Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I did not feel great with my running leading up to this race, so I was shooting for around a 2:10 or so. At the start I made my mind up to pace my self with the 2 hour pacers and stay with them for at least 5-6 miles and then see where I am. The first few miles went as planned just plugging along. Around mile 5 I got slightly ahead of the pacers and when I say slightly I could hear them talking. I was still feeeling good and just kept the pace I was at and my new plan was to not let them pass me. Around this same time the leaders where flying by (it was an out and back course) and WOW, those men from Kenya can run. Things remained un-changed till around 9/10. The 2 hour grouped passed me and I tried to stay with them but was having a hard time. I knew I could beat my goal time and thought for a while maybe a PR, but once the group passed me it was just hang on. I held in there and encouraged folks I passed who where stopping to walk. I was able to still finish close enough to the 2 hour group to finish in 2 hours just a few seconds over.

Push a little more on the last 2 miles. I would like to PR again someday.

Got some water and went back to watch some friends finish.


My gut??


Good race, nice shirt and a very nice course. Not a lot of crowd support since it is an old closed road. The only downside is there was not much food at the end, some very small bananas and a small part of a sub. I stopped at Popeyes on the way home.