Martian Half Marathon - Run

I'm thrilled with this run time. Breaking 9min/mile was a stretch goal, but I did it!!!!
I was aiming to pace myself 5/5/5 - 5miles in Z2, 5miles in Z3, 5K in Z4-5. I did great with the 5 miles in Z2 and also good in the 5 miles in Z3, but I didn't really have enough left to push it too much on the last 5K.
But, going back to the beginning - first few miles really seemed to go by quickly. I realized after the first mile I was going out too fast (9:05), so reigned in a bit for miles 2-3. I must have missed the mile 2 marker. Miles 2-3 were at 9:29m/m, very comfortable. I decided to push toward the higher end of Z2 for the next two miles, which were both at 9:18. There was definitely some wind here, but tried to hide behind people when I could.
Mile 6 came along and so I bumped it up to Zone 3. Mile 6 was at 8:40, and then miles 7-8 were 8:27m/m - REALLY FAST, especially considering I stopped to take a gel. I probably took a good 20 seconds. Miles 9 and 10 were kinda tough, I slowed down a little I think, but kept the HR in the same area. Mile 9 was 8:52, mile 10 8:44.
At this point I was supposed to bump it up to Zones 4-5, but I didn't think I had enough gas for that. Plus, I knew from my pace sheet that I was well on track to break 9 min/mile - I think I was 10 seconds ahead at mile 10. So I pushed it a little more to the to of zone 3, maybe into low zone 4, but not much more. I actually slowed down over miles 11 and 12 (8:51 and 9:03). I think mile 12 was the hardest. I probably could have kept going a little faster, but I was pretty tired, and I knew I was in great shape to break 9min/mile. I didn't want to push too hard and risk not hitting that goal if I were to hit a wall or something.
At mile 12, I knew I was in awesome shape, I figured that I could run the last 1.1 miles at 10min/mile or slower and still be fine. But I was able to pick it up this last mile a little. Over miles 11-12 I was getting passed by people, so I tried to just not let too many people pass me. I had enough in me for a little acceleration at the end, and that was it.

It was nice starting near the back of the pack, since for almost the entire race I was rarely passed. Only that last ~2miles was I getting passed.

I think I paced pretty well, but would have liked to have been able to go a little faster at the end. I probably took miles 6-8 too fast, but in general it was a good job of pacing.


Overall: Avg HR 178, Max HR 197
Zone 1: 2m 00s
Zone 2: 43m 44s
Zone 3: 1h 04m 09s
Zone 4: 6m 45s
Zone 5: 0m 42s

Mile 1: 9:05 (Avg HR 166, Max HR 175)
Mile 2-3: 9:29 m/m (Avg HR 173, Max HR 179)
Mile 4: 9:18 (Avg HR 174, Max HR 179)
Mile 5: 9:18 (Avg HR 175, Max HR 180)
Mile 6: 8:40 (Avg HR 180, Max HR 184)
Mile 7-8: 8:27 m/m (Avg HR 180, Max HR 186)
Mile 9: 8:52 (Avg HR 181, Max HR 184)
Mile 10: 8:44 (Avg HR 180, Max HR 185)
Mile 11: 8:51 (Avg HR 182, Max HR 189)
Mile 12: 9:03 (Avg HR 183, Max HR 187)
Mile 13.1: 8:42 m/m (Avg HR 186, Max HR 197)

Time out: 1:00:30
Time back: 56:47

Not oversleep :)
Take the transition from zone2 to zone3 a little slower, not go too fast in those middle miles.

Walked around. Looked for Jean but didn't see her - kinda hard since I'd only seen photos and hadn't met her - so walked back along the path until I saw lisa running with some nut in a bright yellow jacket, a grass skirt, and a green martian.


I dunno. Just keep working at it. I think all the interval runs I've done recently have helped a lot, together with using Chi Running.
I definitely found myself letting my cadence slip a few times, and bringing back the focus to ChiRunning ideas helped.


Had a great time. Afterwards, hung out with the BT crowd, and went to MickeyD's for lunch. Had me a double quarter pounder with cheese and a McChicken sandwich... yumm. I wanted to get an ice cream cone but didn't have room... :( I'll have to have one tonight.
It was awesome meeting and hanging out with all the BT folks. Thanks y'all!!!!