Race day was sunny and warm (just a bit too warm for my tastes, but it worked out okay) and I ran a great race - a personal best for me! 2:26:39, which beats my previous personal record by a whole 14 seconds (back in 2002, the B&A Trail Half Marathon outside Baltimore)! Woot!
I am a bit disappointed that I didn't meet my goal of a 2:24 half (I would have taken 2:24:59!), but I don't know where I would have picked up enough time. It was hot enough that I stopped at every water stop - I suppose if I hadn't done that, I might have managed it, but those short walk breaks might actually have helped my time, for all I know.
I picked up the chip from Julie, my relay partner, in Oakledge Park and headed out. All of my nervous energy, plus the crowd support, pushed me to do sub-11-minute miles for the first 5 miles. Maybe longer...I meant to hit the "lap" button on my Garmin each mile, but I was distracted by the race itself and my miles didn't synch exactly with the mile markers, since i started at the 13.1 mile point. So I wound up with 5 laps of varying distances....LOL.
Battery Hill came at mile 15, but the Taiko Drummers and the crowd helped me push my way up without walking. After that, it was downright fun until about mile 21. Then I was ready to push to the finish...except I had 5.2 miles to go. The last 3 miles were tough; the last mile or so even tougher, but I only stopped to walk one time outside of water stops, and that was short lived. I had good energy almost all the way through and really was enjoying myself - I heard one woman comment after I waved, "They are smiling out there!"
I'd forgotten what a large, highly supportive race could be like and I want to do it again. Maybe not next weekend or anything...I'm kind of sore.
Also...I crossed the finish line next to a marathoner who was dressed like a beaver. I didn't ask why, though I desperately wanted to. I wish my husband had gotten a photo of that....
Anyway - here are the numbers!
Overall:
2:26:39
11:10 pace
169 avg bpm (you'll notice I had no trouble keeping it up!)
2,623 cal
Lap 1:
3 miles
10:46 pace
169 bpm
Lap 2:
1 mile
10:49 pace
167 bpm
Lap 3:
1 mile
10:57 pace
169 bpm
Lap 4:
2 mi
11:38 pace
166 bpm
(this may have been where I fought with my gel packet and could not get it open!)
Lap 5:
6.1 mi
11:17 pace
171 bpm
My heart rate maxed out at 182 during this race...so I guess my maximum heart rate is NOT 181. I was really surprised at how easily I kept my heart rate in the high 160s and low 170s...right where it should be on tempo runs, but where I never could manage to boost it!
I brought 3 gels with me. I had one before Julie showed up, one around mile 19 or 20 (just getting that packet open took a good 30-45 seconds) and another one about mile 23. I had a water-bottle carrier with 2 pockets that I bought Friday, but I just couldn't bring myself to use it...it seemed really bulky and bouncy, so I didn't. I carried the gels in my hand.
It was a great race, and I got a PR and almost met all 3 of my goals...so I'm happy. I realize now that more tempo racing and maybe one more longer run might have helped - but I can't go back, only forward. So now it's time to figure out my summer and fall races!
I am tempted now to try a flat fall half marathon, like Philadelphia....with a summer of training I bet I could meet my 2:24 goal and then some!
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