Helvetia Half & One year benchmarks (Read 548 times)

Having a hard time writing this report and not sure why. I will probably come back and add more later. But since I did this race last year, I love this race and will probably do it in the future AND it is always the week of my birthday, I think it will be a good year to year benchmark event. 2007 - weight 132 temp 52 rainy 2008 - weight 133 (which seems good except for the 5 lbs I lost and regained! ) temp 54ish bright sun Sun was a new thing for me this year so I did struggle a bit with it, but I kept reminding myself that although it FELT hot, it was not in fact hot. So HTFU and run! I had taken advantage of looking at my splits from last year on a hilly course and I do think it helped. The main thing I needed to see was that miles 3 and 4 are SLOW and to just focus on effort and not on pace. I set my goal pace for the first 3 miles, did NOT look at pace for miles 4 and 5 until the top of the hill, and then didnt look again until mile marker 7 which was 0.25 miles from the end of the hilly section. It also helped me to see that I should make my pace chart for the high end of my goal range with the way I ran it last year. Made the chart for 1:47 with even splits (originally when I was considering making a chart based on the terrain and splits for last year I was planning on 1:46) Knew that if by mile 8 I was back on pace I was good to go for it Miles 1-3 (8:19, 8:05, 8:10) - I think the first mile ran long, otherwise I felt a little heavy legged but ok through this. 4 seconds off pace at the end of the 3 miles Miles 4-5 (8:23, 8:42) this is a steady climb and then a steep climb. I am very pleased with the pace. I kept myself from pushing too hard especially since I was being passed a lot here. At the end I was 50 seconds off an even pace, but ahead of where I expected to be given the terrain. Mile 6 - 7 (7:36, 8:01) First 1/2 of mile 6 is a steep downhill, and I flew. I passed a gazillion people on this section. I like downhills and rarely have a problem with overdoing or overholding. Maintained my turnover through the rollers for the rest of the mile. Only 8 seconds back of pace with 0.25 of hills remaiing Miles 8-10 (7:38, 7:47, 8:10) this section has a good downhill followed by gentle rollers with an overall down to flat. Mile 10 was a bit slow BUT when I look at last year mile 10 was my slowest second half mile there as well. I think it has an overall up grade. Again was glad I had looked at the splits because I didnt panic or get upset when I saw my pace drop. In these last few miles I gained time and was now 1:15 ahead of even pace. Think I can break 1:46 Miles 11-13.1 (8:03, 8:08, 8:05, 0:53) right before the mile marker we turn on to gravel and catch the tail of the 10K. At mile 10.5 I feel the first sign that my energy is flagging and I have to will myself to keep going. I start to see my pace drop. Can not maintain 8 minute pace, but still ahead of 1:47 pace. Feeling the sun a lot (pathetic!) The last mile is definitely mind over matter. Finish time 1:46:01 a PR of 1:41 since April 2007 finish time was 1:56:51 - so in 1 year I took 10:50 off this course. MTA: I compared my splits with my theoretical splits from last year and they are amazingly close except I was MUCH faster on the steep downhill and last year I had a lot more left in the tank and really took it down the last 2 miles and this year I was just hanging on for dear life. I think last year I had TOO much left and this year I probably overran the middle miles but all in all very pleased.

Great job!

That's awesome, Anne...what a great picture of what consistent training can yield! I dropped about 10:30 between my first and second HMs--11 months apart. Second one was on a more challenging course, too. I wish I had room for a half this year, since I'd love to get under 2 hours at that distance. I'm also a downhill girl. I have started taking it easier on uphills and then letting my legs carry me more on the downhills--taking advantage of my sprinter legs.

Way to go Ennay!

That's awesome, Anne...what a great picture of what consistent training can yield! I dropped about 10:30 between my first and second HMs--11 months apart. Second one was on a more challenging course, too. I wish I had room for a half this year, since I'd love to get under 2 hours at that distance.D

You can!!! Let see looking back I took off 10/2004 - 2:20:28 9/2005 - 2:07:49 (-12: 39 in 11 months) 2006-pregnant 6/ 2007 - 1:56:51 (-10:58 - 8 months after baby) 6/2008 - 1:46:01 (-10:50 in 12 months) A half somewhere in your marathon training plan is a great check see where things are. I like doing one about 5 weeks out.

Very nice Ennay. Quality race. Congratulations.

That's really nice work. Congrats.

Well done, Ennay! I'm continually impressed by your progress. Congratulations.