Early am drive up to Richmond, IN for a small town half marathon. Cool course - 2 loops with loop 2 as a reverse of loop 1. A couple of nasty spots with some good hills. Great weather - 55-60 degrees and sunny with low humidity. Shaded for 60% of course on paved trail and neighborhoods.
Race start at 7:30 am after waiting around, several bathroom stops, and about a mile WU. Frequent bathroom stops seems to be one of the side the effects of the newly found vegan way of life... ;)
Taking off from the start I am a little surprised to find myself leading. I hear about 3 or 4 behind me heavy breathing after a mile. It is downhill and feels easy going through in 5:56. I realize today will be a good day for me. Was a little doubtful/apprehensive after going all out in 5k yesterday.
Mile 2 levels out and I focus on relaxing... a little too much. One other guy is still hanging around so I start chatting with him - revealing that he is struggling with the pace. Mile 2 is a little too laxed at 6:17. I think I do this guy a favor by dropping him at mile 3, speeding back up to 5:56. The course rolled steadily throughout and mile 4 was a climb - 6:09. Mile 5 and 6 inlcudes a long climb that is roughly 3-4% avg.- 6:03 and 6:13. Still feeling strong and well in control effort wise once the hill is conquered. Loop 1 is 10k distance traversing through start finish area and timing mat at the hospital. Back around parking lot cones and turn around and reverse the same loop - and go down that monster hill for most of mile 7 - a very aided 5:43 feels easy. 6:02 for level mile 8, 5:52 for aided mile 9, and now some more rollers - 6:10, 6:08, 6:02. The last mile of the course is a nasty climb back up to the hospital and finish line. I feel like I am crushing it, and only manage a 6:13 mile 13 and 6:08 for partial. GPS is a bit short - 13.01. Nonetheless, translated, this is a big PR for half marathon. Race clock finish time = 1:18:44. Translated Finish time of 13.11 ~ 1:19:20ish. Call it a PR.
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