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ORRRC Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Xenia, Ohio
United States
Ohio River Road Runners
60F / 16C
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 49m 5s
Overall Rank = 188/928
Age Group = 25-29
Age Group Rank = 13/28
Pre-race routine:

I pulled up to the race with my mom about an hour early, and got a great parking spot. Packet pickup went really quick, and I got bib #6. I was hoping that was a portent of things to come.

While waiting in line for the bathroom at the YMCA, I noticed that one of the sponsorship banners for a kids program had YMCA misspelled. Sing it with me! YMAC, YMAC-ee. smh
Event warmup:

After meeting up with Mick, Justin, and Katie, I went with Mick and Justin on an out and back walk for a warmup. Lots of people were jogging around, and I wondered how many people were jogging just because others were. You never know.
Run
  • 1h 49m 5s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 08m 20s  min/mile
Comments:

Mick, Katie, Justin, and I started off together in the crowd. We immediately lost Katie. I looked around behind me for her, but couldn't see her (yeah, she was ahead of us). We ran a pretty easy pace for the first couple miles, not wanting to get carried away with the rush of the crowd at the start. A negative split was the goal.

Justin was feeling a little tired after a couple miles, and started dropping further back. I think I lost sight of him around mile three. Mick and I were cruising, having a good time. We had a very comfortable pace going, but there weren't any mile markers, so we didn't know what our actual pace was. We were hoping that in being with the crowd we were moving along pretty faster than it felt. Somewhere around mile four or five we overheard someone next to us say that their pace was 9:17. Mick and I kind of looked at each other, with a whoops expression. We had definitely been trying for an 8:30 pace the first half of the race. We picked it up a little bit and dropped our pace down underneath 9:00. At six miles we were at 53:16, an 8:53 pace. I do have to say, it was great having someone to run with. It made it very enjoyable.

The half marathon turnaround was at mile eight, and at that point Mick told me he was going to keep the pace that we were at, and if I wanted to go ahead to go on. So I picked up the pace and started passing people. We had passed Katie who was coming the other way about a half mile until the turn around, and so I figured she was about 8:00 in front of me, and I didn't think I could run that off of her in the last five miles, but I sure gave it a shot. I'm not sure of what my actual pace was, but I must have run 7:xx the last five miles. I would pick the next person(s) ahead of me, and pass them. I don't think anyone passed me after the turnaround, but I passed lots of people. With a couple miles to go I could definitely tell that the level of difficulty for passing people was increasing. Though, I wasn't sure if I was passing people because they were slowing down, or if I was keeping a good pace.

Around a couple miles to go I figured I was with runners, so I started asking people what distance we were at. I was 2/2 for finding people with GPS watches. I kept up the pace for the last bit, although with about a half mile to go I had to stop and tie my shoe laces, which was a bit annoying. I had felt them loosening up for the last couple miles. I picked it up the last quarter mile and was able to pass a number of people. As I was closing in to the finish, I passed Katie on the sidelines, and she gave me a five. She had a great run of 1:43.02. I had a good sprint heading into the finish, which kind of surprised me. I didn't think I had that much left in me.

Other important details:
I had to pee the entire run. After the turnaround I started checking porta-potties at every location, but they were all occupied. I almost made it to one, but somebody got there just before I did. So I just kept running. When I got close enough to the end I just finished out. And, interestingly, after the race I was fine. Go figure.

And, for those that are interested, my neon yellow shoes helped me run a scientifically calculated 0:58 faster time than I would have otherwise. ;)
What would you do differently?:

Next time I'll pace better during the first part of the run. I was a bit caught out because there weren't mile markers. I can definitely knock off a few minutes from my time.
Post race
Warm down:

I didn't see my mom right away, so I went in and grabbed a banana and a cookie. I ended up carrying the peel around with me for a while, and I had no idea that banana peels get nasty that quickly. Anyways...

I went back out on the course and ran the last couple blocks with Mick, and then a while later ran in with Justin.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Poor pacing, no mile markers.

