Blueberry Cove Half Marathon 2022

Blueberry Cove Half Marathon; August 28th, 2022. Small, homey race in Tenant’s Harbor, for 4-H Blueberry Cove - raised $25K!! They like to keep it homey, so entries are capped at 250ish so it was a pretty full year. The week leading up to it represented the first real break in the heat, the humidity as well but less so. I was happy to take a start temp under 70F, despite the humidity staying fairly high.

Small races always present opportunity. Simple race mornings, easy coordination with race pals, cleaner fields, and - most of all - GREAT people. From Steve (the race director), to the couple who offered to take a picture of Zack and me at the start, to Susan Davis (who deserves a post in her own right!), to the home made pottery awards and finisher ‘medals’.

The Set Up: I’ve had a good run (heh) of races lately and the momentum was strong, but training had gotten between overreaching and “training through”. I was planning 20mi for the day alongside a super tough course (750ft of elevation up/down) to cap off a big build up training cycle. I wasn’t expecting a PR, but intended to run within 10sec/mi of my PR from 2019 (Old Port HM, 1:21:47). Given that, If I PR’d it would be a stunning but not totally out of question after 5K/10K best times within the last month. We opted to stay the night up in Rockland before the race, which was wise versus a day trip (2hour drive). It also fueled us nicely at Ada’s (Eat Pasta, Run Fasta!) & Sammy’s Deluxe (highly recommend) - see previous post.

Our flat personas for the race.
Exact same shorts and shoe models, all thanks to Zack's incredible market research and showing me the light! I was all Nike in the shoe category (but Pegasus & Peg Turbo)...and wasn't too keen on Nike half tights until the Aeroswift.

Having the “guys' weekend” also be our big pre-marathon race was perfect. Zack is very much been an inspiration as I’ve worked to make my own progress in running, which is trivial in comparison to what he’s done and the leaps and bounds. Lucky for me, he’s also probably the best hype-man out there. He’d been working through a bit of an injury, barely running the last 2 weeks, and he did an incredible job focusing on success “today” vs what was the plan when we signed up…something we all say we want to be good at, but usually end up throwing caution to the wind and paying for it even worse later. 

Race Morning: Awake at 4:40 AM and luckily Zack likes to be on the same timing so I didn’t have to be quiet with lights out. I put some water on my thrown together oatmeal and use the ice room’s microwave. When that was ready I started sipping on the coffee elixir from Sammy‘s Deluxe. That was some power fuel and the Chaga element was a little too much that early in the morning, so I put down half of it and then poured a nitro cold brew can of coffee to calm down the rest of it. I think on a regular morning or afternoon that would have gone down on its own. But I don’t like doing too much new on race day.

Started to do some self-massage and rolling on the legs, focusing on my left foot, which had been somewhat of a limiting factor over the past few weeks - ever since the beer mile (obligatory eyeball). Everything felt pretty spritely and alive, finished up the oatmeal while doing a quick 30 minute NormaTec session (level 5, not 7). After that it was a handoff of Normas to Zack and quick shower then final pack and off to the race. We got in the car a little bit later than we desired, but with plenty of time to spare, especially given the small town nature of the race. 

The drive from Rockland to Tenant’s Harbor had cool air, no need for A/C for once, and was an enjoyable drive with minimal traffic. My race-morning anticipation (anxiety??) showed when it was almost 7AM and there was a line of cars for this small race. It passed and we got a fine parking spot - between the start and finish, which were only like 0.25mi apart. I went straight into a warmup, thankfully having no need for the bathroom…I wanted 20 on the day, so needed 2-3 on the warmup (which was also a need for running a hard HM from the getgo).

