Race results

On Sunday I participated in my first half marathon. When I first started training, I thought maybe 2:15 would be a good goal. About half way through the training, I felt like I would be around 2:30. But then at the end of training I was able to run a little faster and 2:15 seemed realistic again. I ended up with a 2:18:12.

My split times were:
5k: 30:31
10k: 1:00:56
10mi: 1:42:03

I ran very well the first 8 miles. I cramped up a bit around mile 5 but ran through it ok. I actually ran the first 6 miles a little faster than I had been practicing, but felt pretty good about it. Around the 8 mile marker, I used the bathroom, and made it to about the 10th mile before I started really slowing down. At the last 3 water stops, I walked a lot farther than I had intended, but by that point my muscles were completely fatigued. I had hoped to do a last little sprint at the finish line, but I had nothing left by that point. Despite all the pain, I felt I did pretty well for my first half marathon.

I think that if I boosted my low-mileage practice runs by 1 mile each, I would have been better prepared for the race. I also learned during the race that I can push myself a little harder than I did in my practice runs. We'll see if I can keep up that intensity for my next event.

The fact that the marathon had rock 'n roll bands helped the race seem faster. When the race got to the residential area around mile 7 there were no bands and no people cheering, and that part of the race seemed to take forever.

Also, knowing that there were other people I knew going through the same experience made the entire thing more bearable. Knowing that my wife, sister, mother, and friends were pushing themselves just as hard as I was made it seem like I could keep going.

I'm not sure what my next event will be. Right now, I just want to relax a bit and rest my tired muscles.

So I have a something to look back on, here's a log of my entire training:

• 09/30/06 - 6.5 miles (65 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 09/27/06 - 30 minute neighborhood run
  
• 09/25/06 - 30 minute neighborhood run
  
• 09/23/06 - 11.5 miles (125 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 09/20/06 - 31 minute neighborhood run
  
• 09/18/06 - 49 minute neighborhood run
  
• 09/16/06 - 10.5 miles (117 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 09/13/06 - 31 minute neighborhood run
  
• 09/11/06 - 41 minute neighborhood run
  
• 09/02/06 - 9.5 miles (101 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 08/30/06 - 41 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/28/06 - 40 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/26/06 - 8.5 miles (91 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 08/23/06 - 35 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/21/06 - 39 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/19/06 - 8.5 miles (92 min, and two yellow jacket stings) at Crystal Springs
  
• 08/16/06 - 25 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/14/06 - 38 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/12/06 - 7.5 miles (81 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 08/11/06 - 33 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/09/06 - 38 minute neighborhood run
  
• 08/06/06 - 80 minute run at San Andreas Trail
  
• 08/04/06 - 3.5 mile treadmill run
  
• 08/02/06 - 3.5 mile treadmill run
  
• 07/26/06 - 2.5 mile treadmill run
  
• 07/24/06 - 6x400 interval treadmill run (3.0 miles total distance)
  
• 07/22/06 - 6 miles (66 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 07/20/06 - 39 minute neighborhood run
  
• 07/16/06 - 4x400 interval treadmill run (2.5 miles total distance)
  
• 07/14/06 - 5 miles (53 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 07/12/06 - 33 minute neighborhood run
  
• 07/10/06 - 2.5 mile treadmill run
  
• 07/08/06 - 4 miles (43 min) at Crystal Springs
  
• 07/07/06 - 30 minute neighborhood run
  
• 07/04/06 - 4 miles at Crystal Springs