Training Log Archive: dkonotopetz

With Alice, warm-up

I got up bright and early at 3:45 am. to get to the start to register for the race and pay the 350 Baht entry fee. It is amazing that the price of running races is usually the same price whether you register months before the race or 1 hr. before like I did. The complete registration process took under 30 seconds!!! After a short warm-up with Alice, I was ready for the race. I knew it would be an interesting race because the start/finish was on a large hill which rose about 200 meters below the relatively flat land and ocean below. The first km. was completely downhill! I would estimate a 10% grade in places and hence the first km. was quite fast...3:27! I tried to ease up but it was hard as the pack of runners spiraled down the hill. Then the course flattened out with some rolling hills. The course went west outside of Hua Hin, Thailand into the countryside passing by temples, pineapples plantations, coconut plantations and various other crops. I continued along holding my position in 18th place. I made the turn at the 10.55 km. mark and headed back towards the finish. I saw Alice going the other way towards the turnaround point. I was about 40 seconds ahead of her at this point. I began to develop a stomach stitch around the 12 km. mark and seemed to slow down slightly. I then heard a bike behind me and I knew that Alice was on my tail, since the bike was following the first female runner. Around 15 km. the stitch went away and I started to feel better. My pace seemed to pick-up slightly, as I was feeling better and I was trying to hold Alice off. I was mentally preparing myself for the difficult 1 km. climb right at the finish. At the 16 km. of the half marathon mark was the 10 km. turn around point, so there were many 10 km. runners to avoid, which was annoying. Then came the "big hill"...wow was that hard right at the finish. My pace slowed to around 6:30 minutes a kilometer, but I managed to pass three runners on the hill who were walking or running slowly as they struggled up the hill. Now I know why it is called the “Heavy Half Marathon”. I placed 15th overall.

Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5455252
Results: N/A