The Long Run

Gasparilla Half Marathon

1:32:42, 4th Age Group (50-54)

(garmin distance 13.16, pretty close, not too many turns)

It was a pretty good race overall with ups and downs and a good ending.  The weather was perfect and that turned out to be one of the motivating factors when my pace dropped - don't waste perfect running conditions on giving up!

Rode down to the race with Renee, got there in plenty of time and made our way to the start and warmed up a bit running just past the starting line.  Got off to a pretty good start, holding the first three miles under 7:00 pace with each mile getting slightly faster by a few seconds.  But mile 4 somehow missed being under 7:00 but still pretty close (7:04).  I must have gotten too comfortable and slowed down more for mile 5 to 7:20 (which included picking up the last part of it heading down the bridge coming off of Davis Island).

It was around this time that a very fit guy covered with tattoos wearing nothing but running shoes and a red speedo came cruising past me.  Not too much faster so I think that helped me pick it up a little bit following such an interesting target (talked to him a bit after the race, really nice guy).   So, miles 6,7,8,9 I was feeling really good, enjoying the view on Bayshore and happy that mile 5 was the end of the race for me.  Mile 6 was back to a 7:01, and miles 7-9 were all back under 7:00.  At the beginning of Bayshore I caught up to the guy I saw earlier in the race that I ran with at the Holiday Half.  I ran with him a bit then pulled ahead.

So, I was feeling like I could really turn this race around, until we got to the turn around and hit the wind.  Mile 10 was not pretty - struggled to keep it under 8:00 and slowly brought pace down to7:37 (I was a little worried about slowing down too much and having the 1:35 pacer pass me - I was a little bit miffed at him because about a quarter mile into the race he kind of cut me off, weaving around and getting right in front of me even though I was going faster than 1:35 pace).  A few guys passed me, and although I didn't run too close to them the did block the wind just enough.  The road bended a little bit and the median had more trees so mile 11 was back to a reasonable pace (7:11), and mile 12 was back under 7:00 again.  I thought back to BDR where I just stopped pushing once I passed the 12 mile sign.  Managed a 7:01, then had a pretty decent kick for the last 0.1

I saw Anthony at the end.  He'd had a really good race.  Before the start he said that if everything went well was hoping for a 1:28 - he got 1:26:30, so really good day for him.  Then I went back to the start and waited for Renee, she just missed the time she wanted but was pretty close.  They had good post race food from the Columbia restaurant.  Race bib had a free beer coupon but they can't serve until 11:00, so did not stay for that.  We did pick up our top 10% finisher mug.

Meb also raced, came in third place with about a 1:03.  Joan Benoit at 59 years old ran a pretty decent 1:29.   Fun race today, about 5500 runners.

My splits: 6:59, 6:53, 6:52, 7:04, 7:20, 7:01, 6:55, 6:57, 6:53, 7:37, 7:10, 6:58, 7:01, 1:01 (0.16@6:32)

6.17 mi, 58:57, 9:33 avg

Legs were feeling a little bit beat up this morning at the start.  Ran with Joe and Jamie in the neighborhood and felt a lot better by the end of the run.  No Stella run, just a little bit longer walk.

8.81 mi, 1:16:22, 8:40 avg

I had decided to not do intervals this morning and instead just run easy. I made it to Longleaf and actually was there in time for the morning picture (but partially because the picture was a couple of minutes late).  I started out with the group and was at first the slowest one but eventually caught up to David and Marcia running about a 10:00 pace.  Ran with them for about 2 miles, then picked it up a little bit.

Stopped at the corner at Alico pass for a water and gel then continued into Aristide.  Saw the herd go by.  I ran down to the end of Diane's street, then back onto Alico Pass and saw the herd again but they were taking a brief stop.  Chatted with them for a second then they said they had one more interval to do and invited me along.  Asked them what pace and how far, 6:50 pace for 1.5 miles - ok, I figured I could hold on for a mile and a half. Was hard but fun and was doing a 6:43 pace for the last half mile.  Cool down for half mile then I continued on back to see if I could make it in time before they ran out of coffee - and was rewarded with half a cup of coffee!

Pretty eventful run, one of those anything can happen run.

4.03 mi, 39:44, 9:52 avg

I was feeling super tired this morning and a little sore from yesterday's run (with residual maybe still from Sunday), so just made this a Stella morning.  I hadn't run her this far for a while, it had been mainly 1.5 to 2 mile runs.  I think she had fun.

High 60's for temp, kind of nice out.

7.81 mi, 1:05:25, 8:23 avg

Ran at Longleaf with the Striders, starting just after 5:30.  I had been thinking about doing another tempo run but couldn't find my ipod and also thought maybe also skip it due to the half marathon this past Sunday and wanted to get my legs back to normal before Sunday's Long Play run.

After I got to my turn around I picked it up, first to 7:54, then to 7:15, then I jogged a little and then did 10 by 25 second strides with 50 seconds of rest.  I was able to get below 6:00 pace on all but two of them and got the last one down to 5:19.

I was feeling pretty good after doing these short fast bursts.

Said hi to several of the Striders at the ending area and then stopped by Havana Dreamers and joined Keith, Bret, and Patrick for their Thursday informal fellowship meeting.

This evening I found out my brother Jim got into NYC Marathon through the lottery so we will both be going.  Ryan from the Striders already accepted from his super fast 2:59 at Berlin Marathon.

7.15 mi, 1:08:09, 9:32 avg

Ran with Joe and Jamie in the neighborhood starting at 6:00.  Cool 55 degreess was pretty nice.

4 mi - unknown pace and time

Instead of doing a normal run, I just took Stella on a trail run at Starkey Park on the offroad trails.  I accidentally forgot my Garmin.  Ran from the bike parking area to the three mile loop, around that and then back.  Was a beautiful and cool morning, low 50's.  Stella had a great time and then we stopped at the Strider's social hour and her day just got better - getting lots and lots of love and attention and even a few minutes of massage from an actual massage therapist (she said they really do have pet massage certifications).