This might be my favorite half marathon - definitely one of my top favorites. It's somewhat lowkey, has a nice route through "old Florida" neighborhoods and near the water, and I actaully kind of like the two loop course, and then there is the nice refreshments at the end. This is also my PR course (2012). Last year it was my fastest half between November and March. Hopefully it won't be my fastest this year.
The past week my legs had been feeling tired, with no bounce. It seemed to start the week before with the long run on Saturday and then some moderate speedwork on Monday pacing Lisa for some repeats. During that run I stepped off the curb incorrectly and felt a warning pain in my hip/groin area, so the rest of the week I took it easy. Was originally going to try and get a six mile tempo run on Wednesday but skipped it out of caution. I knew that doing the tempo run could do more harm than good.
Race morning, still feeling mentally unprepared, but fortunately that slowly wore off. Rode down to the race with Jessica and ran into Cynthia and Joe and then eventually Jamie and Renee. Easy jog with Jessica about a half mile then I did some strides.
Race started and I took off after Ollie and Bill Cottrell (the Dr. that almost always beats me). I was happy when I saw my pace was about a 6:45 halfway into the first mile. Held that pace through the mile and a little bit beyond. Hit the first bridge ascent, slowed a little on the way up but got most of it back on the way down and managed a 6:58. These first two miles were better than I had expected. I decided I'd do my best but not worry about pace for the rest of the race.
About mile 3 or so I think I passed a woman wearing a black and white top, I'd see her again.
Heading back into Ozona on the first loop I saw Jessica running the 5k, actually she saw me. I was looking but missed her until right when we were crossing.
Hit the halfway point and then a little past it as we were heading back out to the trail I felt pretty good and managed one more mile under 7:00. I came up behind the first place female, pulled ahead of her and kept a pretty good gap until just past mile 10. I felt myself slowing down and now she was right behind me. I didn't want to mess up her pace so I slowed to have her get back in front of me. It seemed to help a little as we both sped up. Just before the mile 12 marker, the woman in the black and white top came up behind us both running at a steady pace. So, I tried to pick it up.
There was a man walking his two dogs on leashes and then another woman with two dogs not on leashes. The two dogs briefly went after the black and white top woman until the owner could get them back in control. I closed the gap a little at this point but she pulled ahead and took off even faster once at the 12 mile sign.
I turned the last corner and saw 1:33:53 on the clock and tried my best to sneak in under 1:34. It felt like a slow motion dream as I saw each second tick. Thought maybe I had made it but no, it would be 1:34:00.
The black and white top woman's name is Lois, and she always seems to beat me no matter how fast or slow I run by just a little bit. 30 seconds today. The former first place female ended up with second place, coming in about 20 seconds behind me. Lois was about 30 seconds ahead.
Last year I was 10th overall and 2nd place age group - same rankings this year, just a little bit slower pace.
Jessica was waiting for me at the end and then we watched Joe, Renee, Cynthia, and Jamie come through the finish line.
For what I was feeling before the race started, I was pretty happy with how I ran the race
Splits: 6:43, 6:58, 7:02, 7:07, 7:09, 7:30, 7:10, 6:59, 7:09, 7:31, 7:45, 7:26,7:13
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