Notes
My plan was to stay around 7:40 for the first 6 miles and then maybe drop to 7:35 for 3 miles and then 7:30 on the straight away back to the city center.
I really took this race as one mile at a time. Almost always keeping the watch on lap pace and trying to hit the target for the mile I was on. As I would get within .1 mile of the mile post, I sometimes would adjust the pace to the mile marker depending on whether I was too fast or slow.
It was crowded the first mile, but I got out to the pace I wanted. Staying near 7:40 felt good. Took my first drink on the 2nd water stop on mile 4, but didn't lose any time. After about 6 miles, got on the straight away towards Churchill Downs and felt pretty good there.
The mile through Churchill Downs was the only slower one. It measured long and had a couple uphill tunnels.
After I got on the long straight away to head back to the city, I got in a real nice rhythm around 7:30 and was able to finish strong. Hard run at the end to get under 1:39. Sneaking between 2 runners with 10 feet to go to pass them.
Then my usual getting sick for about 15 seconds.
First half marathon in the Saucony Fast Twitches. They are very light.
Last 5K was 22:47, which would have been a PR two months ago.