Lehigh Valley HM RR (Read 533 times)

Cross posted on kickrunners.com This race was to be a redemption of sorts. Last year I ran it but went into the training with a few extra pounds, and was running everything too fast while building mileage. This resulted in a hamstring injury 3 weeks prior to the race. I tried to give it a go but the injury reappeared at mile 3 and I gimped in from there. I decided that if I wanted to improve I need to lose some weight and train smarter. I spent the remainder of last year running more miles but at a slower pace, and completed my first marathon in the fall. Spent the winter just logging the miles, averaging at least 10 more mpw than I ever had in the winter. More importantly I made sure I got out for 10-12 miles each Sunday. Bumped up the miles a bit more in Feb / Mar and added a midweek tempo run to the schedule. Kept it pretty simple. So, about 15 pounds lighter and with a higher, smarter, mileage base, my goals for Sunday were simple. 1 - 1:42:49 (PR) 2 - sub 1:40 I came up with a pace plan for the 1:40. I really thought I had a good shot at it and figured that if I blew up a bit I could still PR. The weather was not going to be an excuse … cloudy and around 50 degrees. Well it was a battle but I made it. Chip time was 1:39:51. Here are my splits. 1 - 7:32 2 - 7:45 3 - 7:33 4 - 7:38 5 - 7:35 6 - 7:42 7 - 7:30 8 - 8:03 9 - 7:21 10 - 8:11 11 - 7:10 12 - 7:55 13.1 - 7:56 (7:09) I had some problems with my pacing at the end. Last few miles I was saying “I have it”, then “I don’t have it”. I knew I had to push that last 1.1 miles, and was very pleased that I had it in me. For a minute there I though that I had lost it. The only disappointment was a case of the chills afterward. It was raw out and once I stopped running I couldn’t keep warm, so headed home right away so I could get a nice warm shower. I would have liked to stick around and watch the Kickrunners that I knew were there finish. All in all it was a great day. Thanks for reading.

Wow! I should *gimp* so fast! Well done.

Congratulations on your race! It was great you could push your way through the last part like you did. Beat your previous PR by 3 minutes!

Thanks Teresa

Way to GO MrPHin!!!! Weather was PERFECT wasn't it!! CONGRATS on new PR!!! That race has got to be my Fav HM!

Weather sure was perfect. This is one of favorite races, too. I can't believe that this was my 5th year in a row running it. I'm to the point that I just sign up a soon as registration opens in the fall. I know I am going to end up deciding to do it, so I might as well register early and save a few bucks. Thanks.

Nice run MrPh, You did all the right things and it paid off in a big way. Keep up the good work and there will be more from where this came.