(photo credit : http://www.capcitysportsmedia.com/EVENT-PAGE)

First, I would like to give  a shout out to our National Champions.

Chris Landry won the men’s race in 1:02:52.  Yeah, you read that right.  4:48 per mile pace. Holy crap.   He outran second place, Scott Fauble, by 14 seconds.

Tara Welling won the women’s race in 1:10:25 . That’s a 5:23 per mile pace. She outran second place, Desiree Linden,  by 41 seconds.

Another big shout out to the wife, Kim, who, only twelve days after running the Boston Marathon and two days after turning 47, finished in 1:39:10.  This placed her second in her age group, 45-49. That’s also a top 6% finish for all runners.

Kim Hansen

Age: 47

Time: 1:39:10

The good – I told myself I would go at least five miles before walking through a water station, I went eight.  My first three miles were 7:49, 7:37, 7:56.  I felt good. Through 8 miles I was on pace to finish at 1:47.  That’s the end of the good.

I stopped at the water station at mile 8 coming off High Street and that’s when the crap hit the fan. The instant I stopped, my legs felt tired. My thighs felt beat up and my left hip was aching. I was light-headed and got dizzy for a second. That’s never happened before. I started to run again and only ran about half a mile before I had to stop again.  I was thinking good thoughts. Less than five miles to go, you can do this, etc..

I ran and walked the next two miles and was thinking okay , only a 5k left to go. Piece of cake. It was then I couldn’t breathe right. This happened once a few weeks ago when I was running with Kim. I don’t know how to explain it other than I could tell air was leaving my lungs, but it didn’t feel like air was going into my lungs, and my body. It didn’t feel like my heart was working I guess you could say. Now I have to wonder if something is up with my heart. Maybe I am just falling apart at the ripe old age of 45.

I don’t remember much of the last three miles except I knew I was being careful and almost thought about stopping. But then I wouldn’t get the medal at the end.

Silly thought I know since I couldn’t breathe.  I just kept telling myself run until you can’t then walk until you can. I was mad at myself but still had 2 hours in sight.  Then pretty much a quarter mile of the last one third a mile is uphill and I just couldn’t get it going.  I finished in 2:01:38, a 9:18 per mile pace. Exactly two minutes per mile off my pace of 7:18 three years ago.  I beat 63% of the people running but to me it was a failure and a let down. Yes, I know for most runners I did pretty good and I should be happy but for me and what I used to run it is aggravating.

If only I could get back here again:

2013 The Capital City Half Marathon – Half Marathon

Rob Hansen

Age: 42

I even told my wife after the race that I am done racing. I was backing out of the Nationwide Children’s full marathon in October and everything. I am sore and in pain, like I was after my very first half marathon. I don’t know what to do. I feel really good if I stay between three and six miles. I can run in the 7’s per mile and not be tired. Maybe I should just stay in that range for awhile.  Maybe I should get the surgery done. Maybe…..

When I am healthy, I like running long however I have to get it in my head I am not healthy. I still have a torn meniscus. I have to remember it took me years to get to where I could do a half marathon in 1:35.  What makes me think I can do it after taking two years off?  Yes, I ran last year but I didn’t do 200 miles for the entire year. I have just started in January running at least twenty miles per week so I have really only been getting back to it for four months.  My mind won’t listen.  It keeps thinking my body is like it was three years ago. No wonder professional athletes have such a hard time retiring.

Well, let’s see what the future holds.  Will I retire from racing and just run for fun or will I return better than ever?  Only time, and my body, will tell.

Thanks for reading. Have a blessed day.

I started to write this Saturday night when I was in a lot of pain.  Two days later, I am much better. Only a little sore. I have found a new perspective. The best year of my running was also my worst year personally. Three years ago my marriage almost ended, my dad passed away and I tore my meniscus at the end. Maybe I just need to start over. Start from scratch and build my way up.

The women’s winner , Tara, quit running not too long ago and now she is back. Maybe one day I will be also. http://s.oregonlive.com/AEu0rZe

Which also brings me to God. How even in our worst moments, He can bring a ray of hope. How He doesn’t ask us to start over, He says come to me now, no matter what you have done, or where you have been, or how many times you have sinned, come to me as you are.

What a wonderful feeling to know that we have a God like that.