The Running Obstetrician

HARTFORD HALF MARATHON 2014

October 11, 2014, HARTFORD, CT.

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     It is a little cliché to say that the last four months have come down to one race, but for me this year, the Hartford Half Marathon really had that kind of feeling. After recovering from a hamstring injury last winter, and being a little slow-to-go over the spring, I found an outstanding running schedule from Runner's World in July. This website alone is partially a result of that magazine. And, after 16 weeks of waking at 4:00 AM for hills and tempo runs, along with finding time for distance runs on the weekends, I was ready to put it all on the line for this year's long run for me. 

     Leading up to the race, the weather had been beautiful all week long. In fact, the weekend was looking quite nice, except for the six hours around the race (seriously!). It was in fact rainy, and decently chilly, but just look at this Fox CT News report to see that this wasn't keeping almost 15,000 runners from participating in this year's 5K, half marathon and full marathon. I discussed with my wife the night prior, that after training for 3-4 months, a little bit of rain isn't going to keep most runners from running in their planned marathon.

     The course itself is perfect for the half marathon. It's a mostly flat run that starts in front of the Capitol building and the library, right down from the Bushnell theater. The course heads out from Hartford into West Hartford. I love the run because it traverses a few spots I lived in during med school and residency. The second half of the course takes you though one of Hartford most beautiful parks, Elizabeth Park. It then ends with a run down Farmington Avenue back into Hartford and up under one of Hartford's best known landmarks, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. There is always a serious after-party in Bushnell Park with food and beer for the runners, along with MANY vendors and tents. This year it was a bit chilly, and we made a quick move for the ride home once the race concluded.

     Last year I had hoped to finish the race in under 2 hours. I made this goal by about 40 seconds. This year with a lot more training and "smart" running following my injury, I was hoping to run between 1:50 and 2:00. While I was thrilled to pull off a 1:50:37 this year, I was even more excited for the run itself. Non-runners may not understand enjoying a thirteen mile run, but this is exactly what I was able to do this year. Keeping to an almost 8:17 minute mile for the whole race, I really was able to settle into a grove and take the whole race in. I was saying hello to our greeters along the whole course, and got in a lot of high-fives with the kids cheering us on in the rain. Just when I was thinking of getting tired around mile 11, the sky line of Hartford popped back into view, and it was an easy, steady run to the finish line. I'm pumped for the professional pictures, and will get them loaded into this site after I get my hands on them!

     All in all a great run on an OK morning. Hopefully next year we'll have a little less rain, but that's the fun part of this sport - you need to be ready for the unexpected. Now a few days of cross training and recovery, and on to the next race. Gotta keep up the fitness, and the fun!

CMM - The Running Obstetrician, October 2014