), athletes pick up the first and only climb of the day. And it is quite the climb, up nearly 180 feet in only seven-tenths of a mile. This also is the climb that features the new King/Queen of the Mountain competition. Continue on High Grove, up the hill, until the turnaround at SE Raytown Road (a different Raytown Road from the one before). Just past the turnaround, you hit 3 miles, and begin the fast descent down High Grove. 2.90mi: Though High Grove continues to climb, runners will top out at the stop sign pictured here, as they will turn back around (this time to the opposite, Eastbound lane heading West) and head back West on High Grove. The 3-mile marker is about here on the opposite side of the road (after the turnaround). On the approach back to Raytown Road from High Grove, rather than turning back right heading North, runners will turn left going South (I believe it the street changes names to Kurzwell Road, also). Mile marker 4 comes just after the turn on to Kurzwell. 4.00mi to 9.00mi: After the turn on to Southbound Kurzwell, head to the very end of the road. There will be a small cul-de-sac (sorta) that will turn runners back around heading North on Kurzwell. Just after the turn North on Kurzwell, mile marker 5 hits. Eventually, Kurzwell will turn back in to Raytown Road (at High Grove). The Northbound run on Raytown is the same as was the outbound Southern run on Raytown, with two exceptions: one, you'll be travelling in the left-side/Southbound lane, and two, instead of turning back in to the park on Pittenger, you'll continue Northward. The Northern sections of Raytown Road tend to undulate a little bit, with uphills here and there, particularly before turning right on to 109th Street at mile 8.6. 9.00mi to Finish: The scenery doesn't change much after the turn on to 109th Street. The 10-mile marker comes right at the turnaround back West on 109th Street. Again keeping in the left-side lanes, the return along 109th Street followed by Raytown road is the same as the outbound trek. The only difference is you finally get to head back in to the park (and thus, finish line) on Pittenger Road. Coming off of Raytown on to Pittenger, runners have only a tenth of a mile to go.
That's all I got for now. I'll y'all out there! Keep R/B/S-ing. -tds ~~__o _-/<,_ @/ @ |
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