We started off pretty quickly after the timing mat...about 2 minutes after the cowbells, and I was able to start getting into a rhythm after about 1 mile...everyone was zigzagging around, I tried to stay in a straight line as much as possible and not waste too much energy. I never knew that people going 8/mile could talk so much!!! For the most part, I just tried to get into my zone and looked down every once in awhile at my pace to make sure I wasn't going too fast. It was very much downhill during the part out of the park and somehow felt downhill coming back into the park which doesn't make ANY sense. I took a gu with water at about 35 minutes which was fine, my stomach felt good and I wasn't thirsty... and I wanted to do water again at about 60 min but didn't see a water stop til past 70 min...I should have taken my second gu but didn't do it for some stupid reason....I think I took water there. I thought I'd wait another 10 minutes, but then there wasn't anything all the way until mile 11!!! Which was too long, because my stomach started cramping after I took the gu...which I think I needed. In retrospect, I think my stomach was mildly cramping starting somewhere around mile 7 or 8 all the way til the end. I walked a little after the gu and then just sucked it up and ran the last two miles somewhat in autopilot with the cramping going away immediately after I had water at the end of the race. Duh. All that being said, I was really happy with my time as my goal was to break 1:50 and I had given myself a little room for possible fatigue in the last 3 miles. And I didn't feel any hip/glute or heel pains for the entire 13.32 miles :) Just achy feet and a small blister noticed after getting home.

Plan my nutrition better. I tried to stay well hydrated the week coming into the half. I may not have eaten the best the whole week and I might try no coffee with breakfast for the next races. I think I should have waited to take the gu til the halfway point and just water on the mile 4, and 11 or 12. I think...but it was my first one and I didn't practice well enough on my practice long runs. I usually just had gu and water at the halfway point only and that was enough. Maybe that should have been my race plan. Hmm. The other thing is that I warmed up really quickly so I probably could have gone with the shorts and sleeveless top with arm warmers which were a good idea because it was a good place for the gus. When I got to my car it was 62 degrees! Oh, and sunglasses would have been great. Luckily I wore my cap to keep the sun out of my eyes!

Just walked through the post race expo, got some clif bar samples, banana and water. Stretched a little bit. Got to my car quickly enough and drove home for a big bowl of chili and a toasted bagel.


I didn't do much in the way of speedwork for this race because with last year's pf, I was reluctant to get too crazy about speed. But I did do almost all of my long runs which really helped with the endurance. I might have gone out a little too fast at the beginning which I couldn't maintain at the end, but live and learn. Also, I think the first part of the course was much faster than the second half, so going slower at the start may have backfired anyhow and I would've slowed down anyhow. I do know that I didn't feel as good toward the end, but it's a race and I'm always sucking it up at the end!


I really enjoyed this as my first half marathon and would definitely do it again. It was great to stay in running shape over the holidays this year. The volunteers were great and the event was very well organized from start to finish. The water/aid stations were a little bit oddly placed but it was my fault for not figuring it out ahead of time.