Platte River Half today - had a goal of 1:25. My PR is 1:18, but have not been under 1:25 in about 4 years since then--especially difficult now that I live at altitude. This race was at 5300 ft. Goal was 6:29-6:30 and that is exactly what I did. Got out easy and felt great, had some stomach issues from 6-7, side cramp, probably from the non-gatorade alternative (Nuun) they were handing out at aid stations--I think it had caffeine in it and my body did not handle it too well. Fought through it though, took a GU a little earlier than normal to try to calm my stomach down and it worked. Started slow enough to be able to accelerate through and pick off people as I went. Markers seemed off and I think the course was a little long - had 13.16 on my garmin - so 6:27 pace according to that -- means my half was a little faster too if this is to be believed. Splits are as follows:
1 - 6:29
2- 6:26
3- 6:25
4- 6:27
5- 6:24
6- 6:27
7- 6:28 - amazing consistency through this point, all my splits coupled very close together, pace felt pretty easy and I think I am in pretty good shape
8- 6:40 (long marker)
9- 6:18 (short marker)
10- 6:19 - probably accurate, just picked it up here, will be interested to see the official, but was around 1:04:30 at 10 miles
11- 6:25
12- 6:26
13 - 6:48 - not a breakdon at all - this mile just had the one true hill on the course and it was pretty steep - slowed down the pace quite a bit, but I still managed to kick at the end - I assume I would have been around 6:29 given the normal flat course average
.1 - 52 - long
"13.1" - 1:24:53, 6:29 avg pace
My goal was 1:25 and I nailed that, split perfectly and kept consistent throughout. I fought through adversity today -- stomach issues, but nothing that stopped me or slowed me down all that much. I made it through and pushed just as hard until the rough patch stopped. I was a little disappointed that I felt the course was long (not only my Garmin, but just felt a tad long), but thats okay. 1:24:53 for 5300 feet equates to 1:21:57 according to Jack Daniels VDOT calculator at sea level - not a bad gauge of my fitness. Very happy with that result.
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