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New Prague Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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New Prague, MN, Minnesota
United States
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 47m 38s
Overall Rank = 248/751
Age Group = 40-45
Age Group Rank = 39/74
Pre-race routine:

Woke up super early (4am) and could not get back to sleep, so checked the weather to see what the temp was supposed to be and dressed accordingly: UnderArmor vest, LS wicking shirt, shorts. Had cream cheese in a tortilla. Picked up 4 gels (PowerBar vanilla) at Cub, and my wife dropped me off at Jason's. I couldn't remember the house number, so just relied on memory, and crossed my fingers that I wasn't waking up a complete stranger at 6:30 in the morning.

Talked triathlons all the way down to New Prague. Jason asked me about pacing (this was his first half).
Event warmup:

Nada. Got Jason all situated with race number, chip attachment, warm-up drop-off.

Saw Bryan and Roger. Only talked briefly.
Run
  • 1h 47m 38s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 08m 13s  min/mile
Comments:

Set-up at the 8:00 min/mi pace area...before I knew it the gun went off. Caught me off guard. I hit the LAP button on the Garmin instead of the start button. Thank goodness I decided to wear the Timex as a backup. Hit the start button on that watch.

Wasn't shooting for a PR (1:47:18). I had just done a 3900 yd swim on Thursday, and had a 40 mile bike commute the day before. I WAS NOT going to deviate from my HIM training plan, so decided this would be a training run.

Relied on the Garmin to maintain pace. Shooting for sub 8:10 pace and tried to maintain that pace up hills. That hurt a little. Gel at mile 5. Maintained pace until about mile 8, and started to lag a bit in the 8:27 min/mile pace. Talked to Bill, the spin instructor from the Y for a couple hundred yards (he's doing the Liberty Half as well).

Felt much better at mile 9. Had a gel. Checked my pace, and started creeping back up to the 8:15 range. Mile 10 was good. Overall pace at mile 10 - 8:19. At mile 11, wind to our backs. Was pacing with a gal since mile 10. She started to pick it up, so I followed. Felt great at mile 12. Started to pick it up at mile 12.5. Gal in front of me really picked it up and I followed. Funny...at the end of the race, Jason was cheering me on (he finished in 1:37...oh to be young again) and wanted me to race the gal in front of me. She motivated me to finish strong for the last 3 miles. I wasn't about to sprint past her and ruin her photo shoot. :):) We both had a really great end of race pace (8:01 pace for last 5K!!!).
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Great training run. No PR goal, and none expected, but if I had known how close I was (20 seconds off), I would have gone for it!
Post race
Warm down:

Talked with Jason. He blew up at mile 10 (went out too fast at the start). I can't imagine what kind of time he would have had if he had paced himself. Got some orange slices and chocolate ice cream. Went back and looked for Bryan and Roger. Jason and I needed to take off. Jason's daughters had soccer games at 11. My son had a game at 12.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

No taper. HIM training (3900 yd swim on Thursday, 40 mile bike on Friday). Nutrition was great, though. Gel at 5 and 9 was PERFECT!!!

Event comments:

Good monitored square course. No traffic to worry about. Rolling hills were tough for me. Could have had more water stops.




Last updated: 2008-04-13 12:00 AM
Running
01:47:38 | 13.1 miles | 08m 13s  min/mile
Age Group: 39/74
Overall: 248/751
Performance: Good
10 mile split (1:23:07, 8:19 pace) Last 5K (24:52, 8:01 pace!!!)
Course: Rolling hills through farm country.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? No
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2008-05-12 1:56 PM

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Pro
4541
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A farming town in MN
Subject: New Prague Half Marathon


2008-05-13 6:05 AM
in reply to: #1397122

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Elite
3687
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Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon
Great job out there Sal.  Next time we'll get a chance to talk a little more.  I didn't realize how close you were to a PR.  Those hills made you work for everything out there. 
2008-05-13 6:08 AM
in reply to: #1397122

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Veteran
230
10010025
Minnesota
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon
You were strong the whole time Sal! Way to go. I can't believe your last 5K was so fast!! All that running is paying off. Congratulations. I would have just ran past that woman. What a kind heart you have.
2008-05-13 7:08 AM
in reply to: #1397122

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Pro
4507
20002000500
Simpsonville, SC
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon
Wow. 20 seconds off PR without even trying! You are my hero! You are gonna rock your HIM.
2008-05-13 7:25 AM
in reply to: #1397122

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Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon

1/2 Marys are fun and great long training runs for longer tris.

Congrats!

2008-05-13 9:53 AM
in reply to: #1397122

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Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon
Darn, that close to a PR on a TRAINING RACE??? You are the MAN!


2008-05-13 9:57 AM
in reply to: #1397122

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Master
2808
2000500100100100
, Minnesota
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon
Way to go! I didn't realize you'd run this race. You should be all set for the HIM run.

2008-05-14 5:33 PM
in reply to: #1397122

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Expert
1157
10001002525
Tremonton, Utah
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon

MAN, I miss the New Prague Course!

My HIM PR was set on that course.  I love that course a lot ---  Even the hills (I know that coming from me that's saying something!!)

Great job on the almost PR.  Shoulda pushed just a touch harder, but it's more important to stick to plan --

Keep it up -- CONGRATS on a great race!

 

2008-05-15 5:49 PM
in reply to: #1397122

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Champion
7546
5000200050025
Santa Cruz, California
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon

good job SAL! and now it is my turn to tell you to stop being so nice out there on the course (you know not passing girls up at the finish...all so you will not mess up her finishing picture)...you are making all of us look bad! CONGRATS ON A GREAT RACE! KIU~

2008-05-16 2:57 PM
in reply to: #1397122

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Pro
4675
20002000500100252525
Wisconsin near the Twin Cities metro
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon
Nice job!!!!!!!!
2008-05-17 8:20 PM
in reply to: #1398527

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Champion
23360
5000500050005000200010001001001002525
Taser-World
Subject: RE: New Prague Half Marathon

Congratulations!

20 sec from a PR "without even trying" is awesome! All your hard-work and training is paying off.

Great job!


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