I realize that I’m a few weeks late with this blog, but what can I say? I’m a busy man with lots of very important meetings and things like that. Who has time to blog? I mean, really!
A few weeks ago, I managed to secure a free entry to the Santa Cruz Half Marathon, a race that I was not otherwise planning on doing, when a friend of a friend who couldn't make the race wanted someone to use her entry. The catch – I had to go undercover as a 37-year-old woman. “No problem,” I said to myself, “I’ll just head out to buy some Lululemon, a sports bra, and a candy bar.” I kid.
(By the way, I am well aware of the ethical dilemma surrounding the use of someone else’s bib in a race. If you wish to chew me out, do so in the comments.)
My original plan was to just relax and have fun at this race. I had already smashed my goal at the Modesto Half Marathon and this race just kind of fell into my lap, so I figured I’d run comfortably and enjoy the beautiful scenery. However, I abandoned that plan when I saw that the run had pace groups, which is something I’d never seen before for a half marathon. I started thinking that maybe I should go the other direction and try to shave even more time off my PR by using one of the pacers to pull me along. I went back and forth, but ultimately the competitive side of me won the argument and I got ambitious – I decided I would try to hang with the 2:00 pacer and see if I could ultimately get a race time that started with a “1.” If I didn't succeed, no big deal.
I showed up early to the starting point (the Boardwalk) and got to enjoy some very beautiful sunrise scenery. Eventually, people started filing in and the place started to get crowded. I escaped the masses by doing a warm-up mile along the pier.
(By the way, I am well aware of the ethical dilemma surrounding the use of someone else’s bib in a race. If you wish to chew me out, do so in the comments.)
My original plan was to just relax and have fun at this race. I had already smashed my goal at the Modesto Half Marathon and this race just kind of fell into my lap, so I figured I’d run comfortably and enjoy the beautiful scenery. However, I abandoned that plan when I saw that the run had pace groups, which is something I’d never seen before for a half marathon. I started thinking that maybe I should go the other direction and try to shave even more time off my PR by using one of the pacers to pull me along. I went back and forth, but ultimately the competitive side of me won the argument and I got ambitious – I decided I would try to hang with the 2:00 pacer and see if I could ultimately get a race time that started with a “1.” If I didn't succeed, no big deal.
I showed up early to the starting point (the Boardwalk) and got to enjoy some very beautiful sunrise scenery. Eventually, people started filing in and the place started to get crowded. I escaped the masses by doing a warm-up mile along the pier.
As good as it felt to get a warm-up out of the way before the race started, I realized it left me on the outside of a really large group of people. As a result, I wasn’t able to get close enough to the 2:00 pacer, and by the time I crossed the start line, I was not only quite a bit behind the 2:00 person, but I was a good distance behind the 2:05 pacer. As a result, I had to try and add some extra speed in the early miles. I ultimately ended up catching and passing the 2:05 runner, but I never did get the 2:00 person in my sights. Oh well; finishing ahead of the 2:05 person became my new goal.
The beginning part of the run was great. We went along West Cliff drive over some gently rolling terrain, past Natural Bridges State Park, and along the bike path that runs parallel to Highway One. I felt great and I ended up making some really good time. After about five miles into the race, we hit Wilder Ranch State Park, where we ran a trail loop that took us along the coastal bluffs. I was excited for this part of the run because I love this park and its views, but in this particular race, this was where I started hurting a little. I’m not sure if it was the introduction of more hills or the change in terrain, but my legs started to feel a little heavy. Ultimately, I was able to push through, though it didn’t feel promising when I got back to the bike path. I was a little worried that my pace would begin to drop.
The beginning part of the run was great. We went along West Cliff drive over some gently rolling terrain, past Natural Bridges State Park, and along the bike path that runs parallel to Highway One. I felt great and I ended up making some really good time. After about five miles into the race, we hit Wilder Ranch State Park, where we ran a trail loop that took us along the coastal bluffs. I was excited for this part of the run because I love this park and its views, but in this particular race, this was where I started hurting a little. I’m not sure if it was the introduction of more hills or the change in terrain, but my legs started to feel a little heavy. Ultimately, I was able to push through, though it didn’t feel promising when I got back to the bike path. I was a little worried that my pace would begin to drop.
The turning point came when the 2:05 person passed me at mile 9, which was by far my hardest mile. It was at first a very demoralizing moment for me, but after a short time it turned into a motivating factor. I decided I wasn’t going to let the 2:05 pacer out of my sight, and damn it, that’s what I did. It gave me kind of a second wind, and even though I didn’t feel all that great, I was able to keep her in my sights and slowly gain some ground on her. By the time we finished, we were neck and neck.
The final time for me was 2:05:19, which took a good three minutes off of the PR that I had established only a few weeks before. I was tired and exhausted, but overall I was happy. More than anything, it reinforced the idea that a sub-2:00 half marathon is a very realistic goal for me in the near future, so that is what I will continue to chase.
This was also my first race with a real running watch, so I actually have pretty accurate splits for the race. They are:
Mile 1 - 9:50
2 – 9:08
3 – 9:09
4 – 9:33
5 – 9:02
6 – 9:23
7 – 9:29
8 – 9:47
9 – 10:03
10 – 9:57
11 – 9:37
12 – 10:10
13 – 9:35
Pretty happy with the consistency in the first half, but I need to work on making the second half of my races match my first.
This was also my first race with a real running watch, so I actually have pretty accurate splits for the race. They are:
Mile 1 - 9:50
2 – 9:08
3 – 9:09
4 – 9:33
5 – 9:02
6 – 9:23
7 – 9:29
8 – 9:47
9 – 10:03
10 – 9:57
11 – 9:37
12 – 10:10
13 – 9:35
Pretty happy with the consistency in the first half, but I need to work on making the second half of my races match my first.