Believe to Achieve

16.09 miles

0.68 mile warm up like 9:07 pace.

Decided last minute at work yesterday to see if any pace spots open at Lucky 13 half at Gardner Village same course as Santa Run and Witches half (same director for all of them).  Walter let me pace 1:40 :D.  Then I was like what am I doing?  it is Daylight savings week I have done two speed works this week and woke twice before work at 6 am (so 425 am wake up) to run 7.35 miles.  But I just knew from the speed I could do it with a lot less effort than last December where I struggled to even talk!!   This was much easier. Talked often to Will my pace buddy. And more half marathoners to cheer so that helped.  We pretty much did even splits.  The start line was a little different (across the street to the south and down the hill) so it went longer out from Gardner Village start.   I got 12.94 miles but everyone with a garmin got exactly 13 some a little over.  My coros watch made sounds under any bridge so didn't pick up those moments.  Same mileage on way back (6.47 turn around and back).  avg pace 7:32.  HR avg 170  (last two times slower pace and avg 175/176.7

splits:

7:39 (some maneuvering) pace band says do even splits of 7:38 each for 1:40 exactly.

7:26

7:33

7:32

7:31

7:25

7:27

7:33

7:31   Will and i had decided to slow at mile 9  by 10 seconds per mile but then we decided only one guy right in front of us slowing so we decided to pace him in. We learn its his first half marathon and he is more of a middle distance runner.  He stayed with us and then dropped back only a few yards then He passed us with 1/2 mile to go and his guy friends were all cheering him on.  We couldn't speed up or we'd be more incriminated.  

7:32

7:32

7:34

7:38 purposefully running slower like slo mo running man motion for last 0.15 miles.  

1:37:27.   7:32  AVG.  Splits probs faster since really 13 miles.  

Felt strong entire time.  Never felt like I wanted to slow.   Could definitely do 5 more miles at that pace. 

DID NOT TAKE ANY FUEL only water and gatorade three times total one or the other.  purposefully slowed at aid stations.  Ate only my dried apples before race on car ride to race and 1/2 a glass of orange juice at home.  

NO gels or gu.  

Ran 2.41 mile cooldown 22 min after we finished. 8:45 avg.