Posted by Barefoot Gentile ⋅ <time>July 9, 2015</time> ⋅ Leave a comment
Well here it is the Fairfield half marathon, the most consistent post on this blog. This was my 8th half marathon, all barefoot except the first one.
Let’s start with training, or lack of. The formula stayed the same, running 3 times a week with the long run on the weekend, it’s how I run normally. I just like to plan out the long runs accordingly, I can easily to do that without a plan. I was averaging about 15 miles per week, for 12 weeks, not much. I got in two 10 milers as well.
It poured all night before but luckily the rain held off for the race, the temperature was much lower than previous years. Usually it would be 80 degrees at the 8:15AM start, this year it was about 60 degrees and overcast, actually perfect running weather.
I started the race at an 8:00 MP pace, way too fast. I never even came close to running an 8:00 MP pace during training but felt pretty good so I kept that going for about 3 miles, then scaled back to 8:20, my goal was to keep a consistent 8:30 pace. By mile 9 the fatigue started to set in, nothing drastic but to a point where to increase the pace was a no go. The adrenaline always gets the best of me in the beginning. I would rather increase the pace towards the end, than start fast in the beginning. Came in at 1:51. Fun times!
Half Fanatic #846
Thanks for the report and good pics! I've usually been running BF several times a week for the last 3-4 years and as far as 13 miles, but you run on some pretty harsh surfaces sometimes that would really be tough on me! I guess I must not practice on rougher surfaces enough. Gotta hand it to ya! Apparently, my problem is that the area I live in has some really smooth streets to run on (oh, and advanced age, too!).
"I don't always roll a joint, but when I do, it's usually my ankle" - unk. "Frankly autocorrect, I'm getting a bit tired of your shirt". I ran half my last race on my left foot!
Most of the roads i run are smooth, I try to hit some rough ones on purpose just to give the feet more of a challenge and keep them conditioned.