Dog Town Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I had done this race last year and it was a out and back due to some damage of running trails. So I knew what the last 6 miles would be. So the plan was to pace it slow and negative split the second half. The first two miles it was all down hill through Coral Canyon Community. They (the race director) had guided everyone to the sidewalk, but that didn't last long as it was crowded and eventually everyone moved on to the road. At about 3/4 into the first mile I noticed my right shoe feeling loose and sure enough it wass untied. I'm thinking "dajavu" last year race my shoe got untied twice during the beginning of the race! So I pull over, tied my shoe and off I went. At one point on first mile my garmin showed that I was at a 8:55 pace. I needed to put the kabosh on that pace. Mile 1 my pace was 9:43 which was a little fast, but it was ok. Around mile 1/2 my shoe goes untied again!! I stopped again and double knotted the laces. Happy to say my shoe never got untied again (just like last year). I slowed down a little @ mile 2 as I was pacing with a good group of guys. Around mile 2.75 (right before we started on the dirt trails) was our first water station. My thought were a little, but I’ll have a cup of water. I get a cup and notice the group I’m running with all completely stop/walked through the station. I pushed on to the trail and was feeling pretty good now. Miles 3-5 of the run is in a nice canyon and all down hill. I decided to push the pace as I like the down hill and I’m passing a lot of people. At mile 6 we are out of the canyon and it’s a slow incline out to the main road. At the main road there was another aid station, I forgot to take my one and only gel out of my pocket(I like to take my gel with water). Good thing they had some, so I grabbed a power gel double shot latte. This was at mile 8 my last down hill and right before our last hill and I was starting to feel tired. Thinking this was the last hill, I pushed it a little harder than I should have. I got to the top and I knew the rest of the course would be mostly flat. But at 9 miles I started thinking that we were too close to the finish line to be at 9 miles. As I got to the 9 mile aid station, I noticed that instead of heading straight to the finish line, we turn left in the resident area and there is another hill!!! It was there I had my WTF moment! My left calf started to cramp up and good thing I had my one gel left. I don’t know if it helped me or not, but the cramping stopped. The only positive thing I had going for me was I was on my way to a new PR as long as I didn’t give up. Since this section was in a resident area, I just looked and admired the cool houses as well as the nice view of Washington Fields. The last two miles I was hurting bad and I kept telling myself I was almost done; just keep the same pace going. I held my pace to the end (there wasn’t going to be any sprinting) and I was happy with that! After crossing the finish line I check my watch and it show 2:08 which was a new PR by 10 minutes!!

Hydrate better. Check the course, so wouldn't have any surprises during the run.

None. Had a couple cups of gatorade and slice bread. Besides being tired, I felt good after the race.


My weight.


Well run race! Course is fast and scenery is beautiful. Great volunteers and love the finisher medal. They give out running short instead of tech shirts. That didn't work out for the guys, but for the women it looked good.