Started out running with a friend of mine who is faster and felt that at some point he would drop me. This happened at about the second or third water stop which was up near the malls. I had to get some water and down my first gu. My running pal said he would just keep cruising. I started up again and figured we would never see each other for the duration. We were trying to keep pace with the 1:50 team and saw some of their drop-offs here and there. I continued down to the bottom of Heart Attack Hill and up the other side. Somewhere on top I noticed that the 1:50 Pace Team leaders were with me. I stayed with them up into midtown. They surged ahead of me and I thought that was it but once on the other side of tenth I began to leave them behind. I had other stops along the way and gu'd at the 9 mi. stop which is a typical favorite of mine. At Mile 11 I checked my Garmin and thought that not only could I PR but might hit a solid 1:45! Although I knew what was yet to come. Miles 11 - 12 are always a struggle for me on this course. Some significant climbing can really run me ragged and I was already above my LT for quite some time. I managed 11 which was my slowest mile since Heartbreak and continued on. Once I cleared 12 I felt like it was going to happen. I cruised down past the capital bldg and just wanted to manage the next steep pop until I could get onto Hank Aaron Drive. I must comment on one thing: that damn bridge over I-20 might as well be Hogpen! It is just a bump but feels like running in quicksand. Downhill to the finish and a real surprise finish for me. I PR'd all courses at this distance. And on what I believe is the toughest 1/2 Mary road race in the SE US. (I just missing catching the pal I started with by about 30 secs)

Not much. A little more speed training will help. My Tuesday night hill/tempo w/o's have really paid off.

Grabbed my medal and mylar blanket. Hit the porta-john and then to the med tent to meet my friends.


Just timing. This was a benchmark to see what I needed to do for ING Atlanta Marathon in March.


I always dig the minimalist vibe of this race. I will say that it has gotten much more organized with great volunteers and an overall more professional delivery of a great holiday tradition for me.