The days leading up to this race were packed with thoughts of being able to see what I could do on a flat course.  All other races up to this point had been on “undulating courses,” and although putting in some good times, I always left wondering what I could have done over the same distance without the hills. 

The Flora Adidas Silverstone 1/2M is held at one of the United Kingdoms premier F1 racing courses.  This world-class surface would offer all out speed for the runner wanting to push the limits.  Sliverstone is a two-hour drive from our home and along the way I was a bit nervous, this would be the biggest event I had run in.  5739 runners showed up on an overcast and chilly morning.  Arriving on site it became apparent this was no ordinary race, there were people everywhere. I wondered if I had gotten myself into something I was not ready for.

The start began  right under the start/finish line for the motor circuit.  Trying to find my place I noticed a sign with arrows in each direction, turn right for under two hours, turn left for over two.  I turned right…but I wondered how I would be able to navigate through all these people to finish, let alone in under two hours.  Everywhere I looked were people fidgeting just like me…and after all the pre-race admin…the gun went off.

I was so far back in the pack it took nearly two minutes to reach the line, this being a chip timed event I did not worry about that and hit my Garmin GPS watch beginning my run.  If you have never run with 1,000s of people around you, it will be hard for me to tell you what this sounds like.  1000s of feet all pounding the pavement…I found it comforting…and a thrill.  In my goal to finish in a new personal best (PB) time I had worked out a plan.  The first two miles I was going to run at 9 minute per mile pace (MPM), the next two at 8:45 mpm, 8:30 mpm for the next two and so forth finishing up the last 3 miles with whatever my legs could give me.  This I figured would give me a shot at a 1 hour 49 minute finish.

2 Mile Marker (2.04) in 17:15…The first two miles I was sticking pretty close to my plan, all the time fighting my way through the crowds to get an open lane.  Why do people run three wide while talking to friends in a race?  A runner behind me clipping my foot or taking out someone in front while running in the pack was my worst fear for the day.  Visions of Mary Decker and Zola Bud in the 1984 Olympics kept popping into my mind.  As a spot would open I would accelerate and move up but I knew I had to watch how much I was asking my legs to do this early on.  Two miles at 8:37 pace…

4 Mile Marker 4 (2.08/4.12) in 17:14/34:29…By four miles I settled into a nice pace, breathing was good, my legs were in tune, foot strike was right on and all was going as planned.  I was carrying my own water bottle so I avoided the water stations figuring this could help me separate from the pack and aid in my planned goal time.  Even four miles into the run I was surprised at the number of people you had to work your way through.  At this point I realized my pace was a bit fast, but I was feeling good and planned to continue on.

6 Mile Marker (1.92) in 15:52/50:21…Mile six offered the first of the feed stations and although I planned to avoid the water stops, I had to take on the energy drinks being offered.  As you can imagine the lanes became very crowded with all the runners trying to funnel into the zones near the workers handing out the power drinks…THEN IT HAPPENED.  Just like Mary Decker in 1984 one runner made contact with another, legs got tangled, strides got messed up all “h e l l” broke lose and one runner went down, shoulder into the pavement hard, momentum rolling over on to his back and everyone else trying to hold up before one down equaled the entire pack.  All this played out right in front of me within seconds I was one of those runners trying to avoid the guy laying on the ground, out of the race.  Lucky for me my mind took over and there was an opening, my legs had enough in them to zip off to the outside and dart back into the feed zone in time to grab a power drink from the last volunteer and off I went…wow that was close.  6 miles and an 8:24 pace. 

12 Mile Marker (4.08) in 33:15/1h 41m 05s…Up to this point I knew I had gone out a tad fast but my legs had able to respond when I needed to make a pass or when I wanted to put on a push to make up a little time lost from running within the pack.  But…when I needed them the most they felt heavy and lifeless.  With the end just over a mile away my pace slowed and I started to feel the effects of the day.  I knew I had to just dig in a little deeper and within ten minutes I would be done.  The one bad point of this race was running multiple laps snaking in and around the race course, every time I looked up to see where the course would take me next, my eyes were treated to an endless rainbow of colors.  For the first 12 miles this sight did not bother me, as I was amazed at all the people, but now with heavy legs and a goal that was on my mind I just wanted to see the finish.  But nooooooooooooo what I saw was a long stream of people disappearing off into the horizon in front of me…. this did little to help me battle the last long mile between the finish, my goal and I. 

My finish was right around the corner…. final turn towards home and a finish stretch of a quarter mile sandwiched between two towering grandstands.  As a mid pack finisher I rarely get the opportunity to hear the roar of the crowds or feel like Deena Kastor entering Olympic stadium in Athens bringing home a medal for the USA, today with thousands of well wishers cheering I felt like an champion, giving me the push needed to turn it on.  My legs gave me one last effort and just as a boat lifts its bow out of the water at high speed my foot strike went from heel-toe to one that has now striking on the balls of my feet.  At last my feet hit the finish line and my eyes to the clock….. 13.1 (1.11) in 9:18/1h 50m 25s at 8m 26s pace…I finished 2203 out of 5739 and 140 out of 440 in my age group!