The Long Run

BDR Half Marathon Race Report

Time: 1:41:28, Overall place 40, Age group (50-54) place 2

I signed up for this race about a year and a half ago thinking it would be in March 2020, but it was postponed until this past weekend.  Forgot I'd signed up for it but my son noticed and mentioned it to his Mom.  I almost signed up for the 10K on Saturday at last minute prices, so glad I'd gotten into the half for only $40.  However, wasn't planning on running a half and wasn't really trained but I've been doing enough running to be able to do reasonably ok, maybe even better than expected.

Morning was a little warmer than expected, cold front was on its way (would be cooler by the end of the race).  Warmed up a little with 1 mile easy jogging and attempting a few strides, but they felt kind of flat.  I saw Jenny and Tom and several other people as I went back n forth between my car, packet pickup, and warmup.

This year they had a 1:40 pace group.  I thought that sounded good and decided to stick with the pace group until the last few miles and go ahead if  I felt good (did not end up sticking to that plan).

The first 7 miles were really good.  The first 4 miles I stuck right behind the pacer.  Also in the pace group was my old neighbor Stan (who has beaten me last several races we've been in together) and a guy named Dennis who I run into a lot.

Miles 1 - 4: 7:44, 7:32, 7:30, 7:51

Start line was a little different this year, it's usually a little up the road from the finish line, this year start and finish were the same.  You finish going down a little hill, so the start was going up a little hill this year but I barely noticed it.  The first mile felt good, no problem getting on pace and holding it.  Second mile was about the same, a little bit faster and I had some doubts I'd be able to hold the pace, but tried not to think about it.  We turned into Phillipe Park where there are some small rolling hills, headed north a little bit before turning around (2.8 miles into the race).  A little bit before the turnaround could see the lead runner - it was Tom.  I told the pacer "That's my son".   We continued on and Dennis introduced himself to me.  The last time I saw Dennis, he had set up a small aid station while I was running the Pinellas Trail Challenge on Keystone Road, it was very hot that day and the extra water stop was much appareciated.  

We left the park and were back on the road, going up hill a little bit.  The 4th mile was a little bit slower with my watch saying 7:51.  Worried we'd have too much time go make up I went ahead a little bit.  Dennis had also gone ahead so I thought I could just follow him.

Miles 5, 6, 7 : 7:28, 7:33, 7:35

I felt really good in mile 5 and went ahead still feeling strong in miles 6 and 7.  But, I also worried it was a mistake to leave the group.  I'm not sure exactly at one point, but pretty soon the group had caught back up to me and soon they were just a little ahead, then it became more and more.

Miles 8-12: 7:49, 8:02, 8:11, 8:21 

Gradual slowdown in these miles.  There's a little side out and back that has a turn around by a boat ramp.  This little section is always tough for me but I felt like I was hanging onto sub-8:00, just a little slower.  Once I finished mile 8 I bargained with myself to try and complete 15K with no miles slower than 8:00, however I just missed it on mile 9.  We got into the section of course that was new for this year.  In place of a neighborhood before the boat ramp, there was a run across the pedestrian bridge over McMullen-Booth road and a loop in a park just past that.

Towards the end of the park loop I passed a couple of guys.  This made me feel a little bit better, not because they had slowed down but made me feel not so bad about my pacing, it could've been worse.  Getting out of that park and heading back over the bridge helped me mentally, the remaing miles would be better.

Miles 12, 13, 13.1 : 8:03, 7:45 

Going into mile 12 I seemed to be around a 7:30ish pace but I didn't hold it, slowed a little but ended up at 8:03, not under 8:00 but at least I stopped the pace slide. Looking down the road I could see the remnants of the 1:40 group, they were a few minutes ahead.  There didn't seem to be anyone right behind me but didn't want to take chances with getting passed anymore.  I was wondering how Tom was doing, if anyone had caught up to him or if he kept his lead.  Finally, going into mile 13 I was able to hang onto sub-8:00 and pulled myself along while being pushed by the thought of someone blowing by me.  The last turn to the finish chute got nearer and nearer.  My watch was off a little.  It's usually in the other direction but this time it was "short" but I don't think the course was, just my watch.

Just after I crossed the finish line someone told me Tom had come in first place with a time under 1:15.  I saw my buddy Dixie who I hadn't seen in forever and talked to Tracy a little who was there to cheer on Stan.  Both Stan and Dennis did well coming in over 3 minutes ahead of me.

This race was a lot of fun.  Slowed down a little from the half I did in the spring but I'm not that far off.  Great to see Tom on the course and another win and a PR for him.