Event comments:

It was a great HM for $25. You can't beat that.




Last updated: 2013-01-02 12:00 AM
Running
01:49:05 | 13.1 miles | 08m 20s  min/mile
Age Group: 13/28
Overall: 188/928
Performance:
Course: Basically out and back on a bike trail with a couple loops off of it.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2013-04-07 1:45 PM

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Veteran
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Dayton
Subject: ORRRC Half Marathon


2013-04-07 2:12 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Melon Presser
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Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon

Super Fox-ay!!!! Top half AG in a standalone? Sweet!!!

As for your portapotty search ... well, look, if your shoes were already neon yellow anyway Laughing

2013-04-07 3:46 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Master
6834
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Englewood, Florida
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
Wow, first HM in 1:49. Stud. That is some super speedy running. Combine that with the knowledge you took away from the race and I have to agree with you, you've got a few minutes you'll burn off that time really quickly.
2013-04-07 4:44 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Master
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Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
Just one burning question... what color are Katie's shoes?!? :P. Looks like you had good family and friend support for your first HM. That always makes the day more enjoyable (ok...well, at least in my limited experience). Now....ready for the next one???
2013-04-07 6:02 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Veteran
2441
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Western Australia
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
Well done Tom. Great time and it sounds like you had a great day too.
2013-04-07 8:34 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Master
7712
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Orlando
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
No mile makers - that's weird, but I guess for $25 you can't complain!  Congratulations on a great race and I'm sure those neon shoes helped!


2013-04-07 9:38 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Veteran
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Citrus Heights, CA
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
I hope that one day I can run at your speed--it may seem doable (i.e. not too hard) for you, but to me---That was SCORCHING fast! Great race! 
2013-04-08 6:51 AM
in reply to: #4690193

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Veteran
284
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Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
The mile markers were out there but since they were spray painted on the ground they were easy to miss. The ones on the road (the first 4 miles before the bike path) were in green spray paint and the ones on the bike path were in red spray paint.
2013-04-08 9:58 AM
in reply to: #4690670

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Master
9705
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Raleigh, NC area
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
Way to go!
2013-04-08 12:23 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Master
6595
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Rio Rancho, NM
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon

Nice job! Great negative split too!

1) I really don't like not having mile markers! I paid $300 for Oceanside and didn't have mile markers on the run Yell

2) I could NOT have made 5+ miles needing a port-a-pottie!

3) I don't usually get to race with friends. That sounds like a lot of fun.

2013-04-08 12:24 PM
in reply to: #4691585

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Master
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Raleigh, NC area
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
rrrunner - 2013-04-08 1:23 PM

Nice job! Great negative split too!

1) I really don't like not having mile markers! I paid $300 for Oceanside and didn't have mile markers on the run Yell

Really?  No mile markers at Oceanside?



2013-04-08 10:12 PM
in reply to: #4690335

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Veteran
1100
1000100
Dayton
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon

4agoodlife - 2013-04-07 5:44 PM Just one burning question... what color are Katie's shoes?!? :P. Looks like you had good family and friend support for your first HM. That always makes the day more enjoyable (ok...well, at least in my limited experience). Now....ready for the next one???

I am SO ready for the next one.  It'll be next year, but I can't wait!  Definitely looking forward to Chicago!

2013-04-08 10:24 PM
in reply to: #4690283

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Veteran
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Dayton
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon

cdban66 - 2013-04-07 4:46 PM Wow, first HM in 1:49. Stud. That is some super speedy running. Combine that with the knowledge you took away from the race and I have to agree with you, you've got a few minutes you'll burn off that time really quickly.

I know I can run harder for longer.  I'll be really interested to see how things go when I build more base and then start adding speed.

2013-04-09 1:27 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
Wooo, way to go Fast Foxy!!  Great first HM!  It was totally the neon shoes   Glad you had fun as well, that's what it's all about, right?
2013-04-09 6:05 PM
in reply to: #4690193

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Seattle
Subject: RE: ORRRC Half Marathon
Nice race! Glad you had fun!
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