Parkway Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Race results formal time is in. I took the chip time not the gun time. I figure at my speed, I need every second I can get...

I start off by walking across the chip timing mat and staying off to the side to let everyone pass me. Once it was mostly clear I start jogging, and then oh yeah, remember to start my watch. First two miles were fast for me (around 13-14 min I think) Mile 3-6, just tried to keep moving, have decent turnover and keep effort level medium. (Breathe in on 3 beats, out on 2.) I run MOST of this section to the 1/2 way point with a few very short walk breaks. Maintaining around 14-15 min miles through here. (Drank sports drink in between aid stations, gel w/ water AT aid stations. I walked through all aid stations.) I walked ALL uphill sections. They were all itty-bitty hilly parts - but I knew I still had a long way to go. Nutrition strategy was good, and I felt good. Even had some fairly long periods of time where I actually felt like a runner. I was only with other people at the very beginning - as usual, everyone else runs off and I have a race where it's just me and the road. This race was split between a runners course and a walkers course, I signed up for the runners course so I was very close to the very end of the pack. I think there was about 5-6 people behind me. Once I got into my groove no one passed me, except a woman who I THINK started off late as she totally blew by me at about mile 7.

Hit the turn-around and headed back. VERY slightly uphill on the way back which I tried to pretend it wasn't, as I was getting tired. Mile 9 on was mentally tough. Nutrition strategy on 2nd half changed to Enervit at aid stations with water (this stuff is liquid fuel and is AWESOME) Gatorade with Endurolytes between aid stations. Worked well, and I did not get stomach cramps or feel sick. Enervit is $$ so I will save it for racing situations, but really nice to know it works for me when I am putting out the effort.

It was really windy in parts - had some very good mental visualization going on that the wind was carrying me along (behind me) or that I was like a bird and it was lifting me up (headwind) - other image I found really useful was that I was fraying into the wind and it was making me lighter and lighter. Ended up feeling like the wind was my friend - and was there to help me instead of there to make me miserable. When the wind wasn't blowing it got pretty hot - which is hard for me - so then I tried to imagine that the heat was making me stronger. VERY good at the mental game during this race.

Mile 12 and 13 were on guts. Just tried to run as far as I could and then walk when I just had to. I know 2nd half I was definitely slower overall than the 1st half. Somewhere in here though I actually passed someone! YEAH!

Mile 13 lasted FOREVER but finally there was the finish line. I tried to have some sort of kick - but I just couldn't go any faster - I really DID gauge my effort level really well. I had NOTHING left at the end of this race. The clock time rolled over on 3:20 just as I went under it.

Nothing during the race - this race was a perfect effort for me.

I would have a 3 hour training run before though. I didn't get that in. My longest run was 2.5 hours and I think that's what made that last 2 miles SO hard.

Cross chip mat. STOP. Volunteer asks if I'm all right - yes, I am, just don't want to move. Walk very slowly over to fence, grab onto it so I don't fall over, volunteer removes chip.

Shuffle over to post race goodies - grab water and subway sandwich. Guzzle about 1/4 the bottle, then feel slightly ill - so I slowly walk around the after race stuff and let stomach settle a bit. Check out the massage area but of course, they are already full (slow racers NEVER get the massages...) slowly wander back over somewhere else and finally sit down on the ground. Slowly. I was hungry by this point, so I eat the sandwich mmm... then have stomach cramps for a minute - so I laid there on my back and just breathed through them til they went away. Stomach was obviously still in the race mode and needed a few minutes to adjust to the "starving for food" mode.

Sat for a while and stretched out. Got slowly up and trekked back to my car, which had somehow removed itself to Outer Mongolia in the time I was gone. I swear, it was SO FAR AWAY! Some lady with an injured foot walks by me like I was standing still (well, I practically was) and we talk for a minute about the race.

Get in car - take off shoes, put on sandals - ahh.... have an internal laugh at some guy who is obviously looking for his car in the WRONG PLACE, then drive home.


Too much weight - but I'm faster than I was!

Avg mile time about 10 seconds FASTER than a 5k I ran in Feb. So VERY VERY happy.


Nice race - and getting a tech shirt instead of a cotton T-shirt ROCKS.