Regina Police Service Half-Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Peanut Butter Baby! Beat my previous best by 17 minutes! It was a fast course, but I ran fast too. I stopped at every water station for about30 seconds, with the exception of one at about 50 minutes, where I had one gel and one at 16 k where I walked for a minute... I also walked for a minute with my second gel at 1:45. Apart from that no walking.
I kept looking at my watch and surprising myself that my pace was usually about 5:30.
Started out way too fast. about 5 minute pace. I tried keeping up with some really big groups of people and used them as wind breaks...the wind was that bad.

I ran great the first 7k , 2nd 7k I started to fade a bit, but picked it up near the end. Folled a cute pigtailed girl and got in my happy place. Lots of negative thoughts, but I fought them and kept thinking that I've come this far, I may as well keep going.
With about 3 k to go, I told myself I could slow down to 6:30 and still come in at 2:10...but I didn't slow down...I sped up. at the 2 k mark I started picking it up again, 5:20. With one k to go I hit a wall of wind for around 350 metres. I almost stopped! Turned the corner at the Centre of the Arts and thought of John and kicked ass! Psssed 4 people doing a 3:37 pace. I saw the clock at 1:58:30 and thought in the Ironman's words "just give'er!"
I couldn't believe it when I crossed the finish line. The is the fastest I have ever run over this distance.
I hurt a little during the run, but it was not that difficult except the windy parts.
I now know I can go even faster.
Thanks to the Ironman's tutelage.

Maybe not be such a wuss and not wear as much clothes. Baselayer (this prevented nipple chafe! longsleeve shirt and jacket. I was cozy, albeit a little floppy in the wind.
Try to build more speed during the middle of the race.
My shoes are getting a little flat. I think they need a change. Ran with bungies on, no problems.

Smiled a lot. Hugged and highfived a bunch of strangers and all the Ironmen in the race. Everyone was there. A little stretching, not much. Looked for my wonderful first wife. Had the world's worst post race brunch...fat on fat on fat, with some fatty starch thrown in.
Lots of bacon and sausages and ham...of course I had none of that, so I had croissant and crap eggs - from fat chickens I'm guessing and hash browns...urg. I was still 189lbs when I got home...3 lbs less than when I got up in the morning.

Listened to some good speeches and the awards ceremony.


The wind...tough call. It was bad where it was bad - especially on the uphill parts, but I'm sure there was more of it at my back and cross wind that sped me up.
Floppy clothes may have slowed me down a bit. I don't think at this point in my development I could have gone much faster.
More mind games, but I overcame them...I probably could have gone faster if I really pushed.
I was out of breath at the end. I've never been out of breath. I must have been pushing it.


Brunch sucked, but it always does. No medal, just a crappy bag for $45. And volunteers didn't get in to brunch unless they bought a ticket. (I snuck FW in). But it goes to charity....so....
Package came with a poisonous plastic bottle. They had some new bottles on race day and gave those out gratis. Nice touch. Now what do I do with the toxic bottle?
This is my best race ever, so I should be happy.

By the way, last year's RPS yielded a result of 2:39:28