Ton van Zutphen finishes the Miami Beach 13.1 miles Marathon on 9th March 2013 / Half-Marathon
This time through a combination of racewalking and running.
I registered only a few days prior to this race; having spent a full week in meetings in Tennessee without proper 'running about' and lots of regular coffees and breakfasts/lunches/dinners. No wonder 90% of my colleagues gain weight. When I received a mail-reminder from the organisers I said to myself...'what the heck, go for it!'
So no proper training, I just hoped my legs and lungs still remembered the experience of the full marathon over one month ago...also in Miami.
Then Saturday morning very early with a taxi from my studio in Coconut Grove to Ocean Drive at SoBe (South Beach Miami). I had plenty of time to do warming up exercises..I think this does help, by the way. Mentally I started to be very ready for this one!
Start of the elite guys/gals @ 6 am (only 40 of them...all supposed to remain under 1 hour 25 minutes)..the winner was a Kenyan Shadrack Kosgei in 1 hr. 3 minutes and 15 secs. Then the other normal 2006 participants made it to finish of this half marathon starting at 6.13 am under a slightly clouded sky, little breeze and 18 degrees. Simply wonderful.
As usual I started at the very back...to avoid being caught up in 'running jams'....and the first 5 miles were great...humming my mantra 'slow down, slow down / but keep going'. The parcours is great with the crossing of long bridges both the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur causeways...together good for 5 miles already and obviously lots of early morning sea breezes. I passed the 5 mile sign under 55 minutes...it sort of went in a haze.
Interestingly the full week before I had not imbibed in any adult beverages. I had taken a bit of the small flask '5 hour extra energy' ( my preferred kind of epo) before the race, and I knew I had my bio household under control. No hunger or having to visit 'the Johns' anymore during this race.
Just before arriving at mile 9 I joined the runners pack of the pacemaker upholding the card 2.30, meaning a group of runners that all aimed to finish just below 2 hours 30 minutes. That's what I did and it worked well for me...I could just about follow in racewalking mode and from time to time I ran. Friends...this is the future...racewalk half, run/jog half. Not too hard on the knees and better for the heart/lungs and legs. Believe me!
Pity that on the MacArthur causeway on the left side there was a car traffic jam and I had to start walking very close to the bridge ramp on the right to avoid the car exhaust...well this is America after all! Also a pity because when racewalking one needs to walk where it is absolutely flat and not on the edge where the road is often slightly bent downwards...Wears one out.....So we were trotting along with the 2.30 group of about 10 runners. The pacemaker cheering us up: 'c'mon # 2345 (my number)...you can do it. We are nearly there; the finish is just around the block......etc.etc.'
The last mile and a half we actually went past the golden sands of South Beach / very pretty with the sun shining and all of us smelling the finish.
I took a last sort of sprint...and ran pretty good for 300 metres.
This time it was an easy go. Could have gone a bit faster if I had coordinated my running better...or if someone ran with me from the beginning.
This was good; next year hopefully again...if I am still in Miami by then / which is doubtful.
As a reward again a beautiful silver medal; oversized US style...but I am lovin' it of course! Then the food we were handed out ..I could not believe my eyes...muffins, canned sugary fruits, and cookies. I stuck to bananas and water and had a sip of 'Michelob' free beer (not be recommended to a European). Luckily there was rice, black beans and pollo (my favourite Black Mountain-Haiti dish). And a great atmosphere with everybody walking on the sand and enjoying the apres-race atmosphere.
Some stats:
Winner in my age category arrived in 1 hr. 30 minutes 55 secs. Bravissimo; probably one of the few remaining Neanderthalers
I came in 24th in my age category @ 2.25.29...and missed my Personal Best by 7 seconds. Can you believe this? In Eindhoven, NL last year I finished in
2.25.22.....
Finished as # 1478 out of 2006 participants / men-women combined
Latest arrival finished @ 3 hr. 58 minutes and 15 secs.
I ran on size 13 racing flats Brooks T5 racer...a shoe I can now definitely recommend (uni-sex shoe) with my World Vision tank singlet....and saw only one other WV t-shirt around
Wow....every month a walking or running event...that is what life should become!
tonvanzutphen@gmail.com
