After the Dahlgren Trail half-marathon, I started a new drug. My cardiologist asked me to try it, and if it impacts my running, we’ll do a second ablation. I’ll call their office tomorrow to schedule an appointment and see what I need to do to stop taking the drug.
Though the drug is not supposed to lower my heart rate, it has. With the lower rate, lactic acid builds in my leg. Taking a brief walk breaks flushes the lactic acid. But, it builds quickly once running again.
Here are a few numbers to consider. On February 8, I did my 10-mile route: total time was 2:09:59, average heart rate was 126, maximum heart rate was 139, and I walked 36:29. The corresponding numbers on March 8 were 2:09:36, 118, 134, and 42:26. At that speed, there wasn’t much difference through on the former day, I walked based on a time routine and the latter I had to stop and walk.
At the February 15 half-marathon, my average heart rate was 122, and my maximum was 166. While running, my rate was near 140. In yesterday’s 5km, the numbers were 118 and 130. I was hurting a bunch while running with an all-out effort, especially near and inside the stadium.
And my goal was to run the entire race, which I could not do. The drug chopped a lot off my maximum effort.
Last year, while in persistent AFIB, I ran 39:16. That day, I used a one-minute run and five-minute walk pattern. On the same course last November, I ran the entire distance in 34:49.
This course has an interesting finish in the right field of the Fred Nats Stadium.
The race started at 8:45 am, allowing me to sleep until 6 am. I was out of the house by 7:30 to get into the parking lot before the one-mile race started.
There were over 700 registered runners. Arriving at 7:40 am, I roamed into the stadium and reviewed the cone setup to keep the runners on the measured path. Last fall, there were not enough cones, and the lead runners cut some of the course before cones were put in place. Then, I returned to my car to start my 30-minute warmup at 8:05 am.
A few years ago, my warmup completed all of the course outside the stadium. Today, my 30 running paces every 3 minutes covered 1.9 miles.
I returned in time to hit the bathroom and put on my singlet and hat. I headed to the start line about 30 seconds before the gun, where I mixed into the back of the pack.
The weather was suspect: 46 degrees with a 45-degree dew point, cloudy skies, a chance of rain, and almost no wind. I wore shorts over compression shorts, my blue FARC singlet over a long-sleeved shirt, a neck gaiter, gloves, a ball cap, and my Saucony Triumph 22 shoes. At the start line, I wrapped another long-sleeved shirt around my waist. Be prepared.
I didn’t see the gun go up, but I started my Timex when I heard the pop. My Garmin was set and had picked up a satellite signal. I started my Garmin as I crossed the line.
Two watches—why? Timex is on my left arm, and Garmin is on my right. I measured the course for USATF certification, so I knew the mile locations were correct. I controlled the Timex to get accurate splits; after all, it’s not how far you run; it’s how well you run the measured course. The Garmin, which links to a heart monitor chest strap, records my heart rate.
After turning onto Carl Silver Parkway, the shortest path was on the left, and the pack covered the entire roadway. The road starts a right bend before Hospitality, so I slid to the right. Until Gordon Shelton, there were many runners to avoid.
Turning onto Gordon Shelton, the cones allowed for two running lanes. Most runners stayed in the right lane. I took the first left tangent and then the shortest route along the right curb to the turnaround. Outbound, Gordon Shelton drops 50 feet, then back uphill.
My Garmin went off before reaching the mile 1 sign, and my Timex recorded an 11:37 first mile. It took me 37 seconds from the gun to the start line, So that split was actually 11:00. When I reached the One Mile sign, my quads were hurting. I knew it was downhill to the turnaround, so I continued to run.
Reaching the slave museum memorial garden, I turned around the median and started walking uphill. I stuck to the left tangent, running the course portions with a downgrade. My second mile was 12:40.
I ran the flats and downs and walked the ups with the final up, heading back toward the start line location. Once reaching that point, it is .4 mile to the finish. This section is flat or downhill, and I ran the entire distance, not holding back. My heart rate only peaked at 130. I wish it could have gone higher.
My third mile was 11:38, and final .10686 on the field in 62 seconds.
My finish time was 36:59. I’m discouraged with my time. I finished 337th overall, 166th male, and 16th of 24 among the 60 to 69-year-old males. There were 579 finishers.
I should have done a better cooldown. I walked to my car and changed into warmer clothes. I hung around and chatted for a while. The race had post-race beer, bananas, and nut bars. All I had was water.
Let’s see what the doctor says. I need to work around my desired race schedule. I hope I can drop the drug and get the ablation right after the historic half. I’m still looking to run the 50th Marine Corps Marathon at the end of October.