DogTown 1/2 Marathon 1:15:22 Took Twix out for a little over 2 miles up on the Dirt Mile before heading over to the race. Plan was to try and just survive. I haven't run many miles at all lately and the achilles hasn't improved any, so I wondered if I could stay with my boys who were running and help pace them at all. Race started off and one guy took off - he ended up winning with a mid 1:12 (good run, nothing off the wall though). The group of four boys and me chased down some quick starters in the first few miles and then started ticking off 5:45's. At times I felt good and wanted to push harder; at other times that pace was plenty. We caught 2nd at about mile 6, but he responded well and stayed with us and then pushed ahead again. The boys wanted to chase him, but I told them to be patient and we would catch him again. Up Nicholls' hill I started to fall off a bit (a couple of the boys had slipped off a little by here). I tried to regroup, but couldn't quite catch back up to Preston (who was a few feet up) and Mitch who was working toward 2 again. Up Majestic I really struggled. I bet my split was over 7:00 here for sure. Mitch was long gone and turning it into a foot race for 2nd (which he caught and then got outkicked for), but Preston struggled up the hill as much as I did. I slowly caught back up to him in the last mile and a half and the last 200 meters pulled even. Thought about if it would make me a dill to pass him, then I realized I couldn't go any faster and he got me by 2 seconds. Cooled a little to go back and cheer for the girls. They did awesome. Rylee came in around 6th or so and got a 1:33 in her first half - in fact I think it was her first time over 10 miles. (Cumulus 10)((Adios 410.5) Pretty fine with the run. Comsidering everything, I wasn't expecting a 1:10 like I've hit twice here. Just happy to finish. Got home and watched the Oly Marathon Trials and was inspired by that. Goals for next week: really wouldn't mind seeing my leg improve. So I'll keep rolling, icing, eccentric heel drops and compressing, Strausburg socking and all that stuff. | 