OK yesterday was the Hooters 1/2 Marathon and after about 3 years of wanting to make it, Nadine and I finally did. Usually the last few years we would be headed and training for HITS Triathlon 140.6 in Ocala but because of my trip this year it allowed us to make the Hooters hometown race.
Race went pretty uneventful, it was smaller 861 finishers and a pretty flat course. We got there early and was expecting great weather, in the 60's and was gonna be warm before over. Rounded up everyone we was meeting and headed to the start. I was expecting more people and though we was lined up close to the front. As the race neared we realized we was pretty far back and I started looking for an escape route around people. Gun went off and I was caught behind the what I would say was a 10+ pace group. Into the grass and around, in and out for first mile. Finally around mile 2 it cleared and settled in. First half of course was flat, not till mile 6.5 where we hit the Ft Myers bridge and had to go over. Course went over and back with a U-turn on other side at mile 8. Mile 9 was on other side of the bridge and by time I go there I knew legs would be shot. We run the bridge but never in a race and never hit at that intensity. Went off bridge and pushed it till mile 10 where Garmin split at a 7:12 pace, then as planned I went into a "relax mode" for next 2 miles. Told myself at 1:30:00 Garmin time I would then drop and start hammering home and thats what I did. Finally caught this girl I was chasing for 9 miles or so and passed her and 3 others in last mile. Finished in a 1:35:17 chip time. where I placed 55th out of 861 overall and 6th out of 57 age group. Not a PR but didnt expect one due to training and this was a last min race. Although I feel I held thins together pretty good and I know that the X2PERFORMANCE helps for sure. It kept my energy & endurance up the entire time. Was using VitargoS2 as fuel out the door but went to gels I carried and grabbed one from course at mile 6, just to be safe. In all I am happy with the day and even more happy that Nadine got a PR on the course.
If I am ever able to make the race again ! I mean what is better then having Hooters girls out on the course and at finish with beers and wings. We passed on the beer and wings cause we headed to the pool and got in a 30min swim after.
Huge thanks to X2PERFORMANCE for supplying the power and X1-Audio for the tunes that kept things up beat, without worries from a high sweat rate and water being on them.
http://www.x2performance.com/
http://www.x-1.com/
Follow the link to find out more about X2PERFORMANCE on how it can improve your endurance, energy and recovery. Also to X1-Audio to see how the sweatproof , weatherproof and waterproof headphone can keep you music flowing.
