A mid February training marathon would be perfect to get ready for Boston 2022. It didn’t work out that way. After running the Houston marathon in January, my left hamstring never recovered. In fact, the more I ran, easy or hard, the worse it got. The morning of this race in Fort Lauderdale, FL I was sure it would be a slow run and thanked my stars that two weeks earlier I had switched from the FULL marathon down to the half.
The temperatures were warm but not unbearable. I wasn’t stressed out nor nervous about this race because I would take it easy and just relax through it, enjoying myself all the way. Start time was 6 am. We had to be in line by 5:40 am and were packed as tight as sardines. When we finally took off, it was still dark and one runner went down with a huge thud. As for me, I started easy but was in so much pain with my hamstring, for the first time in a race I thought of dropping out. My thoughts as I plowed along in that first loop were to just get back to the start area where our hotel was. When I got back there, after 3 miles, my decision was to continue as the pain had eased a bit but was very much uncomfortable.
Thankfully the course was flat, straight, and very easy as race courses come. I did my best and ran a bit faster than I should but certainly not my fastest, placing 7th of my age group.
Ted walked the distance so he came in a couple of hours following me. While I waited for him to finish, I met up with coach JG to evaluate my hamstring issue and see if there were some exercises to help. I’ve been doing those exercises and more since but to this day, 3 weeks later, I still cannot run comfortably. It looks like the Boston marathon is a no go for me this year and I will hang up my Boston shoes completing 11 total Boston marathons (1 being virtual during COVID in 2020).
My original goal when I first began qualifying and running Boston was to complete 10. I have run 10 consecutive on the Boston route from Hopkinton to Boston so my goal has been met. It still comes with great disappointment that I won’t be running this year but I will run the 5K which I have never done. Something new to look forward to.
As for the A1A marathon,
I was surprised to be able to run this half in less than two hours, yet disappointed to be met with such an injury when I looked forward to a banner year.
I don’t know what the rest of 2022 will bring race wise but I think marathon distance is done for me and I will focus on doing my best for the half once all body parts are working 100%.
I enjoyed this half marathon. I would not want to do the full as it is a two loop run. The course is flat and scenic with the ocean view. Starting at 6 am in the dark presents challenges.
Fingers crossed 2022 turns out to be a better year running wise than when it began.
Joanne
