Manning Up -or- Surprising Oneself

The last week has been totally nuts.

I went to Vegas for the RnR half there last Sunday (12/4).  The race was a complete and total disaster.  The course and wind sucked.  The race organization and information sucked.  And I ran poorly and like a wuss.  Getting to the start was an adventure in itself, but we made it there, and eventually found the VIP area to get our mess together and get ready to race.  Once the thing finally started, I went out way too fast.  The leaders went out super hard and the 1:05 guys went out super safe.  I was alone and there were 44,000 people in the race.  I had planned to have lots of dudes to race with.  Anyway, I managed to ease back the right amount and keep on the right pace until about 10 miles.  At that point the course kicked uphill, albeit slightly and a stiff wind (it FELT stiff) hit us in the face.  All I needed to do was to run my last 5k in 15:30, but I couldn't.  I started vomiting with about a mile to go, and really let fly in the last couple minutes.  At the line I just dejectedly walked across, dry heaving at this point.  I had a decent time in Vegas after that.  I lost an entire $1.76 on slots and helped my friends stage a fake wedding that freaked a lot of people out on Facebook. 

When I got home though, I still felt like I had unfinished business.  I knew I could run much faster, and should have at Vegas.  I began to scour the internet for races, knowing that I had another weekend to get in.  I found a small half in Point Clear, Alabama, (on 12/10) which is where my wife's brother and his wife live.  Jackpot.  Flat course, good weather, cheap entry fee, free lodging.  I took most of the week off or easy and hopped right back on a plane to give it another go.

The Holiday Half Marathon is conducted by the Port City Pacers out of Mobile.  They put on the Azalea Trail Run, so they know their stuff, and the course is certified.  I took out on pace from the gun, running alone as usual.  I was hovering between 4:56 and 5:00 pace most of the way, at least letting myself stay close.  I hit 10 miles in 49:45 and decided that I wanted it THAT bad.  I gave every little bit I had and got to the line in 1:04:58, winning by seven and a half minutes and getting my OTQ finally. 

Now my plan is to decide how to train for this OT race.  I was doing high mileage a while ago and had tapered slightly for Vegas, and have now had a really low week of recovery.  I suppose I'll keep mileage low and make sure to get in solid long runs the next couple weeks.  As far as the OT race - I'm very happy just to get in, but I want to do well there.  I plan to go out slow and try to negative split, hopefully picking off a lot of guys along the way.  I think a good placing there would help get me a little pub, and help me to continue to train and race and not grow all the way up.