I positioned myself with the other guys in about the middle of the start pack. Was feeling real good right away and started off at a good pace. My intention was to do the first few miles at a bit of a slower pace but the ol' race day adrenaline got the best of me. My race goal was to at least finish under 2 hours which I thought I could do. Next I wanted to break a 9 min/mile. Last I wanted a half mary PR which was previously about 1:56:30. I crushed each goal!!! I have been having some good runs lately and working a lot on my speed. More than anything though, I've just tried to remain "mentally" strong and not quit on myself.

So the first 4 or so miles I remained with all my buds. We were together for the "wrong turn" in Carillon Park but after that I started to pull away. At about mile 4 I found a guy that was running at a pace I could just barely stay at. I stayed just behind him for the next seven miles. I don't think he ever even knew I was behind him. The course itself goes mostly along a paved bike path next to the Great Miami River. It's almost completely flat except one or two small uphills. It is a relatively boring course I guess but not too bad. There were a couple bands that never seemed to be playing when I ran by them and also a belly dancer.

I was keeping track of my splits so I knew I was heading for a PR but the only question was whether I'd gone out too fast and would die towards the end. Around mile 9 is where I started to feel it and had to really concentrate to keep my pace. At mile 10 I took my second gel and I also caught up with my old friend Todd who had gone ahead early on in the race. My first gel was at mile 5. Todd and I stayed together for a half mile or so until I forged on ahead. At the aid station just before mile 12 I walked just briefly. I wanted to finish the race without walking, but in hindsight it was a good idea. I only walked for 10-20 seconds and it really refreshed me for the last mile. Todd had caught back up to me and told me he had nothing left but I should really go for it. So I dug deep and put the hammer down and finished with everything I had left. The final quarter mile is a lap around the track at Welcome Stadium. I saw a couple people up ahead that I wanted to pass so I gave it everything I had. I felt like I was about to throw up my lungs but I made the pass and finished gloriously! 1:53:51 is a great time for me and as it turns out, the wrong turn added and addition .25 miles.

Just some notes for my own memory, I developed a side stitch sometime around mile 8-9 which I had a lot of trouble getting rid of. I drank water at every aid station and gatorade at most which may have led to the side stitch. I never peed the whole race and for along time after. I should've drank more water and less gatorade. I should've known better than to drink gatorade and I should just stick to water in future races. I took gels at miles 5 and 10 and one just before the race start. That was probably enough but maybe I should've taken them at miles 4 and 9. The weather was pretty much perfect, probably in the upper 50's at start time and up to about 70 by the end. I suppose it got a bit hot towards the end but nothing major. For the first time that I can really remember in a race, I was passed by very few people. I passed a good amount myself, not a ton, but a good amount. I think it always helps the psyche to pass people.

I pretty much ran a great race and wouldn't change much. I may have preferred to go out a bit slower and hopefully have had more legs at the end, but who knows. Maybe I would've just been that much slower.

The best part of this race was the warm down. I did some light stretching and lots of walking around waiting for all the guys to come in. Then I waited to see if I won the free trip to the Disney Marathon which of course I did not. After the race Pat, Kevin, Wally and I found a shady spot and knocked out a few beers and BS'd about the good ol' days. Ahhhh the good ol' days! It sucks growing up!



This is a really good race, my second time doing it. For the price of $40 you get a half marathon with well stocked aid stations, a technical tshirt, a little overnight bag thingy, and a finisher's medal. The course is a simple out and back which I really don't have a problem with. I would recommend it for anyone, especially a first timer or someone like me looking for a good race on a tight budget.