Very satisfied w/today's race. It's been a rough year for me with nagging injuries- achilles and blister issues. Finally turned a corner today. Went into the race with low confidence, yet high determination. Ended up w/a 1/2 marathon pr on a fairly challenging course- 1st half downhill and 2nd half uphill on a trail. Of 400-500 runners, I came in 12th and 2nd in my age division. A more detailed race report will come later...
Mile 1: 6:18 (downhill, so just took what the road gave me)
Mile 2: 6:25 (still downhill, so continued to coast)
Mile 3: 6:31 (continue the downhill, but a little slow due to entering the trail)
Mile 4: 6:36 (leveling out a little, yet still a comfortable pace...feeling blister a little)
Mile 5: 6:32 (able to stay focussed, slightly down)
Mile 6: 6:47 (the trail was blocked from trees, so we had to veer around- probably lost 10-15 seconds due to this...yet so did everyone else)
Mile 7: 6:33 (happy with this mile because it was pretty flat)
Mile 8: 6:46 (starting the slow climb up...had to work hard for this mile)
Mile 9: 7:00 (getting steeper and more aware of my blister)
Mile 10: 6:57 (this mile was my strongest effort of the run...determined not to go over 7)
Mile 11: 7:05 (well...there's the 7- still going uphill)
Mile 12: 7:09 (never lost concentration- just telling myself the pain will soon be over)
Mile 13: 7:01 (moved from the trail to the road, the hill was much steeper, yet the road was easier for picking up speed)
Last .1: 5:38 pace (my garmin actually measure it out as .15 miles)
Total: Ran 13.1(5) in 1:28:35- new pr for me in the half marathon. Great confidence builder for Philly in 2 weeks.
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