April arrived slightly faster than I was expecting. The 1/2 marathon was here before I knew it. I'd actually forgotten about it the day prior to the race until someone mentioned it to me. "Oh yea, I'm running that tomorrow. Almost forgot!"Weather was about 45 F and overcast. I had BEATING a 2 hour 8 minute time locked in my mind. Oatmeal in me. Wearing just shorts...well shorts, shoes & sox, shirt (long sleeve and short sleeve under), gloves, ski cap, my shades, my Garmin watch AND my trusty Treo phone to take pictures in the back pocket of my shorts. A lot folks were wearing long sweat pants or tights.
I needed a 9 minute 45 per mile pace to beat my 2:08 Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon from last year.
I ran with some friends at the start, they set an 8 min/mi pace and then sped up. At the 3 mile mark (10.1 miles remaining) only 24 mins had passed. Still an 8 min/mi pace. I knew this was a bit too fast...or a lot to fast if 9:45 was really the goal. I decided to listen to my breathing and run whatever pace my breathing needed.
The race was an out and back so FAST runners started flying by heading back about 5 miles into the race. The turn around was at 7 miles. People were STILL passing me, but finally I could see I wasn't in last place. ha! There were lots of people still running to the turn around. My watch said I'd run the first 7 miles in about 1 hour. I did the calculations in my head. "Hmmm...I could break 2 hours!" I felt great.
As the miles went by I knew I was running a good race at a good pace for me. With 3 miles to go I told myself to pick up the pace a little. I started passing people. Finally with the finish insight, I turned it up one more notch to finish in 1 hour 52 minutes and 41 seconds! A 8:26 min/mi. I beat my old PR for the 1/2 marathon by 15 minutes. Guess I'm in a little better shape than last year!
It was MUCH easier than the last 1/2 marathon! ...and even though it's April Fools, THIS whole story is true!
