GRETE SUCKS!

Well, a more honest title would be that I sucked at Grete's half marathon Sunday. Since Grete is highly unlikely to read this, however, I'll leave my misleading headline as is. Hopefully, my performance was the result of nothing more than the awful weather. Ninety percent humidity when the race began! I knew it was trouble when I stood at the starting line, absolutely soaked with perspiration after only a light warmup.

I ran 1 good mile and should have headed for home. Instead I slowed by 20 seconds in each of the next 2 miles, hoping I'd feel stronger. I didn't. I slowed by another 20 seconds per mile over the following 4 miles and knew it absolutely wasn't my day. From there it only got worse. MUCH worse.

This has happened to me before in bad weather, particularly during long races. Two years ago in Queens I ran a virtually identical 1:45 plus half and did one even slower once in the Bronx during a smog alert. The ABSOLUTE WORST was the 2005 Disney World Marathon. It started so early (6 AM) that we ran a long way in relatively decent conditions, but eventually things became SO hot and humid. By mile 18 it felt like the sun was radiating off the open road and into my face. By mile 22 I felt overwhelmed. I could not run another step. I walked my way to a 15:30 mile! That helped me recover a bit but it was an absolute ordeal to make it the rest of the way. It was the first time I ever felt pleased with 11 and 12 minute miles.

Well, the last 5 miles of Grete wasn't that bad, but it they did suck. Everything was over 8 minutes. I told myself it was okay because it was no longer a race but a speed workout. Not a speedy one.

Strategically, I don't do hot weather races well, obviously. Beyond that I'm hoping and trusting that Grete doesn't mean anything about my present state of running ability. I hope that is better reflected by my recent, excellent, long run which was easily my best this year and by my terrific mile race. But I guess we won't know for sure till my next race...and that could well be the New York Marathon!