DIY Half marathon or half marathon time trial
1:38:37
I've been following a half marathon training schedule using Garmin and had nominally picked a local race in Hudson called Viking Half Marathon which is a 6x out and back course. There was also another slightly more appealing one in Ocala which was 4 out and backs. These races both started at 8:00 am. There were some races these past two weekends that I thought about traveling to but things with the baby arrival were constantly in flux so travel was ruled out. Even driving to Ocala might've been risky so figured why not just run loops?
Each neighborhood loop is a little over 3 miles. Plan was to go out at about 7:30 for the first mile then try and run 7:15-7:20 for as long as I could. I set up one "aid station" with a cooler with ice cold drinks that I'd grab. It was a little past the 3 mile point after hitting a down hill section followed by a road crossing and some uphill. So, it turned out to not be a great spot because I'd be on a roll from the downhill and would lose that momentum.
Did a little warmup, light jogging and a few strides, about 2/3 of a mile.
First mile was right on track at 7:31, next two miles were good at 7:20 and 7:13, then back near the start, grabbed a water, struggled to get back to pace and had 7:41 for the next mile followed by two faster miles, 7:13 and 7:15, then a similar pattern with 7:38 for the next mile (a little better), but then I'd start slowing in this pattern.
4 loops seemed daunting and by the time I started the 4th loop was starting to not care as much as I wouldn't be close to my goal time of 1:36. But then again not too far off, especially for self supported and a little warm and humid (at 76 degrees couldn't have asked for much better in Florida this time of the year).
Splits summary: 7:31, 7:20, 7:13, 7:41, 7:13, 7:15, 7:38, 7:18, 7:19, 8:04 (ouch, broke the sub 8:00 streak), 7:32, 7:44, 7:45, 0.13@7:14
Too much fade at the end.
Although I didn't hit my goal pace I think the Garmin training plan with Coach Greg was pretty good. I didn't feel beat up and felt my fitness improved on slightly lower mileage than I would've normally done. Maybe in a real half on a day with cooler temps might've made my time.
That evening my wife found out there was a scheduling mixup and instead of going to the hospital this coming Wednesday, could we come in tomorrow at 8:00 am? So, turned into pretty busy weekend. Glad I didn't blow off trying to cap off my training with at least this DIY half time trial running the loops of Westlake Village.
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