Gulf Beach Half Marathon - Run

This was my first run-only race since April. Coming off a summer of Ironman training, I really had no idea where my HM fitness was. I knew I was not in PR shape (1:30). With a marathon in three weeks and a BQ time of 3:25, I was hoping to run this HM under 1:35 because that would tell me a 3:20 marathon was doable. So I set out to try to run a steady 7:15 pace and pick it up the last few miles if I could.

I felt good for the first 4-5 miles. The effort was sustainable, but I also knew I hadn't run any consistent HM miles in training so I was trying to stay in control. A couple of miles were a little fast, but nothing too crazy. I hit the turnaround at mile 6.5 feeling good. I started to get tired right on schedule around mile 8. I tried to pick up the effort but I could not. I was feeling good, but I just could not dial up the effort to that next gear, and my pace started to slip a little the last few miles. I was tired but I was not pushing myself into the suffer zone like I know I can. I was able to pick up the effort a little bit in the last mile, mostly to lose the guy I had been leap frogging the entire race (I beat him by 30 seconds). I was happy when I first saw the finish clock and it was at 1:33. I was tired and sore when I finished, but I actually felt pretty good, and very happy to know that a BQ marathon is very much in my wheelhouse.

Nothing, really. I just felt very rusty, but only racing will get rid of that. I am looking forward to some fast running in training to get my running legs back. All things considered, this was a pretty good race for me, being just three minutes off my PR from earlier this year when I was in peak running shape. I'll take the 1:33. Last year at this time I ran a 1:37, then a 3:26 marathon.

I sat on my butt and talked to some fellow racers, then went out for breakfast with DW and a friend who did the race. I ran 5 more miles later in the day to give me 19 for the day, because marathon training.


Rustiness, Ironman training, warm temperatures.


A Shoreline Sharks race, and those are always well run and well organized. It's a race for runners. Not a huge party atmosphere nor a lot going on after the race. Show up, race, go home with a shirt and medal. I always do one or two of their races every year and am always satisfied.