The Parkway Half-Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I started out in the 9min/mile pace group, but that felt too slow. I passed people for the next 1-2 miles and finally settled into a comfortable pace. My shins felt 'weird' for about the first 4 miles, but then that went away. I flew down a short little downhill and both my hammergels went flying out of the pockets of my tri-top so I didn't take a gel until mile 10. I got a side stitch from mile 5-6.5ish and I felt that my pace slowed considerably. I didn't walk though and just toughed it out. I got to the turnaround and it felt nice to be halfway done. I kept on cruising and took water at all the aid stations. It felt very hot to me and I would dump some water on my head and one down my shirt. I had the tri-top unzipped and the bottom pulled up into a sort of man bra, and it seemed to help a little with the heat ( i'm from washington give me a break, its still raining up here). At 10 miles I took a gel, carbo-boom? and a girl ran up next to me and said hi. We chatted for a little and then I said 'only 5k left. do you have anything left in the tank?' she said a little and I took off and ran really hard until the finish. I couldn't believe it when I saw the clock at 1:41 and change. I almost started crying after I crossed the finish line. I hobbled over to get my finishers medal and tried to flush the lactic acid out of my legs. I had a new PR in the 1/2 marathon.

nothing

wandered around the finish line and tried to get the lactic acid out of my legs. took an 8 minute ice bath back at the hotel. got a massage a couple of hours later.


adapting to the heat. I haven't run outside in short sleeves yet this year. more long distance runs. some speed work. no side stitch.


nice flat course, some shade, aid stations about every mile and some spectators at the aid stations and intersecting roads/trails.

Amazing what a couple months of base training and no hills can do for you. Happy with my performance and very shocked at my time. I didn't train specifically for this. I was supposed to run it with a friend who wanted to try and go under 2:00 but she couldn't find the time to train with going to school and work.