Completed the Bethel Half Marathon, October 10, 2009
The temperature was in the low 60s with low-slung clouds in the sky and a few drops of rain now and then as I drove to Bethel for my third running of the Bethel Half Marathon.
The turnout looked good. I guess there were about 200 runners. I met a few new running friends – Melissa and Jaime – who greeted me with “you’re the dude with the blog, right?” I hope you had a great time at the race and look forward to seeing you at races in the future.
We started promptly at 8:30 (I’d expect nothing less from the Bethel organizers – this is one of the most buttoned up, well-run races around with great, helpful, friendly people and amazing post-race food and soup). At about the two-mile mark we split off from the 5k runners as they head back toward the start and we head out in the country and begin to encounter a few rolling hills. The course features great scenery and, unfortunately, no shortage of fallen wildlife. Everyone I spoke with after the race seems to remember the translucent (and quite deceased) frog shortly after the 10-mile mark.
About 3-4 miles into the race a classic David Bowie song – Space Oddity – entered my brain and wouldn’t leave.
Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
But I was Ground Control and the part of Major Tom was played by my legs. They just didn’t have much life today and as runners began passing me at a rate I’m unaccustomed to I faced the brutal reality. I’m bonking.
So I tucked it in, kept running, exchanged pleasantries with the passing runners, enjoyed the scenery and looked forward to the post-race food. My goal was to break 1:50. I’ll have to save that for another day. I slugged across the finish line at 2:00:06. My third worst half-marathon time out of the 15 half marathons I have run.
But I had some wonderful potato soup and some delicious red bean and rice soup that really hit the spot, replenished my engine and made the bonk another run for the history books. I had some great chat with running friends afterward and look forward to the Southcliff Black and Blue next week.
Once I see race results I’ll put them up on the blog.
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The usual outstanding recap, Dennis (now known as Dennis The Dude)! Glad to see the numbers have increased, since it is a race that folks should really consider (Karen C. said on her ACT blog that there were 307 runners over both the Half and the 5k)…and I remember that frog, too!
Not to worry about the bonk, Major Tom (a stroll down Memory Lane)-it happens to all of us. It seems that no matter what the prep, you never know what the race will be like until the gun fires (and in the long races, maybe not until mile #…??).
The mile lines on the road were a big help (more so then the little signs) although I missed #7 (lots of traffic at that crossover spot), aid station volunteers were upbeat, and what spectators there were along the course were enthusiastic and supportive.
Traffic control was a little dicey, but the drivers seemed to be tolerant and mindful.
And while I passed on the soup (too soon after the race for me) I found the cane sugar soft drinks interesting, as well as the coffee cake!
Thanks as well for introducing me to Ken; another real runner that I’ll only see at the finish (and after he’s way done 🙂
See you at Southcliff!
It was nice to see you in person! I usually see you in photos posted here and in the Citizen-Times’ race galleries. This was my first Bethel, and only my 3rd half, and I loved it. Such a good setup, course, and volunteers. My goal next year is to run what YOU did this year. Slow to you is GREAT to me!
It was nice to meet you. Good luck in future races and I look forward to seeing you!