Legacy 1/2 Marathon

This was a new experience for me, as I've never run a half marathon before. I've run the distance twice before - once was at Ricks during my first year of wrestling try-outs. They called it the "locker run" - finish 13 miles in under 2.5 hours and you get a locker. I don't remember my time, but I missed first place by not taking the short-cut at the finish. The last time I ran the distance was about a year ago when I was running 5-10km 5 times/week. I started out on a 10k run and ended up doing 28km. Wasn't fast, but boy did it hurt!

I have not been running regularly, as I've been more focused on biking. I ran 12km on Thurs and 6km on Friday - and that's the only running I'd done in 3 weeks! I really did not know what to expect, but really wanted to break 2 hours.

Paul Clarke gave me a massage on Friday, and then came up to the start early and gave me a foot massage Saturday morning. That was GREAT!

I was under the impression that the course was pretty flat - a gentle incline out, and a gentle decline back. So, I figured that we'd head from the JR. High down 5th onto the bypass, and then out to Aetna - WRONG - keep following the road out to the border!! That's not a gentle incline!!

I started off a little quick and was grateful to have my wife's Garmin on so that I could monitor my pace. Brought it back down to a 9 min/mile pace. That's what I'd need to average to break 2 hours. When I realized that we were heading straight through the intersection instead of turning to Aetna I was really wondering if I'd be able to break 2 hours, this is a hilly route!

I kept my pace, averaged exactly 9 min/ mile for the first half. HR average was 164, peaking at 176. I made the turn and kicked it up a notch. I started passing people on the hills, and then recovering a bit on the way down. I caught up to Chico, passed him on a downhill, he passed me back on the flat, then I passed him again on the next climb. Gradually continued to real people in. I averaged 8:04 min/mile for the second half to finish the race in 1:51:43! Shattered 2 hours. My average HR on the way back was 174 peaking at 188 (last half mile I sprinted trying to catch one more person before the finish, but couldn't quite do it - missed her by about 10 yards.)

It was great to see Melanie waiting for me at the finish! Total feet climbing was just shy of 1600 - I think that's a pretty hilly course! 900 on the way out, 700 on the way back.

Now to get the weight to continue to come off!