Today I ran the Sioux City half marathon. My goal was a sub 1:20 as I have talked about a lot over the past few weeks. I was very well prepared and fully expected to run that time. Here is how it went Pre-Race Woke up at 5:30, hopped in the car about 6 and got to sioux city about 6:40. Hopped aboard a bus when I got there that took us to the start line. First time taking race transportation, and it was a good experience--plus it was very warm on that bus! Warm-up felt really good and I had a standard pre-race routine.
Race Started out fresh with a group of about 5-7 runners. Took it really really easy at the beginning. at one point I heard one of the guys in the group say something about our pace being around 7 minute mile pace. By looking at my watch, I knew that wasn't the case, we were indeed going slow, but probably more like 6:30 pace. At that moment i decided to execute my race strategy which called for going out in 6:10 and then dropping. I pulled away and was all alone. Mile 1- 6:12.6 Mile 2- 5:58.3 Mile 3- 6:22.7 (18:33, 6:11 pace)
Here at mile 3 we got into the stone park hills. I knew the hills were tough because I had driven the course the night before, but had no idea the massive toll they would take on my time for this race. For mile 3, there was just one big hill that added the 20 seconds to my otherwise 6 flat pace. Mile 4 was where things got ugly. Mile 4- 7:11.9 (This mile had a massive elevation gain throughout, the whole thing was practically an uphill and I was under-trained for such massive hills, and it cost me about a minute on my pace) Mile 5- 6:20.7 (I knew here that the hills, which ended in the first half mile of mile 5, had ruined my shot at sub 1:20, i just couldnt make up the 1:50 I lost on these 3 miles) Mile 6- 6:01 (38:07, 6:21 pace) back on track this mile, but still lagging for the time I lost on the hills Mile 7- 6:00 (right on!) Mile 8- 6:19.0, not sure what happened here, just lost focus Mile 9- 6:11.2 (56:37, 6:17 pace) GU at the start of this mile
Mile 10- 6:16.6 (1:02:54, 6:17 pace) I have come to terms by now that I will not break 1:20, but I have lead the whole race, at times by more than I can see the next runner, so I just want to hang on and win at this point! I feel like I can Mile 11- 6:16.7 - almost the exact same split, the 2nd place guy has been steadily around 45 seconds behind me since mile 9 Mile 12- 6:18.6 (1:15:29, 6:17 pace) Im hanging on still at the pace I set back at mile 8. At the start of the last mile, I have around 30 seconds on the 2nd place guy, he has gained but it has been somewhat negligable, its all about what each of us has left. Mile 13- 6:22.9, He kept coming and passed me at around 12.5, I just couldnt stave him off and had no answer to his final mile which was 5:50 (as i learned after the race) I definitely didn't have a 5:50 in me, the hills early on had threw off my plan, and my new goal of winning rested on what that guy had left, and he had enough to beat me. last .1- 42.9- No kick, just easing on in as I realize I cant move up or down in position. Total---1:22:35 (6:18 pace) Post-Race Turns out I ran a decent plan throughout the early stages of the race, the hills just threw me off and I never recovered my game plan after that. When it came down to me just trying to hold on for the win, I lost it in the late stages. Nothing to hang my head about though, the other guy just had more at the end, and probably had more experience at early hills. I took 2nd overall and netted $75 in prize money. Not a bad day, and considering I was just hoping to get a PR, and ended up finishing in the money. Also, I believe on a flat course, I would have easily PR-ed today and most likely broke 1:20. I felt well rested and well prepared mileage and speed wise. The hills just got the best of me, and the rest of my race suffered because of that. 1:22 on this course was a very good time in my opinion and I am happy with that!
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