AM - 20 DogTown 1/2 Time Trial. Was really bummed a couple months ago when I found out that my hometown half was only a week away from Phoenix. So I planned on running it today to test fitness and for a good workout. I was a little bummed about how it went. Obviously there were a few factors that played into it: 1) it is just very tough to recreate the drive an push needed for a strong race in a time trial - especially a solo effort. 2) Logan had offered to help, but due to a couple things on my part I didn't arrange things and I really could have used him. 3) I was a bit hesitant to really push because although I know I am half PR shape, I am focused on Phoenix and didn't want to do something stupid and jeopardize my opportunity for success in two weeks. Those things being said, I still thought I could not only beat last year's time of 1:10:36, I could PR by going sub 1:09:50 without really even "killing it". Ran over to the start in Coral Canyon for a 5 mile warm up. I tried to amp myself up a little and get some energy going. The first couple miles are the quickest and I worried if soloing I would be able to amp it up like I needed. I drank my gu/water mix before starting - mostly to practice running with it in my system since I haven't at all since St. George. Got out strong with 1-5:10(5:14 - last year), 2-5:14(5:18) grabbed my other drink I had dropped here on the way out. Wasn't planning on drinking it until 7 like in the marathon. Should have driven out and dropped it off there, but didn't want to take the time/gas, so I just planned on carrying it - ended up bugging me a lot and kind of throwing off my focus/effort more than it should have around miles 6 and 7. 3-5:11(5:22). 4-5:09(5:16) felt good and the miles were flying by. 5-5:14(5:27), so I have gained a good amount of time already and I am not stressing at all. Then back up the river and on each of the hills I kind of fall apart. Lack of focus? 6-5:44(5:36). 7-5:54(5:41) so now I have given a bunch of time back. Looking back on it, I just wasn't pushing hard. 8-5:12(5:15) kind of upset at myself because I know I just cost myself a PR, which wasn't the main goal here but was reachable and would have been a fun side-effect. So I pushed this mile trying to use the downhill and grab back a little time. 9-5:40(5:28) another hill another bad mile. 10-6:01(5:53) this is the biggest hill of the course and it comes at a hard time, but again I was just running, not in it mentally. 11-5:44(5:19) last year I knew Clyde was hunting me down and I burned the backside of the hill, this time I just kind of trotted. This is the mile that really cost me. I even really thought about just calling it a workout and being done so I slowed for a tenth or so. Then I kind of yelled at myself and said that this is really the meat of this workout, I need to push and practice running hard when physically and mentally weak not back off and be a baby. So tried to get going again. 12-5:31(5:21). 13-5:30(5:22). Finish-ended with a 1:11:09(1:10:35)... Lost a little here in the last couple miles, as last year I really worked these ones to distance Clyde. But at least I brought them back to marathon effort without too much trouble. So... Whatever. It's done, some good, some bad. Maybe I will find a half in late spring that I can really race and focus on getting a PR. (Adios 40.75) Good week. Body is feeling rested, but still kept mileage where I want it and got a couple good runs in. Goals for next week: Mileage down to 80, have a good tempo next Saturday as I run the real 1/2 with some of the kids (don't get sucked into trying to race and win it or something stupid). | 