I loved this race – on of my all-time favorites! It’s a challenging course that starts at the Del Mar race track and heads south along the 101 to La Jolla cove – climbing up and down The Torrey Pines Hill. Not a course for PR-ing, with an elevation gain of 951 and elevation loss of 933. But I’m glad I didn’t let that keep me away! This is the first time in a major race that I’ve ever placed in the top of my age group. Second in F30-34!
I know this course well and had a good plan that I executed almost flawlessly!
Started out slower than my half marathon pace to conserve for the big hills ahead, but took advantage of downhills where I could.
1 – 7:29
2 – 7:23 (73+, 80-)
3 – 7:31 (72+)
4 – 7:53 (110+)
5 – 6:50 (23+, 193-)
Then the came the The Torrey Pines Hill. Ran it by effort, and passed a lot of people, which always produces that extra boost and spring in the step.
6 – 8:41 (259+)
7 – 7:55 (234+, 89-)
Then came a couple of flat miles. I wanted to speed up these flat miles to more in the range of my current half marathon pace. Passed tons of people in these miles.
8 – 7:15 (31+, 24-)
9 – 7:00 (19+, 69-)
10 – 7:13 (21+, 19-)
Then the big downhill. This was steep. But because I have been religious about leg workouts in the gym for the last year, and especially tough workouts in the last 3 months, I was able to keep my form under control. And I fleeeeew down the hill. Well, more like tromped.
11 – 6:12 (341-)
Then the course flattened out for one mile, and I continued to pass a lot of runners. Then there was the cruel and unusual punishment of a very tough hill in thirst half of the last mile. I got passed back by about a handful of guys. I thought I ran the last hill pretty well (faster than the first smaller hill of the same size), but these guys powered up!
12 – 7:01 (-14)
13 – 7:48 (+109, -66)
And a downhill sprint to the finish for 1:37:31 (7:27 average pace)
2nd of 550 in F30-34. 24th woman of 3085. And 165 overall of 5891.
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