National Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Only saw two mile markers the whole way.
Started with three women who, like me, were right on the heels of two midshipman with the 1:50 pace balloons. Around mile 2 I lost them in front of Union Station; I think I may have run up in front of them. Picked up Paddy at 7th Street and ran last 9.5 miles with him.
Felt good at the beginning even though I was too fast. Felt fine up the hills on first half and really started to work hard to maintain around mile 11.

Cheat up into corral 3. I wore gloves which was a good decision and a headband. Perhaps should have brought a gel with me -- I didn't find any on the course. Once, around mile 9, I took a cup of Powerade. I'm not sure the sugars/electrolytes helped, but the pyschic boost mattered. I barely walked the aid station and that is good to know...I probably only walked six paces and was right back up to speed.

mild stretching; saw Aaron G., Katie S. and Aaron's friend Jeff. Ate banana and apple, left immediately for car and a dry shirt.


crowded. On the whole, I ran ahead of my goal time and ahead of the pace that I thought that I'd be able to hold. That is about as good as it gets. I did start to struggle with the pace during the last 2-3 miles, but fortunately for the 5-6 hour races, I didn't struggle mentally. I knew what I needed and kept tapping out a rhythm.


The race would get a higher rating if I enjoyed running more. Cluster trying to get into parking lots; no gels on coarse despite the promise of them; immediately after the finish line there was a huge mash up of people with no where to go. Overall, they did about as well as anyone could do with thousands of people.