General Discussion Race Reports! » ING Georgia Half-Marathon Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply

ING Georgia Half-Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Atlanta, Georgia
United States
The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
40F / 4C
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 42m 32s
Overall Rank = 557/8569
Age Group = M 18-29
Age Group Rank = 121/778
Pre-race routine:

I woke up at 4:45 to the sound of rain outside. I ate a banana and half a clif bar. I ended up driving down to the venue. Between the race and the recent tornado...driving was an adventure.
Event warmup:

Stay warm. I walked into the CNN center around 6:15 to hang out. I did most of my light stretching in there. I headed to the corral around 6:40. I still had to drop off my clothes at the bag drop. Trying to maneuver was a logistical nightmare. I did a light jog where I could. I entered the corral about 10 minutes prior to the gun and found Zimmer, Ron and Amy.
Run
  • 1h 42m 32s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 07m 50s  min/mile
Comments:

Where to beginning. Looking back on it, I think that was one of the quickest runs I have ever had. I don't remember much of it at all. I think I found the zone and went. I hardly recall looking at my watch except to check my splits.

I had a race strategy for ING. I live near the course so I run and drive these neighborhoods all the time. My plan was to pick it up during miles 5&6, then miles 8-10. I knew these were the real flats or downhills. Otherwise, I was to hold an 8:-8:10 pace hoping to have enough on the final 2 miles (which are inclines).

I went out a bit hard with my first mile under 8 but I was comfortable and my HR was in z2 so I rolled with it. I was able to pick it up during mile 5&6 dropping about 20s on each mile. I popped a GU at the 6 mile mark. When we got into the Highlands I picked up the pace.

Mile 10 was the first time some pain began to set in. At this juncture, I was concerned about blowing up during mile 12. I decided to back off the rest of the inclines and make up the time on the flats. Well the time doesn't really reflect that but I did. I took another half GU before mile 11 and prepared for the final two miles.

People were dropping left and right. I felt fresh after I rounded the stadium and picked it up a bit more. After I made the final turn, I knew I was on the last 1.2 mile homestretch I opened up the pace. You could hear but not see the finish line as you made your way to Centennial Park. I knew I was set on a PR, just wasn't sure by how much.

What would you do differently?:

Pick it up a bit more in the middle. I raced the half mary but I didn't give it 100% the whole time. I think I left about a minute out on the course.

I ran a great race. I was smart at every turn. Since I knew the course, I moved to the inside and tried to cut every corner possible. Other than to go say hi to a friend I never moved from that inside position.

I alternated water and gatorade the whole time on the course.
Post race
Warm down:

Warm-down? How about warm up. It was miserably cold and wet afterwards. I chatted with Kraig, Zimmer and Brett then decided to bolt. Sorry guys, I was cold and live too close to hang out.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Nothing. More long runs? An actual taper? Not riding 50 miles two days before? I was fine.

Event comments:

I thought ING made MAJOR improvements on the race from last year. The aid stations were fully staffed and well positioned. Even with the weather the crowd support was fantastic.

My two complaints are that I think the course was long. Several people measure the course at 13.27. I don't think that is a coincidence. Also the finish line was horrible. We had to snake through Centennial Park. You lost all your speed with the 90 degree turns. Put the finish back on the street.




Last updated: 2008-03-02 12:00 AM
Running
01:42:32 | 13.1 miles | 07m 50s  min/mile
Age Group: 121/778
Overall: 557/8569
Performance: Good
See 3/30/08 blog for Garmin info.
Course: The course is more challenging than most people expected. There are no real hills but there are tons of gradual inclines. Most people looked at the course profile and thought flat...it was anything but flat. It is a great run through the city...you see tons of the neighborhoods.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too easy
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

{postbutton}
2008-03-31 10:57 AM

User image

Champion
5529
500050025
Nashville, TN
Subject: ING Georgia Half-Marathon


2008-03-31 11:02 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Master
2379
2000100100100252525
Alpharetta, GA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Great RR and awesome effort, Andrew!!
2008-03-31 11:19 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Master
1432
100010010010010025
Woodstock
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Nice race! You really aced it, and it sounds like you had a near perfect race. Congrats on the PR!
2008-03-31 11:25 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Champion
5868
50005001001001002525
Urbandale, IA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
That's my mentor.  Good race Andrew.  You said you were ready on Monday, looks like you were right. 
2008-03-31 11:39 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Master
2571
20005002525
Tiger's Den
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon

You didn't just set a new PR. YOU SMASHED IT!! Way to go. You probably did yourself a big favor by not looking at your watch a bunch. Sometimes I think we limit ourselves by monitoring our pace too much.

AWESOME AWESOME JOB. Even for a tarheel.

2008-03-31 11:47 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Master
2479
2000100100100100252525
Atlanta, Georgia
Gold member
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Nice Job! Nothing satisfies like a PR..

Go Heels.


2008-03-31 12:15 PM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Expert
882
500100100100252525
Marietta, GA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon

Great race - sounds like you had a solid plan and executed on it nicely! I agree that finish area sucked, it was hard to see where the end was. Congrats on your PR!

2008-03-31 1:19 PM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Master
2638
200050010025
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Great PR! : )
2008-03-31 1:24 PM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Expert
1117
1000100
Shalimar, FL
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Congrats on a great race!  I ran it last year and skipped this year because of the problems they had with the aid stations.  Glad to hear that they did a better job with that.
2008-04-01 11:56 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Veteran
124
100
MA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
You are such a stud.  Congrats, speedy!
2008-04-01 12:04 PM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Veteran
255
1001002525
Atlanta, GA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon

"I think that was one of the quickest runs I have ever had. I don't remember much of it at all. I think I found the zone and went. I hardly recall looking at my watch except to check my splits."

I felt the same way! That's so funny because i don't remember what I was thinking about or what songs I heard on my (cheating) Ipod. I had no clue what pace I was running or what time I was on track for until the half way point.  Those usually turn out to be really good runs! As in your case...congrats on a PR! Nice work. And a 50 mile ride 2 days before that's pretty crazy in a what the hell were you thinking but great job sorta way



2008-04-01 12:07 PM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Master
1661
10005001002525
Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Nice run.  Congrats!
2008-04-02 9:47 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Veteran
321
100100100
Georgia
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon

Congratulations!

In regards to your comments that the race was long, I totally agree - my Garmin said 13.30. I zigzagged a bit, but not that much! 

2008-04-02 10:55 AM
in reply to: #1304723

User image

Extreme Veteran
549
50025
Marietta, GA
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Sweet race!!

Congrats on the PR!

I officially reached normal warm body temperature this morning after that race. Holy cr@p it was cold!

2008-04-04 8:26 AM
in reply to: #1304723

Champion
9430
50002000200010010010010025
No excuses!
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
Great job Andrew and congrats on the PR!
2008-04-04 9:36 AM
in reply to: #1304894

User image

Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: ING Georgia Half-Marathon
SuzanneS - 2008-03-31 12:39 PM

You didn't just set a new PR. YOU SMASHED IT!! Way to go. You probably did yourself a big favor by not looking at your watch a bunch. Sometimes I think we limit ourselves by monitoring our pace too much.

I will second these comments.


General Discussion-> Race Reports!
{postbutton}
General Discussion Race Reports! » ING Georgia Half-Marathon Rss Feed