Another weekend, another race, and another good experience. My confidence for a decent marathon in December is growing, which is the best thing to take away from this morning. This morning was the 1st Grants Pass Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and when I heard the winner received winter running gear, as well as a tech shirt and gloves to every participant, I figured the price was right to race. It was fairly cool this morning in GP, around high 30's-low 40's with just a bit of moisture in the air. I couldn't decide what to wear, but went with a long-sleeve shirt and gloves which was about right. After a 2 mile warm-up, we lined up to start the race. I had 3 goals before the race; 1) win, 2) in the slowest time possible, 3) with each mile under 6:00/pace. The first 2.2 miles were like a typical HS cross country course on grass, wood-chip trails, bike trails, wooden bridges and around many tight corners. From that point on we ran on a highway that consisted of rolling hills and stretches of pancake flat roads. I ran with another guy through the first 3 miles at a comfortable pace. For the next 3 miles, once per mile I would surge for 30 seconds and increase the gap between the two of us. The pick-ups felt pretty good and it broke up the miles mentally. I thought if nothing else it would mess with the other guys head a bit.... :) Around mile 8 both of my hamstrings felt rather tight and possibly strained? I didn't want to push the pace any harder, but at least maintain and finish off the run without a hint of an injury. I pushed my last mile to see what I had left and was able to hit a 5:09, so that built the confidence a bit. The final .1 took us back onto the grass and across the start/finish line where they had chocolate milk waiting for the finishers (why don't all races provide this? It was awesome!).
Anyway, so I pushed it harder than I originally planned, but that seems to happen to me every time I race. It's hard for me to slow down when I get caught up in the 'excitement' of the race. At the same time, I don't think I 'gave it everything I had,' but that's okay. I ran faster @ the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon in 2006 by 7 seconds, but I think I'll count this as a PR for a couple reasons. It wasn't a blazing downhill and it was a loop course that started and finished at the same spot so there wasn't an elevation gain/drop. Perhaps I could have gone a bit faster had I tapered some or if I hadn't ran 70 miles this week (my highest ever). Not a big deal though.... I just looked at this as a training run for Sacramento. 2.5 miles to cool down and my hamstrings feel better now, so hopefully it's nothing, but I'll keep my eye on them. So I met 2 out of 3 goals. I won and kept each mile under 6:00/pace, but I could have slowed down some, but again, I get caught up in the race and have a problem not racing.
Type A (40) Shoes feel good enough that I'll consider them for the full 26.2 Splits: Mile
| Split
| Total Time
| | 1 | 5:39 | -
| 2
| 5:50
| 11:29
| 3
| 5:45
| 17:14
| 4
| 5:31
| 22:45
| 5
| 5:35
| 28:20
| 6
| 5:35
| 33:55
| 7
| 5:33
| 39:28
| 8
| 5:43
| 45:11
| 9
| 5:44
| 50:55
| 10
| 5:43
| 56:38
| 11
| 5:48
| 1:02:26
| 12
| 5:37
| 1:08:03
| 13
| 5:09
| 1:13:12
| | .1 | .31 | 1:13:43
|
| 
