Jim McIntire Half Marathon (or 4 mile) (Read 356 times)

I decided to do my first half marathon, mainly in preparation for Grandma's practicing aid stations and what not. My goal was to do a fast finish progressive run in about 1:56. 9mm for the first 9-10 miles then picking it up for the last 5K or so. Half marathon and 4 mile started more or less together, half started maybe 200 meters behind. Probably 700 or so combined runners/walkers. My only warm-up was maybe 400 meters, up and down a small hill. Mile Splits 1 - 8:38 Little faster than I wanted, explained the slightly heavier breathing. 2 - 8:39 Felt nice, by the end my breathing had settled down probably a little pre-race nerves. 3 - 8:38 Cruising into the first add station, tried to run through it immediately knew that wasn't happening without gagging, walked through until I finished my water 4 - 8:14 Big downhill, let my weight do the motoring. Passed quite a few people. 5 - 8:03 More downhills, I like them 6 - 8:30 Level ground I meet up with a nice guy and comment "I am getting kind of worried, we keep going downhill I know that means we have to go up." He tells me where to expect the major hill. 10K - 1:55 New 10K PR, first time running a measured 10K distance 7 - 9:01 While talking to above gentleman, knew I slowed down a little bit. 8 - 8:38 Left the gentleman behind, got back to it. 9 - 8:15 Another downhill, last aid station I took advantage of. Felt good. Volunteer said I looked "Nice and relaxed." 10 - 8:31 The "dreaded Bear Cat" that's what the guy called it, started pushing a little more. My calves definitely felt it the most. All in all not that bad, quite a few walked portions of this hill. 11 - 8:28 Pretty level, definitely ready to make the last turn onto the home stretch. 12 - 7:52 Made the turn, uh oh look at that hill. Just concentrated, was definitely pushing some. 10 s faster than mile 5, only going mostly uphill not mostly downhill. 13 - 8:00 More uphills, I pass the 60+ winner around the 12.5 mark while going up a hill. While doing so he remarks, "Oh my God" at the severity of the hills. 15 s faster than mile 4, but again going uphill mostly. 13.1 - 0:34 (5:40 pace) Kicked it in for all I was worth, probably got some comments about not running hard enough I would guess, but I had to beat that 55 year old, no excuses Total - 1:50:01 (watch time) I started at the back of the pack so my official will be a few seconds slower. What a great race experience! Nice aid stations, great after event refreshments, decent T-shirt. All for $20. After the strong start I didn't think I would have any left for a "fast" finish, but I have no doubt that if miles 12 and 13 were flat they would have easily been in the 7:30 range with the same perceived effort, so I hit that goal in my mind. I also had some left in the tank, which was nice. HUGE confidence boost for Grandma's in 5 weeks. Could run 1:50, then 2:06ish to hit my marathon goal.

Yep, they said it was a PR for him 1:12:24. Official time: 1:50:13, started in the back. 54/173 finishers overall, said 55 year old was actually 55, good guess beat him by 7 seconds. The 62 year old on the hill 1:54:06. Wow to both of them. Didn't give age group stats, but I think I was 11th in my age group.