Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

My run started out okay, My "A" goal was 1:45, and I wanted to go out fast and build up a cushion so I could go slower toward the end (up hill). About 2 miles in, I was at 14:50, so I had 1:10 lead on my goal pace. By mile 4 I was at 30 minutes, so I had two minutes in the bag. By this time I started to really feel my legs though, they were starting to feel like cement, I was really pushing to keep up the pace, by mile 5 I had to back off, I was working too hard and I just could not keep it up anymore. When I made it to mile 7 in old town Fredericksburg I took my hammer gel, I think it helped some, but not a whole lot. By this time my legs were killing me, and I figured out why. I've read that it is not a smart idea to get a massage (deep tissue type at least) immediately before a race; well I bought "the stick" yesterday and used it for about 30 minutes on my legs, I went really deep. So I'm thinking this was part of my problem. I think my nutrition and hydration were right, I certainly did not over train, and the only other possibility (I can think of) is under training. Until I can figure it out, I'm sticking with blaming "the stick". Back to the race...

About this time there was a volunteer in the road with a orange flag yelling at everyone "ONLY SIX MILES LEFT, PICK UP THE PACE LADIES, THIS IS A RACE YOU NEED TO PUSH IT, LET'S GO, LET'S GO, START RUNNING” The first thing I thought of was the Movie Mr. Woodcock, he was about the same age as him; it was funny.

Mile 8 was 1:04, I was at exactly 8 min mile pace and I did not hit the hard parts yet, I knew I was in for it, I could not maintain 8 minute miles for 5 more miles, my legs were wrecked, my heart rate was high.

At mile 10 my time was 1:21:30, which means my last two miles I ran at 8:45, and shortly after that I got to hit the wonderful hills the whole way back. I was slow, damn slow.

I saw my buddy Will & his wife Cynthia at mile 12.5 which was about 1:45 into the race, I was dying at this point, I could not even pick up the pace to run fast across the line.

Afterwards I felt horrible, I still do. My head hurts; I feel like I have a fever, my muscles feel like crap, I actually feel worse than I did when I ran the last marathon.


Not use the stick, sleep more before, and get a 15 miler in two to three weeks prior.

I walked to the expo center to get my stuff, stretched for about five minutes. Then I went to get a beer and ate at IHOP with my buddy.


I think it is the stick, but could be wrong, I have been wrong once before so it is bound to happen again.


The Marines always know how to setup an event.