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Detroit Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Detroit, Michigan
United States
30!F / 0C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 51m 1s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Got up at 5:15, ate a clif bar, left for downtown Detroit with Sister, arrived 20 minutes before start.
Event warmup:

Stretched, stretched, stretched!!

It was freakin' COLD!! I wore shorts and long sleeve wicker shirt, running hat and gloves. Temp was in the 20's with windchill! GUSTING winds! I like running in 20F...but NOT waiting in 20F!

Temps did warm up nicely once the sun came up!
Run
  • 1h 51m 1s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 08m 28s  min/mile
Comments:

Due to injuries and other issues my run conditioning is far from where I'd like it to be. It seems like ages ago that I ran a 1:31 half mary!

I cast those thoughts a side though. I just wanted to have fun on this day of celebration and absorb the moments!

I just love the collective emotional "feel" of a marathon - the positive vibes, excitement and such. Just as my wave was about to start a "rookie" marathoner next to me murmered a hesitant, "oh my." I wished him good luck!! He smiled back. Moments like that are cool.

I knew I had to pace myself and control my INNER Fromer or otherwise I'd bonk out by mile 8 or so for sure since my longest run 'cuse of darn injuries has been 10 miles. So, I started with the 4hr mary group.

The first 4 miles I was forced to stay under control because I had to weave my way through the masses! By the time I reached the bridge into CANADA I had worked my way into the 3:50 pace group.

Running along the Canadian border is amazing. For a mile stretch we could look across the lake and see the Detroit skyline. Neat! Oh, once we crossed INTO Canada a disc jockey working the border shouted over a loud speaker that we had FREE HEALTHCARE! Isn't that a novel idea! :)

Right around mile 7 I began to tire! Ooops!! I SERIOUSLY began to wonder if I had enough energy to do 13 miles! I also began to question my strategy of "attacking" the bridge into Canada. Heh. Guess I didn't completely control the INNER Fromer. Darn bridge. I took a gel and tossed back some gatorade at an aid station and that helped.

The run back into Michigan is underwater! You run through a dank, smelly, 1 mile tunnel. The first half careens downward, second half heads back upward. Another moment of doubt hit me! When we exited the tunnel we were embraced by joyous spectators and clear skies. :) Just as I exited, a symbolic song began to play on my MP3 Player also. :)

Mile 9-13 were all about persaverence! Each mile got harder for me as we criss-crossed through downtown Detroit. I SERIOUSLY almost quit two or three times as I didn't think I had it in me! But I stuck it out. :) Life is about hanging in there, right? :)

My goal time for the race (besides finishing!!) was to go sub 2 hrs. My second goal was to crack 1:50. I came close. I bet if I were to have started farther up I could gone sub 1:50. I did NEGATIVE split the race and eventually caught up to the 3:45 pace group. Nice.
What would you do differently?:

Train more!
Post race
Warm down:

Walked, waited for my sister to finish!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Uh, train more?

Event comments:

I had fun. :) I raced smart. I don't do that very often. Ha! :)






Last updated: 2006-10-30 12:00 AM
Running
01:51:01 | 13.1 miles | 08m 28s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance:
My Garmin is on the fritz, so I just used a regular old stop-watch! I did negative split the first and second half of the race.
Course: Mostly flat except for the bridge into Canada and a few nasty ramps!
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]

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2006-10-30 10:05 AM

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Expert
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Adrian, MI
Subject: Detroit Half Marathon


2006-10-30 11:01 AM
in reply to: #582828

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Veteran
200
100100
Detroit, Michigan
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon
Nice job! I hear you on the freezing cold temps. My feet were numb for the first mile!
2006-10-30 11:13 AM
in reply to: #582915

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Veteran
130
10025
East Lansing, MI
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon

Great job!!

 My legs were seriously numb at the begining...it was bad...but I loved the race anyways. Miles 9-11 were like OH MY GOD WHERE IS THE END?!?! and the tunnel was deceiving..downhill then a LOT of uphill! I was really excited to see the light at the end too.

I think the worst part was the end before we split off from the marathoners, when we were heading in a straight line to Ford Field and then we turned!! It felt like we were weaving around the finish for the last few miles and it was hard, I was like "I can see it so why arent we going towards it???"

Great half though, my ultimate goal is to get under 2:00 someday.  

2006-10-30 11:21 AM
in reply to: #582828

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Master
2346
200010010010025
Dayton, Minnesota
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon
Great race! Good job reigning in the Inner Fromer (for the most part, anyway) and pushing through to the finish!
2006-10-30 11:25 AM
in reply to: #582828

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Buttercup
14334
500050002000200010010010025
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon
GREAT job, Greg. I can't believe quitting enters your mind when you're hauling butt through 13 miles!
2006-10-30 11:43 AM
in reply to: #582828

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Champion
7704
50002000500100100
Williamston, Michigan
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon

Awesome Job.  I can;'t believe you run that fast and wanted to quit.  Can I borrow your legs for next weekend?



2006-10-30 12:37 PM
in reply to: #582828

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Champion
8766
5000200010005001001002525
Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon
Congrats, Greg.  Awesome race!  I think you are WELL on your way back!!!
2006-10-30 5:18 PM
in reply to: #582828

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Champion
6627
5000100050010025
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Gold member
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon
Wow, Greg.  Restraint AND Race AND Fromer in the same sentence?  Preposterous!!!  But congratulations on a great comeback milestone / race.  One step at a time, bro.  And this was a good one.
2006-10-30 7:36 PM
in reply to: #582828

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Master
1480
1000100100100100252525
Plant City, FL
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon
I am REALLY proud of you Greg!! Great race, and a super way to finish up a rough year!!
2006-10-31 9:41 AM
in reply to: #582828

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Extreme Veteran
391
100100100252525
Singapore
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon

Well done. Well done.

Although I cannot understand the COLD.....cos its always SUPER HOT here...ehehehe

I MISS RUNNING in the cold!! 

2006-10-31 8:57 PM
in reply to: #582828

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Master
1494
1000100100100100252525
Kingston Ontario
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon

Woo hoooo!!! Way to run coach!!

Mostly flat except for the bridge into Canada and a few nasty ramps

--I'm telling ya, Ontario is NOT FLAT.  I'll bet that wasn't just the bridge either!

Oh, once we crossed INTO Canada a disc jockey working the border shouted over a loud speaker that we had FREE HEALTHCARE! Isn't that a novel idea!

--Sorry coach, that disc jocky is a liar.  No free healthcare for Americans up here

Just as I exited, a symbolic song began to play on my MP3 Player also.

--What was it???



Edited by keepitup 2006-10-31 8:59 PM


2006-11-01 9:23 PM
in reply to: #582828

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Extreme Veteran
441
10010010010025
windsor, ontario
Subject: RE: Detroit Half Marathon

Good job Greg...When I went into the expo on Saturday, (35 degrees, and raining) I was expecting a terrible day, but Sunday turned out as well as could be expected.  I couldn't believe how long it took to thin out.  There really wasn't any 'space' until the half marathoners split out to finish...the second half was absolute drudgery, they definitely packed all of the good stuff into the 'half'...I had some training let downs in the last six weeks, so I kind of broke down about mile 18 (on way to 4:35 marathon time), but the first half was a lot of fun, and I was not far behind you at the halfway point.  Good job coming back from a rough year...congratulations...keep it up

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