Well I have good news and bad news about today’s half marathon. As I shared here, I went into this race looking to get rid of my old half marathon PR, which had stood for 7 years–since 2005! I knew it was a 1:28-something so I just looked it up: 1:28.57.
The good news: I hit 13.1 miles (21.1 kilometers) at 1:26.30.
The bad news: The finishline was not there. I still had to run 1 minute and 42 more seconds to cross the line. My garmin read 21.53 kilometers and 1:28.12 at the finishline.
So I’m a little bummed as I don’t get a lot of chances to better my time at this distance, and I don’t like having an asterisk by my PR! Now of course I really want to figure out a way to do another half marathon in the next few months …
Rationally, though, I have to say that I am pleased with how my running has progressed in just a few months of work with Coach Joel. We have been doing a lot of training, and focusing on the bike of late, but I can see my run coming along as well.
For me to be able to run the pace I did today and have it feel controlled (not trying to say I was holding back–I wasn’t, and could not have run faster than I did today) is a big step forward. I went for it from the start as I thought I would need to force the speed a bit up front because it still does not come naturally for me; just on Thursday, my legs were so full of lead that I literally could not run one minute at half marathon pace!
But apparently my first easy day in about two months—yesterday—worked some magic because my first miles were 6:12 and 6:17 and I actually did not feel like I was sprinting woohoo! I did get slower from there as my first half (the 10.55km half, that is) was 42:20 and my 21.1 km time was 1:26.30, but I never felt bad—just a gradual tightening of the legs and I got to the point where I just couldn’t turn them over any faster than I was doing.
All in all, I am pleased with my run, but just annoyed with this race, as I didn’t need to travel all the way to the other side of Phoenix to run a slow course!
Someone else had a big day today too . . .
It’s a rough life when you’re a puppy!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey-o! I say you have a new half-marathon PR of 1:26. Screw the long course
Congrats, coach, on an awesome effort! Oh, and you looked darn cute in your new Lulu attire while doing it!
Way to go on your “true” PR! We all know your body is clocking some swifter than usual runs, and that is what really matters.
Cheers,
Taryn
Such a sweet post about your grandpa earlier this week. I hear ya on the 13.1+. I did that in Dec….ran 13.25 instead of 13.1….those minutes really do add up on the end. GRRR!!!!!!! But man, your running times are really starting to lower and get fast, so whatever you are doing is working and keep it up!!!!
I’m happy and sad for you. Next time you attempt this, don’t forget to bring along the dooder.
doooooooooooder let’s do another one and crush a 1:25 next time!! still holding out hope for hollywood on april 8th–unclear whether this will be permitted by coach, though! didn’t want to make you drive all the way out here to pace doooooder but that would be semi-close!
I am happy that Dave will be running HURT next year and Coachie and I will be the prettiest crew/pacers ever. Wait….what…..am I starting rumors??!
so IN for this!!!!
I know it’s frustrating when your Garmin reads your exact mileage and the course drags on. I feel like this happens all the time. My Garmin read 13.24 yest. instead of 13.1 in Pasadena. Why do they stretch out the race course? I hope you feel better about this today as YOU KNOW what you did out there… you busted your ass, got your PR and you know you are getting faster and faster. That’s the best part! Happy for you!
I also ran that Half. Conditions were great, course was easy, and I was hoping for a great PR. At the end, my Garmin read 13.36 miles. I polled 4 other runners after the finish: 2 had 13.40 miles, and the other 2 had 13.38 miles. This was more than just a slight hiccup that we sometimes see with some other races.
Great job!!! Try not to dwell on that damned asterisk!
thanks rob!
yeah we sure could have run a more scenic and logistically easy race; to me the only value of this one was the PR potential!
I was mad that the course was long too. I ran with you for a little while there during the small uphill portions. At least you know you can do it now. Just find a ceritfied course. Nice job on the race and good luck!
thanks lionel! nice run to you too–wish i could’ve kept up with ya! i tried!:)
they need to get a new tape measure! I hate when that happens but in the great scheme of things you know your run faster and that’s what matters
Blargh! I hate when long courses happen! I just experienced the same frustration at my last 1/2 mary….I told EVERYONE I was going sub-1:40….and ran 1:40:++…….but my 13.1 was 1:39:20…and my avg. pace was spot on. I still wanted my official time to prove it.
I hope you get the chance to do it again soon!
i ran this and got 13.4 on my garmin. others were the same.
it was a bummer that the course was long as another 1:30 off my time would have been nice.
i hear ya kevin! so frustrating. 1:30+ is a lot in a half marathon, as far as i am concerned! just got a feedback inquiry from them and will definitely be sending some
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