Warm up: good hydration and a shot blok around 7:10, with 1+ miles in the Pegasus+compression socks, where a shoe switch may not be a convenience to be offered at other events. I didn’t want to stress timing, so I put on my regular socks (honestly, the lightweight Feetures have seriously taken top step well beyond everything I’ve worn previously) and the Alpha Flys. The immediate comical change in gait and step was present and I was a little thankful to calibrate to them for a mile before the race began. A couple 20-30 second surges to ~6min/mi and I was feeling primed but, as always, not quite physically ready for what was to come but in a really good mental state…nonetheless the hills worried me and it was gonna be a game of effort vs pace.

A couple selfies, and kind peeps taking pictures of Zack and me at the start and it was game time. I didn’t see anyone who I immediately recognized (no big names from the greater Portland area), and no one who looked Uber-pro. This observation came with equal parts comfort and fear, but I tried not to allow this to give me comfort. I came to run MY race. If I was within 2mins of my PR, that’s good. Within 1min was the A-goal. Anything more was fluff and a product of good form and execution! 

Deuces all around. 223 & 224 & the one and only 22!

The Race: Pleasant, low key start. A little girl (didn’t catch her name, but maybe one who goes to the 4-H camp?) rang the start bell after some instructions from Steve Cartwright, the Race Director. The ring was not your classic start gun or cannon, and left us briefly confused before we took off. Immediately I worked to find pace, low 6 or so, to stabilize and get a feel as we started flat into a bit of a downhill…talking down the good ol’ John Izzo yelling “The first 400m is FREE!!!” in my ear from UR.

It was quickly relevant that at 6:05 pace and having a gap, there weren’t any immediate really fast runners targeting sub-80, at least from the gun. This gave me a sense of concern, not ease and comfort - a good thing, in my opinion. I kept looking around, seeing a duo form about 20m behind, then a couple others behind them. I’m not sure the last time or EVER if I led a race and I’ve never won a race. In 2013 I was first male but second overall, as my check of Athlinks verifies that I never have finished a running race in first place.

Mile 1: 6:05. Spot on for the loss in elevation, and it felt so SO good. Heart rate was comfy in the low 160s. It was weird leading a race, especially at an effort that was comfortable and commensurate with the distance of the half marathon for me! I didn’t let that bubble over into (over)confidence. I came to race the Travis from 2019 and 2010, the eras of all my PRs….not to try to claim victory. If the two things coincided, that’s a bonus and if I had a chance to win, I’d throw down all I have to make it happen…but that was 12 miles away still.

Mile 2: 6:21. First hills coming. The downhills were sharp and awkward, as usual for me. At the end of mile 2, Henry Pehr caught me on a downhill and got a shot of adrenaline that I had to suppress, too early to “race” or worry about place. We reminisced in the old college running days in different calibers: he at UNC Chapel Hill, me at Rochester. He was mid distance and definitely a bit faster than I was, fear rising.

Miles 3-7: 6:20, :27, :15, :30, :31. This was a bit of a blur, in a good way. Henry and I chatted pretty constantly. Sometimes it resulted in losing focus on the pace, but we kept the pressure on pretty solidly - uphills were aggressive and strong, downhills I had to keep up with Henry’s long stride. I ate and drank at every planned time, adjusting around some of the harder sections. Water was approximately every 2 miles, but water was at ~4&5 then not until 8.

We had some tough constant hills from 3.25-7, sea level to 100ft a few times over. Definitely started to set in some substantial fatigue and took some oomph out of my stride. My heart rate started to slip into the 180s at this point, which is approaching redline. That’s a bit early in the race for me, but keeping pace with a competitor without digging too deep was the priority for the time being.

Mile 8: 6:16. The most beautiful and classic part of the race! Port Clyde and then off towards the historic (go ahead and watch Forrest Gump) Marshall Point lighthouse, which is very unassuming. We worked this section as there were actually some people in town cheering for the race! I told Henry about the Marshall Point lighthouse - thanks to Zack’s reading about the race.

Obligatory Forrest Gump/Marshall Point Lighthouse selfie. Zack's beard is themed well!

Mile 9: 6:23. The turnaround at the lighthouse was SUPER tight, the Alpha Flys were displeased but I didn’t roll my ankle. The turn was so aggressive that I said “Shit! I didn’t even look at the lighthouse”. It was too far behind us that we couldn’t see it.

