Notes
Weather: Perfect weather with temps in the low 40s and very little wind.
My plan was to go out at about 5:30 pace or slightly under for the first 10K and then drop the hammer on the 2nd half. I knew I was ready to run fast and a new half-marathon PB.
The first few miles felt pretty easy. Went through the mile right at 5:30 pace. For some reason the 2nd mile split was slower even though I felt like I was running the same pace/effort. I hit 5K in 17:11, a little slower than I had planned (goal was around 17:00-17:05). Mile 4 was a gradual uphill for about 3/4 of a mile. I stayed relax running right about 5:30 pace. Miles 5 and 6 are slightly downhill and I ran 5:25 and 5:27 pace before hitting the 10K split in 34:23. My 2nd 5K split (17:12 from 5K-10K) was just about the same as the first. I was a bit surprised because I felt like I ran the 2nd 5K much faster than the first.
After 10K I was still feeling really good running around 5:24-5:27 for the next couple miles. I was quickly catching and passing runners over the 4 mile stretch from miles 6-10. I crossed 10 miles in just under 55 minutes (54:56). Mile 10 split was a 5:22 (Strava had me at 5:19), my fastest split of the race. I was stoked because it was exactly where I wanted to be and I was still feeling very good. At this point, I thought to myself that all I had to do was at least hold 5:30 pace for the last 5K. However, I didn't want to settle for 5:30 pace, so I tried to keep the hammer down. I ran 5:24, 5:29, and 5:24 for the last 3 miles and passed about 7 runners in the process. At the 13 mile mark, just at the base of the short steep hill before the finish, I looked at my watch and saw 1:11:10. I knew at this point that I would break 1:12. I pushed hard over the last 100m and caught/passed Brianne Nelson with about 50m before the finish.
New Half-Marathon PB: 1:11:49 (previous was 1:13:09).
Official Split and Finish Time
5 KM: 17:11
10 KM: 34:23
10 MI: 54:56
PACE: 5:29
CHIP TIME: 1:11:49
CLOCK TIME: 1:11:52