My plan for this race was to use it as a fitness test and break through workout for my Spring half marathon training. I accomplished both!
I had in mind an average pace of 7:20. I ran the first 6 miles of the race at 7:15-7:20. This felt easy and comfortable. My breathing was relaxed and my legs felt great.
So I decided to push the pace in the last 5K of the race down to 7:00 miles. I ran miles 7 and 8 at 7:00 and still had a lot of energy left, and breathing was pretty good. A little choppy.
But I ran the last 1.3 as fast as a could. My average pace was about 6:45 for the last segment of the race.
I had run the first several miles of the race with a pink shirted woman who looked about my age. She picked up her pace at mile 2, and I decided not to go. But I kept within about ~100 meters of her most of the race. I caught her in the last mile and surged by her for the win in the last quarter mile! I beat her by 5 seconds. I felt sort of petty for doing this. But I really was proud of myself for hanging on the entire race and being tough at the end.
It was also great to negative split and be able to pass a lot of people in the final miles. I moved from about 15th place female to 11th place female in the last 3 miles.
The race gave me a good idea of where my fitness is. I think I could run my next half marathon (Carlsbad, January 19) at 7:15 or faster.
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