Well, this race was really a good one for me. I felt good, and I ran according to how I felt. My primary goal was to be 7:15-7:20 pace (marathon pace) during the first half, even allowing myself to slow more for the uphills. My Garmin proved unreliable again in this race (should I return the dang thing?), showing a pace slower than the what my actual time between mile markers showed. I will post my Garmin splits though they are generally slower than my time between mile markers (my overall distance according to my watch is 12.95, and I am sure the course was dead on).
I warmed up 2.5 miles before the race. I bought new running shorts yesterday with three mesh pockets in the back, and I put a gu in one and I lost it somewhere in my warm up! I was assured there was gu on the course.
1 - 7:04 I felt good but felt like I may be getting myself in trouble by going out too fast.
2 - 7:17 I think this was the first mile that measured significantly longer than the mile marker, the real pace for this mile was probably more like 7:12. I started to run with a man from Hawaii. He was too small of a frame to draft much off, but he was a great companion.
3 - 7:21 according to garmin, but 7:10 according to pace from marker to marker
4 - 7:11, there was the uphill to Osmonds in this mile, stayed strong, fell behind Mr. Hawaii in the uphill but caught up on the gradual downhill
5 - 6:59, gradual downhill and flat, felt good, started to think that perhaps I would do much better than my projection of 1:34ish
6 - 7:20, (7:10 by marker) Zephyr hill in this mile and water station. There was a water station at about 5.6 miles but NO GU!! Mr. Hawaii heard me ask for one and was kind enough to share one with me.
7 - 7:18 (7:26 by marker) crest the final hill and suddenly realize I am over halfway done, and I am looking forward to a couple of downhills.
8 - 6:41 - downhill baby! I pass Mr. Hawaii.
9 - 7:01 still feeling good, and I pass Hal as he slowed down too much at the water station.
10 - 7:01, some downhill, I close the gap on Hal and Mr Hawaii, but never quite get them, but I kept them in touch and ran the same pace, which was an improvement on many races where I just let people pass me and then the fact that they pass me encourages me to slow down. So am toughening up. My next step is to actually catch up to them and give them a run for their money.
11 - 7:08 I realize I will break 1:32 if I keep around 7 minute pace
12 - 6:56 I am feeling good
13 - 6:37 pace for the last .95 my Garmin recorded.
These splits were generally slower than actual because my Garmin measured short, but they show that I did do negative splits.
I kicked at the end somewhat but Hal and Mr. Hawaii stayed ahead.
Overall pace is 6:59.4 (yes, Tom, the .4 matters and it matters that it was under 7 minutes).
I then ran .6 cool down then had to get home. When I got home I ran really slow to the nearby park for a pancake breakfast as part of Woodland Hills Day, still in my running outfit. I wasn't very hungry (one sausage, half a big pancake, and some toxic Sunny D) so when the boys wanted to play I said "Sure" and I did the "Sasha", I ran around the park while my boys played and got in about another 1.5 miles.
I wonder if the "flat 1/2 marathon" on the race predictor means a flat 1/2 marathon or if it nets flat (has uphill and downhill but starts and ends in the same place).
This race and others predict me under 3:10 marathon in St. George (this one predicts 3:06!!) but I am afraid to go out planning for under 3:10 since it is my first marathon ever. Tom has given me a spreadsheet that gives projected splits which takes elevation gains/losses in account, but I am not sure what my goal ending time should be. I surprised myself with the race today, but I don't want a negative surprise in St. George. I am going to need some advise on this topic. Help! | 