Lehigh Valley 1/2 Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

This 1/2 marathon like some other 1/2 marys have pace groups. So i put myself in the 1:50 group. I started the race in front of the 1:50 group, hoping i could stay in front of the group, if not then i would hope just to finish with them. 1st few miles i was doing well i was keeping a 8:09 pace, i mean mile 2, 3 and 4 were all 8:09s. Mile 5 and 6 were a little slower (8:16 & 8:11). On the way to mile 7 two girls asked if i was keeping my 1:50 pace, i said "I am a little ahead of the group, but i make no promises" so i could hear them talking saying they wanted to stay with me. I don't know if this got my ego all pumped up but i ended up putting in a 7:49 mile. And i have no business putting in a 7:49 mile. Now we were in the park, the park is so nice to run in, but i don't like running on the trail it seems my foot slips from under me and i feel like i run slower. Mile 8 was 8:31, mile 9, 8:00. I knew i had to pick my pace up, so mile 10 (semi-hilly) 8:57, where did that 8:57 come from?? Finally got my pace back at mile 11 with a 8:00. Then it went back down to a 9:00 at mile 12, not really sure why, i didn't feel like i slowed down at all. The last mile i knew i had to pick up the pace so i could get under 1:50. I started to pick up the pace i entered the track made the last turn, saw the race clock and knew i had it. I got my PR 1:48:46!! Oh yeah my last mile .1 was 8:57

I knew i wanted to PR the race, i didn't put any pressure on myself, i just wanted to run as steady as i could and that is exactly what i did. Hooray for me!!!!! Thanks to my training partner Kevin for pushing my on those Thurs and Sat runs.


Looking back on it now, i guess i could have push a little harder. I did what i wanted to do, so really nothing.

hung out with my friends/teammates


me


Great Great race. If anyone lives within 2 hours of this race you should do it. It's a great race, and a great way to build a solid running base before the tri season starts.