Bay State Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Lowell, Massachusetts
United States
Bay State Marathon
45F / 7C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 2h 20m 14s
Overall Rank = 850/946
Age Group = F3039
Age Group Rank = 151/178
Pre-race routine:

Hopped onto OnTheRun's car, got coffe and bagel from Dunkin's Donuts. Got to race site to pick up packet.
Event warmup:

Stayed in the Arena to keep warm
Walked out to the street toward start line and handed out packets with personal items to be sent to course end.
Run
  • 2h 20m 14s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 42s  min/mile
Comments:

Surprised myself that I could run the whole course. The 1/2 and full started at the same time and ran together for the first 3 miles. However, the 1/2 mary didn't get to cross the starting race mat. I started my timer a few seconds after I saw the mat at the full mary side. Ran with TAGP and tri_again. Music I ran with were mostly Mozart violin concerti and sonatas for piano and violin, a couple of Bach's and a couple of Schubert's.

Mile 2: saw OnTheRun 20 yards ahead of us. Ran over to him and we ran together a bit
Mile 3: full and 1/2 mary splitted. 1/2 mary turns onto Rouke bridge across the Merrimack. Was nervous running on that bridge as I am afraid of height. Looking to the ground and saw holes on the bridge and felt I was going to fall into the river.
Mile 4-5: the run course of the Lowell Tri I did in July. The sun shone directly on us and began to feel warm. Took off my longsleeves. Both tri_again and I were telling TAGP about the Lowell tri in July and pointing out the TA, the swim etc.
Mile 6-8: kept chatting on and off with tri_again and TAGP
Mile 7: realized I dropped my gel packet.
Mile 9: Knees began to sore. SI joint held up pretty well, just a bit of tightness. Guess the new running shoes are working well. tri_again got a called of nature. TAGP and I kept running but slowed down our paces.
~ Mile 10: tri_again caught up with us and said she was going to take off. I couldn't keep up with her. By that time it was my PR for longest distance I ever ran. Quads were very tired. I was ready to do some walking. TAGP pointed out that there were only a 5k to finish and we should be able to do it.
Mile 11: TAGP found a fanny pack type of thing on the course, apparently someone dropped it. There were 2 packets of Gu inside. I felt my energy level going down since I lost my own gel. I ate the gel she found.
Mile 12: SI join acting up. But I wasn't allowing myself to walk with only ~1 mile to go. Good timing with my nusic, too. By this time the 1812 overture was on. Perfect for a strong finish :)
Mile 13: turned into finish, ran around the baseball field and DONE!!

What would you do differently?:

Be more prepared and do a few 10 milers before a 1/2 mary
Post race
Warm down:

Race ends at Le Lacheur stadium. Got food, hung around with tri_again, and watched for other finishers. Saw immyfish, who qualified for Boston, in some 3:06. Stretched out legs and waited for OnTheRun.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Not well prepared

Event comments:

First half mary. Happy tht I didn't have to walk.

Official time = 2:20:14
My watch = 2:18:57

Also didn't like the fact that the 1/2 mary racers didn't get to cross the starting mat.




Last updated: 2006-10-01 12:00 AM
Running
02:20:14 | 13.1 miles | 10m 42s  min/mile
Age Group: 151/178
Overall: 850/946
Performance: Average
9:46(150), 9:44(150), 10:26(152), 10:32(153), 10:23(154), 10:14(152), 10:13(156), 10:15(157), 11:03 (150), 11:07 (151), 11:12 (151), 11:23 (150), 11:40 (159) -1.1 mile (1:37:07 1/2 way)
Course: From Tsongas Arena to Morrissette Blvd, then Middlesex St along the Merrimack River. Splitted from the full mary at ~mile 3 and turned onto Rourke Bridge then to Rte 113 along Merrimack river. Then over Aiken Bridge back to the opposite side of the river, and repeat the loop around the river. Course ended at Le Lacheur stadium.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Too much
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4