Well, after a devastating run at the QCM, I was looking forward to something more memorable.

Luckily, the TBM was it.  Knowing I was only going to run a half marathon helped.  Also, knowing it was in Costa Rica so it would be a "vacation run" helped.  After the QCM, we were so busy getting ready for the trip and I was so disinterested in running, that I did not run at all between the QCM and the TBM. 

It worked out fantastic.  Fantastic trip to Guanacaste (from San Jose, CR) and the whole weekend went super excellent.  The race itself started at 5AM (to beat the heat) and as it turned out, only the last 1/2 hr or so of the run was really hot.    There were about 2,500 people running in all the events, which consisted of 5k, 10k, half, 30k, and full marathon.  Unfortunately, there were Kenyans there, and they cleaned up.   There were 3 Kenyans in the race, and a Kenyan won the full, half, and 30k events.  

The weather was expectedly hot.  About 23c and 85% humidity at race time.   I was hoping this would be a decent run, and knew there was no way I was going to get a PB this time.  So I just ran it and tried not to force myself too much.   It went pretty good.    I kept to my own pace, but still was passing people from the start, to near the end of the race.   I finished the race strong and was happy with my effort.  I probably could have taken off another 5 minutes had I really pushed myself - but I decided not to and am glad I ran it that way, since it made the rest of the day that much better.   My final time was 1:57:14, which was 284th overall, (out of about 900 in the half) and 7th out of 24 in my age group.  For a vacation run in the heat, I was happy with the results.

The run was organized very well.  It started right on time and the water/gaterade stations were every 2k and there was alot of excitement during the race.  Lots of people on the side of the road cheering everyone as they ran by.   The scenery was fantastic and there was little elevation change.  The race was on the roads (which they closed at 4AM) and so was asphalt all the way.   The medal is probably the nicest one I've gotten so far - colorful, big, descriptive, etc. 

If there was a negative it would be that the strictness of the race dissipated after a while.  By the end of the half marathon, runners who had finished and their friends and family, were walking and standing in the middle of the road, while other runners were trying to finish.   Anyone who finished after about the 2 hr half marathon mark, had to dodge and weave through people and cars the last KM or so.   This was another reason I was glad to have done the half.   Although we saw people running the full as we were on our way out of town (those people would have finished in the 5 or 5 1/2 hr mark) - by that time the roads were open so they were having to deal with the traffic - lots of traffic on a small highway with no shoulders.   In my view, the last half of the race for the full marathoners was probably dangerous becuase of the traffic, if not because of the heat. 

In any event, although my race times seem to be consistently slow, the enjoyment I got out of this race definitely brought me out of my depressive state after the QCM.

Next up is a 10k in the middle of San Jose - International 10k Costa Rica - Sunday 25 Sept.    I'm going to give that one all I have, since it's only 10k, and see if I can finish in around 45 or 50 minutes.