B's Chicago Distance Classic HM race report...

This year I had a relaxed attitude going into CDC because the weekend before we raced in the Steelhead Half Ironman (where I ran a terrible half marathon split for myself) event in Benton Harbor so I choose to run CDC as a recovery LSD tempo training run towards my Chicago Marathon training. The other two focus points for the race were to run a negative split and most of all to have fun especially at the post-race V-team gathering!

I'm glad to say I accomplished all three objectives :-)

K & I checked in our stuff at the CARA tent as Tom M spotted us, it was good to see Tom again because the last time we saw him was at the Indy Mini in a boot! I wished K well as she was running with a friend as Tom and I headed to the starting area, then I wished him well as we workout our ways into our starting area corral regions. I purposely choose to run with the 1:45 half pacing team as I didn't know how my legs would reacted today but after the race started it was an amazing feeling that my legs felt as though I had not raced a 70.3 tri the weekend before. I stuck with the perfectly paced group until just about mile 5.5 where I saw the race was heading off Lake Shore Dr. and on to a bike path so I slowly surged ahead as my legs were itching to go quicker.

As we hit the turn-around point the wind was strong as I anticipated but I did not let that get to me. Being a tall guy like Martin VW also the wind really attacks us as it were a main sail on a sailboat but I was able to pick-up the pace as each mile went by towards the finishline. This was the first year at this event I was able to consistantly pass alot of people whom went out to fast as we ran northward on the lakefront path and it was a great feeling. As I was using my Polar HR monitor to keep my mile splits in line I noticed that mile 7 and 10 were way out of line if you look at my data I posted below.

I finished the race strong with a nice track workout sprint during the finishing chute area haul. I crossed the finishline per my watch at 1:42:53 but the Penguin's results have me finishing in 1:42:45. My Garmin 305 had the distance at 13.48 (and k's was 13.51) but no matter what the distance was I felt great. I saw Scott K handing out water bottles so I stopped by him for one and thanked him for volunteering today. I got my penguin medal and headed over the V-Team gathering area as I spotted a few fellow racers that were much quicker than me. K's ran a solid training run event at 2:10:xx after running 11 miles pacing her CARA training group the day before...great job honey!

All us V-teamers had a great time hanging out after the race sharing stories and friendships built up on the v-team forums here. It was great to hang-out with everyone after the race in a perfect weather day...it couldn't get any better for an August day in Chicago.

My confidence was boosted after this race that yes I can still run a decent half marathon especially so soon after a half ironman...this is a good sign as I continue to training towards my goal at the Chicago marathon...the bq ;-)

b

Polar HR info from CDC:
Lap Time Lap Time HR Max Avg Min
1. 0:07:47.4 0:07:47.4 132 121 82
2. 0:15:44.2 0:07:56.8 137 130 124
3. 0:23:27.2 0:07:43.0 140 135 132
4. 0:31:27.6 0:08:00.4 141 137 133
5. 0:39:26.8 0:07:59.2 144 140 134
6. 0:47:03.7 0:07:36.9 147 143 138
7. 0:56:23.5 0:09:19.8 149 146 143
8. 1:03:55.4 0:07:31.9 150 147 142
9. 1:11:36.7 0:07:41.3 149 146 143
10. 1:19:41.4 0:08:04.7 149 146 142
11. 1:26:51.1 0:07:09.7 149 147 142
12. 1:34:23.9 0:07:32.8 151 147 144
13. 1:42:10.8 0:07:46.9 149 146 142
14. 1:42:53.2 0:00:42.4 149 149 149