Lincoln National Guard Marathon & Half-Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Lisa and I started together and ran the first mile or so together. We ran nicely along, and the crowd was such that one couldn't really pass for awile anyway. It was fun going together, but we each were planning on running our own races, so going down 16th Street, I decided I needed to speed up, and took off. (she tells me that is when her race started too). Still, it was hard to just stroll along down 16th street, but it was crowded, so I looked around. The old houses looked cool and the running was effortless.

Turning up South Street, I climbed that hill without any difficulty. My only concern was a brief question about my HR as it seemed higher, but after all, it was a race and this was a long hill. I had no fatigue and felt I could have zipped even faster. Wise not to, though.

I was looking forward to Sheridan where I could have flown down the long flat winding street. Waived to some sisters (nuns) and found a rabbit of an old guy and a younger heavy gal who were keeping a nice pace. Not sure why, but I always like to get someone who doesn't look like they can go fast and then they do and kick my buhookie.

Nice and cool, and up in the soggy grass a few times to get around people on Sheridan. Really, I was passing all, as were my two rabbits, and not avoiding puddles and such.

Light rain this whole time.

Down 48th quickly - got a drink and was flying on the downhill. I decided not to let my legs stop me and to use the gravity. Wide road, and so I could pass a lot of folks, which I did.

I really was passing people a LOT until mile 7-8 or so. It felt so easy, and I didn't want to fall prey to thinking it was too easy, and then dying at the end.

Down Hywy #2 the trail was narrow. That killed me as I couldn't pass and I was forced to go at the group pace, particularly after mile 8 or so (pace dropped to 09'32"). The slower pace was good for me, I am sure, but it seemed to tire me out more. I don't know why, since this was a relatively fast pace for training, and I was on mile 8 or so.

Ran with a couple guys from Omaha and was asked about my GPS. He'd left his off as the rain and such ruined his signal.

Turning on 20th Street, I saw a guy pushing his old dad or someone in a chair, and I was inspired. This running is EASY compared to that. The pace slowed on that long uphill.

The hill didn't bother me much as I just kep my pace, and I enjoyed the view of the country club and old houses.

By the time I hit Harrison Street, I wanted to go faster. Seemed I could get to the low 2 hours, and I wanted to, so I picked it up a bit down the street, and even more so on 10th, which was where it started to get tough. Still, I passed a lot of people on 10th street. My pace really increased at the end - last 3 miles.

By the last mile or so, I was going fast and not realizing it as I wanted to go faster and couldn't. I just couldn't really push faster safely in that crowd on uneven terrain, and I think my body/legs were near their limit as I was trying to go faster and just didn't feel like I was (although it was a 08'08" pace, so maybe I just physically couldn't).

At the finish line I pushed fast and the bricks were tough, but I just sort of sprinted to the end. Felt great.

Okay, so I saw a guy named Tom afterwards while waiting for my t-shirt and could hardly talk with him.

Start up front more so I am not having to pass so many and not pass when I had the energy to. Just train and I'm sure I can go faster the whole way!

Walked around, found a bathroom I'd wanted to visit for two hours, and ate some fruit. Then I waited for Lisa, but missed her, I guess. Wish I'd have seen her cross as she finished strong too.


The crowd.


Really a great race, and known to be. They tried to limit to 5,000 racers, but got so many complaints they had to open up 200 more slots. Only criticism is that maybe its getting too big for the paths.