I am so happy to report a PR! I ran this exact same race two years ago: See here.
My official time from that race in 2012 was 1:59:37. So I cut off almost 9 minutes off my course time! The weather was much cooler today than 2 years ago. and I think just knowing the coarse this time helped a lot. Also, I think I have trained better this time than any other time. Obviously helping me get a PR. My fastest race prior today was Utah Valley Half back in 2011. You can see it here. My time there was 1:53:51 so I cut off almost exactly 2 minutes off my time! Also today I ran 13.22 rather than 13.1 That would have cut off a lot. Also had to stop and tie my shoe once :( but I really needed that break. I took kind of a long time tying it because it felt good to stop. haha. I ran this race with some friends and it was so fun to have people to start with. I stayed with one friend for a couple of miles but then we split up a little. I was ahead then she was ahead and then when I stopped to tie my shoe I never saw her again. And it was okay- I think I do better when I'm running alone and with my own thoughts. There were a few times that I really wanted to stop. But I just told myself that even going super slow is better than stopping so I kept going. It was so funny those last 5 miles felt like such a roller coaster. One minute I was like I can do this, I'm going to PR! Literally the next thought: I can't do this I am going to die! haha
I did something different this race and tried to dedicate each mile to someone I love. It gave me something to think about during the mile when I would start to doubt myself. I would just think about that person and try to focus on them for the rest of the mile. I thought about my kids a lot and it helped so much. Each of my kids and husband got two miles each :)
The first 8 miles are pretty hilly. Not huge hills, but gradual long hills. Those first 8 miles are either flat or hills. Then the last 5 you get a slight decline. But anything helps.
Anyway, here are my splits. I'm so happy to race against myself and happy for my friends for how fast they did!
1- 7:56
2- 7:58
3- 8:07
4- 8:14
5- 8;23
6- 8:26
7- 8:45
8- 9:01 I think this is where I tied my shoe. And this was the absolute hardest mile of the race. mostly up hill, on an ugly road and I hated it last time too.
9- 8:26
10- 8:28
11- 8:30
12- 8:41
13- 8:15
.1 (actually .22)- 1:49 (7:42 pace)
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