Dogtown Half Marathon - 1:14:35 Course was an out-and-back with a spur on the way out. For the most part a flat course, but with 3 uphill sections (and downhill) that usually get the best of me on the workouts we do out there. Warmed up in the drizzly rain (that held off most of the run) and the cold wind with Logan for 3+ before the race and cheered on Al as she ran the 9K (and did a great job, by the way). Saw that Theo Martin was there, so I had hoped for a Dogtown winner of the Dogtown, but realized that was probably out of the question. Raced without the Garmin because of the fear of rain - which was fine for racing, but a bummer for splits because the mile markers were poorly and randomly place (I ran one 5 mile section - yes that far without a mile marker - in 22 minutes and then hit the last few miles at 6:30 and above, when I was moving pretty good) so that was a bummer. Logan and I started off easy and relaxed, but moving okay along the main Fields road and out past Staheli Farm toward Warner Valley on the spur. The wind was blowing pretty good from the Northeast and seemed to really hit on all the most difficult parts of the race. Theo was drafting behind us for the first 3 or 4 and then I told him he couldn't just sit there and blow by us later, so he sat back in for another half and then made his move as we pushed back past Staheli's and up toward Nicholl's Peak. I wanted to push up to him and keep him close since I felt pretty good (although not as good as last Saturday's workout), but Logan kept me under control and drafting as best as I could behind him - I tried to tuck down and get in tight, even clipped him a few times, but it was tough (I have always had a harder time drafting because I am taller than most and have that longer stride). After using Logan for a few more miles, I moved away from him just before the turn around (which was about 8.25'ish miles). Theo had pulled too far away and he is too good a runner to have made a serious move on him, but the control and draft that Logan provided for me helped me have decent legs to the finish. Pushed pretty solid from 9-12 (excluding the hill back up around Nicholl's) and tried to keep it solid through the end, by reminding myself of running poorly at the finish of Painter's. Heard Theo's time as I approached the finish - 1 minute up on me. Not too bad a race, I felt I ran strong under the conditions and extra length of the course. On a good day and with a true half distance, I could have been around 1:11-1:12. (last Ohana 91.5)(Landreth blue 574.65) Week was decent; I wish I could recover like the old days, but those 1000's Monday after the hard workout the weekend before really drained me - so that's why I'll only do them every other week. Was pleased with the race effort. Goals for next week: I'll probably need a little while to recover (back to that aging thing), so let my body do what it needs to to keep me running well.
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