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Spinx Run Fest Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Greenville, South Carolina
United States
Greenville Track Club
50F / 10C
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 04m 14s
Overall Rank = 312/518
Age Group = W35-39
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 6:30, had Cliff Bar and drank Diet coke in car on the way to the race site.
Event warmup:

None really- just jumped up and down a few times trying to stay warm.
Run
  • 2h 04m 14s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 29s  min/mile
Comments:

I felt great during this run. My coach advised me to hold back at the beginning and to try to negative split the race, which I did. The first 6 miles I did it in 58:12 and the last 6.1 miles were in 56:17. The last 5K was in 27:33 which, in a stand alone 5K, would have been a major PR for me. Prior best 5K performace was 29:58 and that was in a tri this past May.

My HR was low during this run. Have no idea why- I thought I was going too fast at the beginning, but my effort and my HR said I wasn't so I went with it. I noticed that I really gained on people on the hills, and I tried to really open up my stride and pick up free speed and recovery on the down hills. I would also pick out people and slowly reel them in one at a time. I had the best luck doing this during the last 6 miles of the race. I still can't believe how good I felt. The only thing I did differently was that I took a gel flask rather than individual gels and I took gel at each aid station- less than a full shot, but maybe about a half a shot. So I did gel more often, but less at each time. That seemed to work really well with my stomach and gave me the energy I needed there at the end. I really felt great when I finished. I managed to bust out my fastest mile on the last mile. Whoop Whoop! PRed by 10:59. Prior half mary was 2:15:13 and that was on a flat course at the beach in 40 degree weather. This was hilly and I still managed to knock off almost 11 minutes. Those horrible track workouts and hill repeats really do work!

My run fitness has improved so much this year. Thanks Katie! I couldn't have done it without your help!
What would you do differently?:

Not one thing.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around and got some food- said hi to some friends. My next door neighbor is a nurse and she was working the finish line med help.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Genetics

Event comments:

This race was not well organized. From packet pick up to finish I was very disappointed. First of all, they ran out of t-shirts, even for those who preregistered. Then, a group of people who registered online (I was one of those)didn't have their info transferred to pick up. So I had a number with a hand written name, no t-shirt, and was told my t-shirt would be in in a month and I could drive to one of the running stores to pick it up. And it's not even long sleeve!

Then, on race morning, no one talked before the race started. We were all there at the starting line and no announcement was made. The gun just went off. Took a lot of people by surprise. Many didn't even have their sweats off yet. The aid stations were plentiful but were ill placed. We would go over 2 miles with nothing and then in the next 2 mile segment there would be 4 stations.I think I will be writing a letter..





Last updated: 2007-10-23 12:00 AM
Running
02:04:14 | 13.1 miles | 09m 29s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 312/518
Performance: Good
Mile Splits and hr 1- 9:44 hr 164 2- 9:46 hr 167 3- 9:34 hr 168 4- 9:34 hr 169 5- 10:11 hr 171 (big hill and aid station on this mile) 6- 9:23 hr 171 7- 9:38 hr 171 8- 9:45 hr 175 9- 9:23 hr 171 10- 9:36 hr 175 11- 8:58 hr 179 12- 8:42 hr 182 13.1- 9:53 hr 186 (avg pace 8:25 according to Garmin) and according to the garmin this was 1.17 miles, not 1.1, so the race was long according to my data.
Course: Hilly with some flat portions. Cambered roads on about 2/3rd of the course.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? No
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 2

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2007-10-28 7:17 PM

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Master
2571
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Tiger's Den
Subject: Spinx Run Fest Half Marathon


2007-10-28 7:28 PM
in reply to: #1027553

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Expert
957
5001001001001002525
Charlotte, NC
Subject: RE: Spinx Run Fest Half Marathon
Sounds like you had a great race all the way through--from PRing the splits to your overall PR. That's awesome!  Sorry there were some administrative issues with the race but you still did a great job.
2007-10-28 8:01 PM
in reply to: #1027553

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Elite
3687
20001000500100252525
Subject: RE: Spinx Run Fest Half Marathon
Great run and congrats on a smokin PR.  I'm wondering if were not spoiled by how well triathlons are run.  I was pretty dissapointed in the organization at my half also.  At least you had sporadic water stops. We had a water stop at mile 1.5, 4 ,7 and 9 and then NOTHING!  Water only nothing else.  I was hurting pretty bad by the end.  Great job once again.  You have earned all these good times coming your way.
2007-10-29 7:07 AM
in reply to: #1027553

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Pro
4507
20002000500
Simpsonville, SC
Subject: RE: Spinx Run Fest Half Marathon
What a great race report! Congrats on that smashing PR. OMG, you are going to set Tybee Island on FIRE! Teach me to run?
2007-10-29 8:21 AM
in reply to: #1027553

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.

Edited by spokes 2007-10-29 8:21 AM
2007-10-30 7:36 AM
in reply to: #1027553

Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: Spinx Run Fest Half Marathon

Sub 2 for sure soon!!!

Congrats on so many PB's in one race...you rocked it!

It is so cool to see your smart training is paying off.

Congrats 

 



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