Notes
So pumped to finally break a PR from my 20s! My previous PR stood for 11 years after being set on this very same course. I wouldn't have dreamed of this result two months ago, but training has been going great so I steadily allowed myself to think about a PR... and then breaking 1:41... and then even 1:40... It's taken over two years of steady work but I'm finally moving into new running fitness territory!
I'm also immensely satisfied with my race plan. This is probably the first half-marathon I've ever negative split. I pulled back almost immediately after the initial rush out of the starting line and tried to settle into a 7:40ish pace to at least put myself in contention for the PR. I got passed a lot early so it really took some discipline to hang back, but I finally found a consistent group to run with. One was a dude wear my same singlet, whom I ended up racing pretty much the whole way.
I can't even describe how beautiful the course was in the first few miles, replete with horses galloping through the rolling sunrise fog. I also feel really good about how I used the race to practice for the upcoming Philly Marathon. I took gels around the 4 and 8.5 mile marks and tried to practice grabbing/drinking water on the run as much as I could.
Around mile the 6 miles mark I decided I was comfortable kicking it up a notch and trying to break 1:40. So I aimed to bump the pace to a 7:30ish target, but mostly tried to run at whatever felt natural and sustainable. It was around this point I was able to pass the other Lululemon dude, cutting past him on the inside during a turn. He never passed me again, but based on the what I could gather from the footsteps behind me and how close he finished it seems like he was chasing me the whole way.
I was bracing myself for the hills during the second out-and-back because I remembered how much I struggled back in the day, but thanks to my training and pacing strategy it seems like I had plenty in the tank to handle them this time. I picked off quite a few people during this stretch and was out in front of my group going into the final turn around.
The final stretch home I was focusing on picking off one more guy way in the distance (and also maintaining my own position). I was eventually able to catch him during the last big downhill heading back into town. It really felt amazing to be running so strong at this point and I had some of my best splits. I gave a little kick heading into the line and got my shiny new PR, a sweet finisher medal, and lovely hug from Erin! I nearly forgot to check the age group standings, but I won second and got a really awesome wooden plaque!