I did put in some solid workouts so I was feeling optimistic that a 1:16-17 time would be doable. My final time: 1:24:05. That's where I was in the summer of 2012. My plan for the race was to open in 6:00 or so and then try to bring it down. I went 6:05, 5:55, and then got progressively slower throughout the race. I have no idea why my body did not respond that day. I did a 10 mile tempo in 60:00 during the buildup and felt comfortable that whole time. It comes to raceday and I can only hold that same pace for two. It was definitely a discouraging result after clawing my way back to full health. I was left with a choice: end my season with some easy running or build to another half marathon. If folks know me, there was really only one option.
I had five weeks in between races and picked training right back up where I left it prior to Humboldt. In five weeks, I crushed workouts that gave me more and more confidence that I could put together a good race. My progression included:
2 miles 11:18, 4 x 800m in 2:45, 2 x 400m in 74, 72
10 x 1k averaging 3:37 with short rest on bark (slower surface)
4 mile XC race- 24:10, 8k XC race 29:51- not quick average paces but very good considering the terrain
14 mile long run- 6:30 pace, last mile 5:45; 12.3 mile progression run- 6:23 pace, last mile 5:45
2 x 4 miles in 23:45, 23:32 (5 mile run in between sets)
2 x (2k, 1k, 1k) in 7:14, 3:25, 3:26, 7:11, 3:24, 3:21, 4 x 400m in 77, 75, 75, 72
4 mile tempo 23:20
I jammed in a lot of quality efforts over five weeks and signed up for the Eugene EWEB Half Marathon. The morning of the race was a little chilly but ideal for racing- low 30s and no wind. The course mainly ran on flat bike paths. In the opening quarter mile of the race I found myself behind an elite woman from Team Run Eugene. A male pacer stepped in with her and they told me they were looking to average 6:00 pace or so and then try to work things down. The field in front of us was just moving a little too quick for me so if I did not run with them I would have been by myself which would have made for a tougher day. Ideally, I would have wanted 5:50-55 pace for a shot at a 1:16 half. I chose to stay with that group and by 4-5 miles we had a pack of 6. We were clipping off miles in 5:55-6:00. I was feeling strong and tucked myself in behind the pacer. By 8 miles, our pack was down to 4, with two falling off the pace. I started to get a little side stitch but fought it off over the next two miles. I took a gel a little after 9 and by 10 I had a little more pop in me. We went through 10 miles in 59:35. This is a solid mark. I wanted to be a little quicker because this comes out to a 1:18 half but I was happy to be racing. After a mile closer to 5:50 from 10-11 I broke up our pack of four and separated with another male runner. I kept pressing and gapped him by 12. At 12.5 he moved in front of me and had me by a couple of steps until 13. At 13 I made a decisive move to kick past him for the finish line. I finished four seconds up on him and 14 on the elite woman runner who ran a great race to win! My final time was 1:17:50 (5:56 pace)- good for 6th overall and 3rd in my age group. I ran my last 5k in 18:15 which is 5:52 pace and would come out to 1:17:00 for a half marathon. It is encouraging that my last 5k was my fastest. It was also encouraging to race in a pack of six and come across the finish line as the first runner.
1:17:50 stands as my new PR. If I could somehow double that, it would be 2:35 marathon pace. 1:17 is a time I thought was attainable in the fall of 2013. It took two years, some injuries, and battle with feeling lightheaded in training, to finally put together a good race. Everything clicked for me last Sunday. I finally broke through and ran a half marathon that would indicate something comparable to a 2:40 marathon. It is encouraging that I felt the way I did at the end of the race. That gives me confidence moving forward. My fall season is now coming to a close (one 10k XC race left) but there is plenty to be excited about looking ahead to 2016. I ran a qualifier for the NYC half marathon. That will be the goal spring half before tackling a full marathon. I think I can run 1:15/2:37 this spring. I'm going to leave it at that. It doesn't always make sense for someone like me to keep training the way I do. I'm nowhere near elites who drop sub-1:05 half marathons. I would say sub-elites might range from 72 and down. The goal is to get there and see how far I can take it. I'm not a runner who started with a lot of natural talent. My first 5k was in over 24:00. My first half marathon was in 1:45. I'm just trying to get better every day and keep moving away from where I started. 1:17 gives me the motivation to keep going. It validates years of hard work. It showed me what can be possible. I'm ready for what 2016 has to throw at me.
