National Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

The race started right on time, and I had pretty good positioning within the starting pack (no corrals assigned). I stayed on the outside in case I wanted to dodge people, but it wasn't that bad (at the Philly Distance Run I spent at least the first 1.5 miles dodging people to get into the right position). The first two miles were a steady downhill, which was a bit of a treat to start the race off. I kept looking at my Garmin to make sure I stayed between 8:20 and 8/mile, but I was going a bit fast at some points and needed to put the brakes on. I don't think I accomplished this very well, which would come back to haunt me later on.

The race course was awesome! The first five-six miles are down Constitution Ave., so right in front of Congress, National Archives, etc. I was feeling really good through mile 5-6, but I was getting nervous about keeping the pace throughout the race. My heart rate went from 164 - 178, which was where I wanted to be. From mile 4 on, my average HR stayed in the 180's, which was higher than I wanted it. I knew I was in a bit of trouble then. I didn't think I went out that fast according to the pace I was doing, but looking back I think I overestimated my anticipated pace.

As has been discussed before, the half marathon is run at about lactate threshold, so it's quite a balancing act to maintain the proper pace. I tried to keep my head up and remember that it's really not about the time I ended up with (because at this point I was doubting I'd make my goal), but that it's about the effort I put into it. If I could cross the finish line knowing that I left everything on the race course, then I should be satisfied with the performance. (and then I can go back and look at my training and figure out what was going on). After all, the purpose of this race was to do a "status check" to figure out where I was for the Flying Pig Marathon, so effort was most important.

Miles 4-8 were a transition out of the Capital District to DC neighborhoods. I wanted to go on cruise control for the middle miles and maintain my HR around 175 for those, then make a push at mile 10 until the finish. My HR was actually about 185, which I guess I accepted. It was corresponding with an 8:10-8:20 pace (or so my Garmin said), so I though I'd be ok. At this point, I was thinking, just do what I want to do and if I blow up, I blow up. Deal with it later on.

There were rolling hills from mile 8 on. The half marathoners and full marathoners were together until just before mile 10, so we split up there. I was struggling about then. I did gels at mile 5, 9 and 11, which I had planned on before. (just a side note - there was road kill in the middle of the road at mile 10.5. Why was that there?? I know the police had seen it because they had closed the road down...why couldn't someone get rid of that???) I took it mile by mile and tried to keep my head up and focused ahead, trying to smile and stay positive. From the limited racing I've done, I find that the little things like just looking ahead and smiling help me feel tremendously better, so when I felt a little run-down, I'd turn the volume up on my iPod and smile at a volunteer.

We got back onto East Capital St. and I knew the end was near. My legs felt like they were full of lactic acid, so the timing was great! At this point, I knew my goal time out of reach, so I concentrated on just giving it everything I had. I didn't try to out run anyone at the finish line, because truthfully, I was spent and just wanted to be done. I don't think I ever really blew up, but I certainly slowed down. It could be a function of the hills, but I think it was more about the pacing.

I'm one of those people who run with an iPod...I know, that's a whole other discussion. But, music helps me a lot to stay focused and get psyched up. For this race, the playlist included: Dream On (Aerosmith), Move Along (All American Rejects); Bring the Funk and So High So Low (Ben Harper), Song 2 (Blur), The Distance (Cake), Where the River Flows (Collective Soul), Gotta Get Through This (Daniel Bedingfield), Song 6 & Give Me Life (Daniel Powter), Not Ready to Make Nice (Dixie Chicks), I'm Shipping Up to Boston (Dropkick Murphy's), Lose Yourself (Eminiem), Inside Out (Eve 6), How to Save a Life (The Fray), Sitting, Wishing, Waiting & Upside Down (Jack Johnson), Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer), Touch the Sky (Kanye West), Mrs. Brightside (The Killers), King Without a Crown (Matisyahu), I Need to Wake Up & Pieces of My Heart (Melissa Etheridge), Come Out And Play (The Offspring), Here It Goes Again (Ok Go), Superman's Dead (Our Lady Peace), Steady as She Goes (The Raconteurs), Higher Ground (RHCP), No Easy Way Out (Robert Tepper), Remedy (Seether), Zero (Smashing Pumpkins), Unglued (STP), No Easy Way Out (Survivor), Pain (Three Days Grace), Desire (U2), Maybe Tonght, Maybe Tomorrow (Wideawake)

I will seed myself further back to start the race, because I went out too fast and think that might help slow me down to start off with.

I walked around, grabbed a banana, bagel and water. I wanted to get home quick to continue with the rest of the day. Nothing too exciting!


Lack of miles, core training, extra 20 pounds. This is serious now...I can't get away with youth and inexperience anymore. I've reached the end of the beginner's curve and now it's time to get serious about improving my training.


The only thing I would improve is to make the mile markers more obvious. I don't think this issue is specific to the National Half Marathon. I missed two of them, and I was looking for them. I think signs, neon lights, etc. should mark miles. I don't understand why it isn't possible to make the markets more obvious. I'm definately mentioning it on a post-race survey. The markers they had were white and looked like a traffic sign, so they were easy to miss.