Post race day off.  Did manage to at least hit 12,000 steps (29 day streak this time)

5.4@10:28 HR 130 bpm

Slowed down, amost was under 130 bpm for the run, should've started earlier to get more miles.  Pace didn't feel bad, didn't have to walk, never saw HR go over 140 (but garmin says it hit 144 when I wasn't looking).

Ran from Westlake Village to the Pinellas Trail and decded to head south, turnaround point was next to Ozona Elementary.  Weather was near perfect.

I tried out a new water belt, holds a larger bottle in the small of my back, has room for the phone.  I didn't actually drink any water this run but I could've if I wanted to.

8.04@9:19 HR 137 bpm

Ran from the Longleaf church, up Starkey Blvd and into Starkey Ranch.  I usually head right toward Cannon Lake but this time went past it until I was out about 3.5 miles, then crossed the road, came back and did the Cannon Lake loop on the way back. I usually stop there for water at the nice cold water fountains, but I had my water belt on again and it was also a really nice day so I probably would have been ok with no water.  It felt kind of good to keep on going.  Pace was nice and steady throughout except the last two miles which were under 9:00 at 8:56 and 8:34.  Probbaly should have held the just over 9:00 pace from before that to get a better heart rate score.

The sidewalks in certain sections were lined with tall decorative grass that have changed to a purplish color, I'd never seen that color on that type of grass before.

5.86@8:31

Yesterday I was deciding between tempo run (4-5 miles), long repeats like 2x2miles, or 5x1k.  I chose 5x1k.

Warmed up with a little over a mile easy jogging.  Had my watch set up for 5x1k with 2:30 jogging between.  I had been in the habit previously of stopping between repeats which artificially inflated the average pace for the run.  Today's goal was to keep moving throughout the run with fixed amount of jog/rest periods.  "A" goal was 4:10 per 1km, "B" goal was hitting sub-7:00 pace on each one, "C" goal was just keep moving even if it was disappointingly slow.  I hit the "B" goal, not too far off from "A" goal, maybe next time.

Splits: 4:17, 4:18, 4:08, 4:16, 4:06 (slowest pace came out to 6:55)

The last one I could really feel my lungs and heart doing their best.  It's not fun to come back to these after being away for a long time but it's a place to start back from.

I'm going to do another half marathon on 10/31 and then a 5k a week later (run with the Bobcats at PHSC).

9.21@9:38 HR 137 bpm

Solid effort easy run with heart rate not too bad.  Trying to slowly get lower without getting too much slower.  Theoretically I should be able to just run whatever pace a low heart rate will support and eventually that pace will get faster.  But I think this is a compromise.  I slowed down purposely in mile 4 to 10:07 to average 130 bpm for that mile.  Slowly sped up after that wit the final mile at 8:48.

Very nice morning again, not too warm.  Ran from my house to SR54 ,across to Starkey Blvd and into Starkey Ranch until going about 4.5 miles.  I was temped to sprint the huckleberry shuffle (a short Strava segment)  but resisted.

Going to do something longer tomorrow.

18.22@9:44,  HR 142 bpm

Wanted something long, so goal was 18 miles.  Last long run that I had planned for 16 miles turned into 13 miles.  Weather was pretty nice, feeling cool at the start, but it soon felt a bit muggy as the temps climbed.  Headed to the Pinellas Trail from Westlake Village and headed south, didn't go over the pedestrian bridge but stayed on the sidewalk and ran through the shopping plaza as I got to Curlew Road, then kept on going, out onto the causeway all the way to the state park entrance before turning around.  Stopped at the bathroom by the surf boards and refilled my water bottle from the cold water fountain they have outside.  A couple recognized me from last week at the half marathon and we chatted a couple of minutes and then I got going again.

Back to Alt 19, crossed the street to get back to the Pinellas Trail, but headed south so I could get some more miles.  I was trying to run easy pace but it wasn't feeling easy. Heart rate was climbing so I ran the next few miles by heart rate, just trying to keep it where it was, brought it down slightly to 134.  Three slow miles at 10:36, 10:57, and 10:41.  Turn around point was at Weaver Park.   One of the walkways to the bathroom was blocked off, almost went around it but noticed the other ones were also.  Then noticed the sign that said "Caution: Bees", looked up and saw the wooden bee hive box they were using to try and relocate the bees.  Glad I saw the sign.

Headed north again and decided to not run quite as slow and stop looking at heart rate.  Back in the 9's with fastest at 9:02 (so still staying reasonably not fast).  At the Curlew traffic light is a water fountain.  Bottle was pretty low since Weaver Park had no water.  Curlew fountain was not working , first time.  Fortunately it wasn't a dire water situation and it was just a couple of miles to Pop Stansell Park. 

After that water stop it felt like I'd been running forever, but the last two miles were not so bad.

Got the miles in.