Half Marathon in One Month: Race

The week before my race I was feeling confident.  With a new personal record and what I thought was adequate training, I planned to finish the race in well under 2 hours.  I was recovering from my long practice run and with all my other activities I ended up not running at all during the week.  I went out drinking Friday night and Saturday I recovered from the alcohol, did some yoga X (P90X yoga), and went to be early.

Race Morning:

0800h Get up and eat breakfast (one banana, one nutri grain bar, one cup of coffee - my performance booster)

0845h Get my gear together and do one last bathroom break.  Clothes consisted of toe socks, MEC synthetic underwear, cycling pants, MEC Impulse Zip-T, nike skull cap, glove liners, and sunglasses

0915h Leave for the race

1000h Race begins

1019h 4km mark (by now I've started to feel a stitch in my side)

1025h 5km mark (clear cramping happening in my abdomen)

1055h 10km mark (slowed down - feeling ok)

1115h 13km mark (feeling tired)

~1135h last water station (feeling extremely tired - took some gatorade)

1140h 18km mark, had to start walking, left calf beginning to spasm

I walked the last 3km.  I tried to run periodically but my left calf cramped every time I tried to run and my right quad was starting to cramp as well.  I ran the last 100m across the finish line but I was mainly using my arms as my left calf was completely cramped and immobile.  

Finish: 2:07:10

I've learned a two valuable lessons.

1) Hydrate and take those electrolytes

2) Racing is completely different than training.  It's hard to control the pace.

I've already signed up for my next half marathon.  I don't want to fail again.