Zombie Runner Halloween Half Marathon recap (11/2) - last PR attempt, another wall of text:
Background: I was actually supposed to run a half marathon last week, but it was cancelled a few weeks ago and luckily I found this one! It's local and small, but unfortunately it's also cup-less. I experimented with handhelds and a hydration belt, but neither worked. I ultimately ran with a small water flask that fit in my flipbelt. It only holds 6 oz of water!
More background: After a hugely successful marathon, I was mildly disappointed to miss NY marathon time qualifying standards by 14 seconds. I wanted to capitalize on my fitness gains during the training cycle and try to qualify using a half marathon time.
@DopeyBadger helped devise another plan for me and this time I struggled throughout this training cycle. Stopping in the middle of runs to catch my breath, unable to hold tempos, feeling generally exhausted. I really didn't think it was possible for me to run 1:37.
@DopeyBadger believed in me and I persevered.
I still had huge reservations of meeting my goal time but felt good about at least PR'ing.
Race Day:
Temp + dew point was perfect: 80 the entire time with almost no wind!
It's a costumed race and initially I was going to go in my race day attire, but changed into a fun Christmas themed singlet last minute. Half the participants had really cool costumes, the other half were in regular running clothes.
9am - half and marathon runners start. Then a ringer showed up! I knew she was going to be blazingly fast and I could kiss any hope of 1st overall female goodbye. I toed the line since I knew there was no chip time, only gun time. Started off too fast but slowed down immediately so as not to trash my legs. I always always always fade at the end of my halfs so maintained about a 7:12-7:20 pace.
This was a trail race, but 90% is paved. One thing I learned during the race: 4%'s and and trails do not mix! I almost turned my ankle several times on the rocks! In general, it was well marked but at several junctions there was no signage. The ringer added at least an additional mile because she had no idea where she was going when there was a 3 way split in the trail. At around mile 11, I took a wrong turn and went over a bridge and into a park and realized no one was there and had to double back as well - adding 45 seconds to my time.
I could feel my hamstrings and calves almost on the verge of cramping during the last 1.5 miles but powered through. The last 0.1 miles into the finishers chute was a wet and muddy and SLIPPERY mess, which wasn't helping my calves - but I made it! Besides that wrong turn, I was able to maintain 7:09-7:18 pace, last mile at 6:59 pace, and even kicked at the very end.
Yes, the ringer was first overall female. But if she hadn't had to double back that extra mile, she would have easily won 1st overall. Her husband had to accept her award (with their baby) as she was running an extra 7 miles!
A goal: NY Qualifying time: 1:37
Time: 1:35:13!!!!
5th overall (out of 96)
2nd female overall (out of 51)
I'm so thankful to
@DopeyBadger for another amazing plan. I honestly did not believe I would achieve my A goal since I couldn't even hold 7:17 pace during my tempo runs, but his plan worked a miracle! I felt great afterwards and after accepting my award, rushed off to my son's soccer game.
And with that, I bid adieu to my attempts at PR'ing! My DH has been incredibly supportive during these last 2 training cycles, but I promised him that it was over after this, so I'm ecstatic that I was able to achieve my goals!
and got a blister on my left foot despite the constant re-application of vaseline. However, all told, I PR'd my 5k by about 2 minutes and the half by 5, so I'm overall pleased 
