Half-Marathon poses attainable challenge

By LINDA FREEMAN Correspondent

04.11.08

The name certainly caught my attention: 13.1 Unplugged.

I’ve always wanted one of those cute little Euro stickers reading “26.2,” but since there’s no way I could run 26.2 miles to earn one I decided to give this one up.

Then, along came the equally cute little Euro stickers reading “13.1.” I could do that. Though my idea of a long, slow, distance run on a sunny, snow-free weekend bravely extended to 6 miles, the lure of a half-marathon began to entice me like Homer’s sirens. For anyone who has poured over the pages of Runners World or chatted with a member of our growing running community here in Vermont, the term “half-marathon” brings a positive reaction compared to the grimace at the mention of a full marathon.

Half-marathons are enjoying increasing popularity and are fast becoming the distance of choice for both casual and competitive runners. On one hand, one must have endurance to survive 13.1 miles. On the other, a half-marathon is very doable – certainly within the boundaries of most reasonably healthy, fit individuals who possess the desire to do such a thing. All you need is an appropriate pair of running shoes, a training plan and the time to implement that plan. Yes, a half-marathon might be in your future.

And then it happened. One Friday afternoon in January, about 5 p.m. after a day so frustrating that I thought about leaving work and never returning, I checked my inbox one final time and opened an e-mail from RunVermont. (RunVermont is in the year-round business of managing the now-famous Vermont City Marathon each spring in Burlington, as well as other races and excellent running programs, camps and events in Vermont.) There it was, my own personal invitation to participate in the “13.1 Unplugged Half-Marathon,” which is a user-friendly 13.1-mile race from Airport Park down to the finish at the waterfront.

Immediately, my calculating mind thought, “Down? – How hard could that be?” We would run along the bike path, tilted ever-so-slightly downward, with the sunlight glittering on Lake Champlain. There would be a cool-but-welcome breeze, an opportunity to wear running shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, spectators gently encouraging us on (it would be spring, after all) and the final victory dash at the finish on the waterfront.

Bingo. I was signed up and paid.

Thus began my untiring research for a training plan that would prepare me for this event without breaking me. Since I have run for only about three years – mostly 5-kilometer races with one 10k thrown in just to see if I could survive – and since I am clearly a “mature” runner who should limit the number of days per week that I run, my training plan needed to be prepared carefully. But, I love this stuff and it was fun to do. Besides, with the advent of a running group for central Vermonters called Running Unlimited, I had all the support as well as the opportunity to tap into more valuable information than I could possibly need.

My training proceeded as planned and included several double-digit weekend runs that lifted my hopes. I decided on shoes, I decided on nourishment for the run itself (based on trial and error) and I strategized.

From Amby Burfoot – editor of Runners World, amazing athlete and prolific writer – I learned a great deal about the mental preparation that I would need. At his suggestion, I chose three goals: one easy (to finish the race), a second one moderate (to finish under 2 hours, 30 minutes), and a third goal that was a little more challenging (to finish under 2:20).

Evidently, it has been proven that to maintain a pace throughout an endurance event is superior to bursts of speed that must be balanced with slower sections of the race. Also, walking a few steps to be sure to take in a few carbs or a drink at the water station is encouraged.

Borrowing from other race-day tips, I chose to elaborate on a “pace band.” If one chooses a desired finish time and goes to www.runnersworld.com, with the touch of a few buttons up will pop a band with a list of every mile and the necessary time at that mile marker to keep one on pace. Of course, not able to leave well enough alone and fearing I might be at the back of the pack (DNF is so preferable to DFL!), I decided to have a friend, family member or mentor run with me for each mile and dedicated each mile marker to that individual. (Beautiful plan – in fact I laminated my pace band and am now using it as a souvenir bookmark.)

With one week remaining before the race, I actually got to taper! How cool. Then came the e-mail that said the race had been rerouted because there was so much snow and ice on the bike path. This was definitely not a part of my visualization. There was even a warning that the event could be postponed if there was lightning or more than 4 inches of new snow. In one e-mail, my intensity dissolved and I vowed to approach this as an enjoyable training run – should it actually happen.

It snowed all day Friday and rained all night. A further comment on my e-mail had said,”This is Vermont, after all.” On Saturday morning I arrived ready for action and feeling prepared. Let me tell you, a half-marathon is all that it is cracked up to be – long enough to be extremely rewarding yet short enough to be possible.

In spite of my detailed planning, I had some surprises – one not-so-nice (a perfectly healthy body part randomly decided to malfunction at about mile 2), and several really nice ones (support from my self-selected mentors who carried me through).

Just before the start, I learned a new and perfect word to help me along the way: “execute.” Realizing that I was not to be shot at dawn but that I should rely on my training and execute my plan calmly was a sustaining concept. Over the course of 13.1 miles I unearthed a few useful mantras, concentrated on breathing, tried to maintain a steady pace and actually found myself running relaxed with plenty left for the final 2 miles.

I have purposely left “unplugged” for the final paragraph. Great name. RunVermont duly offers this definition/disclaimer: “This event is an organized, basic services, running event. You won’t see 20,000 spectators like the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon or hear bands along the way. This is a scenic, flat half-marathon course with 400 (max number) of your running friends.”

The first time I had heard the term “unplugged” was when I fell in love with the award-winning “Eric Clapton Unplugged,” which stirred heated controversy of electric vs. acoustic music. The latter style was regarded as unplugged and pure – elegant in its raw artistry.

Well, with the bad luck of some funky weather, this was not an elegant race. In keeping with the plan, it was also pretty well stripped of amenities. By the time I got in (which wasn’t too bad since I achieved all three of my goals), I was lucky to find the last of the route and there was no food left.

Bottom line? It’s a tradeoff. If you’re going to put all that thought, training, planning and effort into running 13.1 miles, wouldn’t you like to pass cheering crowds or at least get a finisher’s medal? On the other hand, who knows where the medals will ultimately end up. This race is clearly one among friends. The finish line resonated with cheers and everywhere one turned there were smiling members of the Vermont running community. (Oh, and the optional tech T-shirts are awesome!) What more do we really need?