Henry said "Well, we've only gotta do 2 miles twice at this point!"

We finally saw other runners on the out/back section here. There was a really good race for 3rd-7th, which was fun to see. 

Mile 10-11: 6:11, :06. This is where it started to get seriously hard, and where I forced my effort to stay deliberate and high. The major hills were behind us but these ones definitely hurt equally or more despite being gentler and shorter. The pavement was new and comfortable.

When you get into a place race at this point - whether it’s for 100th or 1st…you start assessing your edge, the advantage you have or those nearby and how to capitalize if possible. Maybe it’s just a tactic to give yourself focus on how to find success. I found my focal point: Henry had (and probably still has) faster leg speed…so slowing it down and leaving it to a sprint was not Plan A through D. I’m glad I fueled and drank well and it started setting in that this might be my key point of advantage over Henry. He didn’t take any food for the race and only grabbed water twice. I was happy to use my energy to ensure we kept the throttle on hard and we’re burning the absolute maximum energy without cracking myself. 

Mile 12: 6:12. HR now 185 for the mile. Spicy. My plan to make it harder for myself was working. Hopefully he felt as badly. Then I found another possible edge. Henry asked my age. I told him 33. He said he was 27, he seemed relieved that this guaranteed us each a victory of sorts. 1 overall, 1 age group. The age group part wasn’t a comforting thing for me, my brain in its miserable and stressed state wanted to snatch it up as a perfect scenario - you get a “top step” either way! The recent effort I’d put into running and life lately wasn’t going to feel worth it if I didn’t at least TRY TO lay it all down for the win.

I started to get little chills, not excitement chills but physiological ones. It meant that the effort was approaching absolute maximum. Chills when pouring sweat, at 185bpm, in 75F with 90%+ humidity. I thought of a Pre quote, and in hindsight realize that in comparison I’m ridiculously soft. But it made for a nice moment in extremis. I know damn well that when one of those comes by, you appreciate it, cherish it, let it fuel you until it eventually it is overridden by the brain in danger mode.

Mile 13 "Well, we only gotta do 2x800m at this point!" It got a very light chuckle, which may have been mistaken as a grunt or grimace to any onlooker of the race. Boom. 5:54. Net flat mile, downhill in the first half, uphill in the second. A small flat section in the middle. We were not backing off a bit into the final mile, heck we both said let’s make it out fastest. I don’t think either of us were ready for it to be only marginally the fastest. You always have this hope in a good race that you can really slam the last mile and come in ripping and looking/feeling badass.

We flew downhill, under 6 flat pace. I was hurting, I wanted to be tactical but at redline coming into an uphill half mile there isn’t a lot except when to burn that final match or two in the book. Henry hit the gas into the uphill. I pushed and got right behind him. He swerved and as I got up to speed it felt painfully labored. A huge side stitch ripped below my right rib cage, immediately my breathing was super audible and nearly gasping. I got it under control after digging my fingers into it and started on dragging back the 10-15 feet he gapped me. If he kept up this speed I was not likely to have a chance in hell at beating him, but I refused to let my body back off and accept the age group win.

I got back up to him and took the left position. Inside line for the dirt finish. Run the tangents, take the shortest and fastest line. Bike racing engrained some of these tactics that are oft missed in running, because such a lapse in judgement in cycling can give your opponent a free win. He made it clear he thought we were closer to the end and as I was reeling from the recent effort, saw my chance coming up when he was still regretting his attack and we both were hurting from it. If I hurt like hell, so does he. Like Jeff Dixon told me: “if you can’t taste iron/blood then you’re probably not in a good enough position for the finish”. I doubled down on making the race as miserable as possible and started to burn it all once we were around 400m to go. I wanted to have a gap before the dirt, because I don’t fully trust these shoes on such surface and feared it’d feel like going through mud for both of us and every meter of space was painful separation to claw back. I checked over my shoulder and a solid gap opened. I looked dead ahead for the finish line between the canopy and turn in the road, but made sure I had quality footing. I threw it all down not taking a modicum of comfort from the last gap I saw. 

