This time, I got a good night's sleep, drank plenty of water in preparation and planted water at strategic spots along the way ahead of time, and most importantly reigned in my machismo and kept a slow, conservative pace during the easier earlier segments. It worked, because I finished the course without walking. That, to me, is the criteria for success. Yes, I kept track of my time and pace, but that was secondary to simply finishing without stopping or walking.
I woke up at 5AM to start to get ready. Wanted to emulate and rehearse the morning routine as much as possible for Carlsbad. I drank some water and ate a ProteinPlus Powerbar and got dressed. I wore shorts and a technical running shirt, along with a pair of gloves. Had my waist belt with phone and ID, but left the heart monitor and iPod shuffle at home. Didn't want the distraction. Almost left my watch too to force myself to ignore time, but couldn't do that.
Around 6:30 I drove the course and hid lidded water cups at 4-miles, 6-miles and 9-miles. I did a little jump roping to warm up and started out on the course right at 7AM.
Mile 1: mostly flat. I used that opportunity to loosen up and work out the morning kinks in my ankles and knees. Hated thinking I looked like a middle-aged weekend jogger shuffling along the neighborhood sidewalks, but it was more important to me to not burn myself out early just for ego purposes. It was an easy mile and the temperature felt chill.
Mile 2: all uphill as I climbed the grade of the saddle on the shoulder of Black Mountain. Quads burning a bit, but forced myself not to charge and I was able to keep my breathing steady. First beads of sweat appear.
Mile 3: after cresting the gap, used the downhill side to work on gliding and not worry about making up the time from the slow pace of the first 2 miles. Felt very comfortable.
Mile 4: this is the stretch where I first started to feel it last week. This time, I felt strong and relaxed. About half of this stretch along Black Mountain Rd into Penasquitos is uphill. Not really steep but gradual. Grabbed water at the end of this segment and noted time. I was about 2 minutes slower than last time but a minute head of a 9:00 pace. Good.
Mile 5: Starts with a challenging half-mile hill up past Carmel Mountain High School. The water helped reinvigorate me and I was able to survive the leg-burning, anaerobic section.
Mile 6: Downhill at first, but it's not relaxing. Too steep to glide. And then the long 3/4 mile climb that put me on tilt last time. This time, yeah, my thighs were burning and I was seriously huffing-puffing, but at the top, it only took about 30-60 seconds to recover. Plus I had my 2nd water reservoir there so the next mile was mostly recovery.
Mile 7: Long, gliding downhill. I was feeling very good and psychologically primed since I'd past the halfway mark, feeling confident. I did gain a little time letting gravity accelerate my pace just a little. The mile ends with a 1/4 uphill steep that got me anaerobic again, but it was short.
Mile 8: This is where I died before. It's almost 3/4 all uphill and fairly heavy grade. I concentrated on chugging the arms and remaining positive. It worked and the mile segment finishes with entry into a subdivision where the flats offered quick recovery.
Mile 9: Undulating neighborhood street that I shuffled along rather slowly. One 200m section is the steepest of the route and I ran the most slowly here. Very winded and very fatigued, but it was of short duration and I did not stop. Last water "aid station" of the run at the end of this segment. Noted the time elapsed was 1:20 something.
Mile 10: Okay, so now most of the hill climbing is behind me. Short downhill to Camino del Norte and then a gradual, manageable climb that in comparison seems flat. Picked up the pace now with the end in sight.
Mile 11: Feeling very good, aerobically. Legs very tired. Feeling a bit of strain in my hip and hamstrings. But no way am I going to pull up short now.
Mile 12: Turn onto 4S Ranch Pkwy has an initial short steep, but the rest is all down grade. Uneventful. Ran to the corner of Palomino Mesa and stopped watch at 1:44:18. Actual course distance is 12.07 miles, which works out pace to be 8:38 minute mile. Not great, but not bad, especially considering the hills and that my main objective was to have a complete run without walking or stopping.
Walked with Quin and the dogs afterwards to keep from tightening up and also spent half an hour stretching.
