Notes
Really wanted to race but killed that with Friday nights dinner. Needed another day to flush it out of my system.
Energy and legs were fine but had a horrible feeling in my gut that wouldn't let me push. Just ran steady, never felt horrible, just blocked from pushing harder.
Started with a 6:07 mile and felt comfortable so I pulled it back through the first couple hills knowing I'd make it up through the middle miles. Discomfort set in and just got worse after mile 3 but I kept ticking off the miles and finally pulled into the porta john at mile 8. Probably spend 40-50 seconds in there and came out a bit more comfortable.
Unfortunately a half dollar sized blister had developed on my right foot by mile 8. Testing new shoes to possibly use at Boston but they were failing badly. It was a struggle trying to find the right part of my foot to run on. Every change in pitch or camber brought on relief or pain. I was trying my best not to rip it open.
The wind hit hard around mile 9-10. Coming out of the crapper I passed people all the way to the finish. Due to my gut and blister I never opened it up full throttle, just steady.
The final hill was a bit of relief for my foot so I worked it hard all the way up. Turns out my second fastest mile was that damn hill. Ran it 12 seconds faster than last year and passed folks the entire way up. I'd worried too much treadmill would hurt my hill running but that didn't show today.
After cresting the hill I passed another group and then on to the finish. Felt fine almost right after compared to a usual half effort.
19 seconds slower than last year which was an A+ effort and better weather. In the end 45 seconds slower than PR so, removing the porta john, my moving time was fast as I ever ran a half but I didn't work nearly as hard. Gotta take it for what it's worth. Feel like I could have run a good bit better on a different day.
Gonna let this be a lesson/experience to drive me on to Boston clearly stronger than last year.
Half Splits:
1 Manual 6.58 mi 41:36.88 41:36.88 6:20
2 Manual 6.57 mi 41:37.12 1:23:14 6:21
241 41/408 M4049 CHRIS HANCOCK 40 M 3032 1:23:15 6:22 19:39 39:23 59:19 1:23:24 GREATER LOWELL ROAD RUNNERS
2013 -- 6:21.41 6:24.39 6:32.35 6:27.11 6:14.45 6:16.90 6:12.93 6:12.98 6:12.45 6:15.07 6:18.16 6:14.63 6:22.88 0:52.10
2014 -- 6:07.04 6:26.78 6:28.17 6:32.04 6:11.65 6:14.70 6:13.11 6:11.96 7:00.33 6:21.26 6:24.60 6:10.99 6:10.91 0:42.53