Holy shit. A first place happened. Fully aware it was in part due to the field that day (thank god no one running last years 1:12 showed up!), I was still overwhelmed with the feeling I had never had before in a running race.

All in all, it was basically tied for a PR - far better than I anticipated. My PR was from 2019 @ 1:21:47. This race I finished at 1:21:12, but it was a little short (13.04mi by my watch). Extrapolated to 13.11, that is a 1:21:38 - so, just barely but courses often run a little long, so it was basically a "tie" from 2019, but on a much harder course! So it met my goals very clearly. I added on the last 0.07mi but it was SLUGGISH, totaling about 1:22:20.

The sprint for glory!

Post: I gave Henry a hug or pound or something and congratulated him on a hard earned race. I thanked him for being a companion and fighter that kept me running scared until the very end of the race. He kept me far more accountable and stronger than I would have without him. He definitely was a big part of the approximate PR time at the distance. We grabbed water (I added on 0.07mi so my Garmin would properly accept the HM distance), chatted, and talked to a few people as the trickled in for the top ten. 

Henry and I with our spoils, well earned from 11 hard miles side-by-side. 

I called Bailey from the car and told her all about the race. There’s nothing better than sharing a peak day with the people you love. Whether it’s in person (with Zack) or recounting the thrill and joy on the phone (with Bailey). I had to get moving before I tightened up further and had to also go see Zack out on the course…I would’ve hung it up after a short jog if it wasn’t for him being here so I was thankful for the external motivation to close out my bonus miles on the day.

I headed out backtracking the course after switching out my shoes and jersey. I was pretty wrecked. The first mile I stopped 4 times to stretch/rest and it was sluggish at very best. By the time I saw Zack at 2 miles, I was able to move pretty well and spun around alongside him. In classic Zack fashion he was more interested in how I did than how his race was going. “You won didn’t you?!” He had seen me at the 0.75mi mark solo and that was all he needed to be sure I’d execute, I’m glad one of us was sure! I beamed in joy that he was right but also that he was a billion times more confident in me making it happen than I was. I told him my race was over and it was now his turn to bring it home and focus the next two miles. He multitasked on getting the work done and being proud of me, as he told many people we passed that I had won (as I covered my face). It was the best victory lap imaginable for the day. Finishing a race, then getting to celebrate a close friend’s accomplishment alongside him immediately after. I was even able to grab some quality content for him with a few photos and videos.

Zack finished strong and happily without the pain he’d had the week before. While it wasn’t his fastest half, it was in all levels a huge success. By the time I caught up to him he had started running again - a man of principle!! He had to get the extra distance to round out a complete half marathon distance after realizing his watch was a few hundredths of a mile shy 💪.

The rest of the post race was awesome. Some great conversation, exceptional spread of food and drink, and a relaxing close knit atmosphere. I already knew I’d have to plan to come back in 2023. The awards ceremony was great and I was able to get a pretty awesome handmade coffee mug, which is my new go to at home. 

Top tier snacks, Zack approved.

We left after the awards with a great deal of hype and energy to keep a great day going…but thank god for Cumberland Farms any size iced coffee for 99 cents. That saved the both of us on the drive. I’m very much of the NEXT mentality, but it felt really good to come away with a hard-fought win.

At this point, the race was a week ago and I’m fully focused on the Chicago marathon; my real, singular focus of the running season. It’s been a continually good series of events and one is bound to be a bad day, but I’ll ride this wave as long as I can. Often I look back at where I was 6-9months ago and see what feels like entirely different version of myself, at least athletically. I also see it in my dedication and work ethic generally in life. I realize that every future improvement will be smaller and tougher earned than every previous one, but I’m excited to keep working harder and more deliberately than ever. NEXT. I’m only as good as my next race.