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Delaware Half Marathon

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Location:

Fairfax,VA,

Member Since:

May 31, 2012

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Post High School Road PRs

Mile         4:30 (2016)

5K          15:24 (2017)

10K        31:48 (2018)

10M       52:23 (2017)

Half     1:09:14 (2018)

Mar.    2:29:41 (2015)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Stay injury free, consistently train, and enjoy running

PR in the 5K,10K,10M, half marathon

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

2019 Race Schedule

1/1               New Years Day 5k (1st, 16:08)

2/3               For The Love 10k 

3/16             Shamrock Half Marathon

4/7               Cherry Blossom 10 Mile

4/28             NJ Marathon ?

 

9/29             Berlin Marathon

 

 

Personal:

Live near DC in Fairfax, VA. Hoping to train tough and see what I've got before time and other responsibilities catch up to me.

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
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Adidas Adios 3 Lifetime Miles: 109.00
Adidas Sub 2 Flats Lifetime Miles: 18.50
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Adidas Supernova.6 Lifetime Miles: 438.10
Saucony Ride 10 Lifetime Miles: 70.05
Race: Delaware Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:10:55, Place overall: 3, Place in age division: 2
Total Distance
17.00

Greg invited me to run this race and we wanted to go 1-2. But of course the allure of big money for the course record attracted an Olympic Trials Qualifier to the field. As a sub-elite, or a good club runner as some would call me, you always run the risk of running a smaller race that has a shitty course or very bad management. Overall the Delaware half wasn't that bad. The good: It was free to enter, we had an elite tent, we had free food, beer, and other swag from the race. The weather was perfect, at 54 degrees with a light breeze. This was the good news.

The bad news about Delaware: 1. The course was full of constant turns which were not all correctly marked. Greg and I had to slow to a jog once to figure out where to go. we had no bike escort. We also took a slight wrong turn at another spot because there was no one there to direct us and the marshals/police just ignored us since there were relay runners around us. 2. The relay runners. At mile three we slammed right into four-wide relay joggers who were impossible to weave around and we couldn't take the tangents. Seriously, what kind of race puts a relay right in the way of the faster half marathoners? It was obnoxious. It was obvious the race only cared about making a profit, jamming as many races onto the course as possible without regards to running a smooth operation. 3. The course-it was awful as far as the number of turns and the ELEVATION.  We were cruising a 5:16 pace through 5 miles. at mile 6-7 we dropped a 6:01 climbing a hill. after that my legs were crap and Greg managed to get a gap on me on the rolling hills portion that I could not make up. by then the legs were shot and the downhill portion seemed not to help at all.  see my splits and elevation below:

As you can see from 6-7 sucked ass and I was never able to recover my legs:

splits: 5:24, 5:15, 5:12, 5:19, 5:18, 5:18, 6:01!, 5:30, 5:28, 5:28, 5:25, 5:20, 5:27, .25

The good news: 1. I made $150 bucks. 2. I was able to keep up with Greg for longer than I used to.  3.  Here are the PRs of the top three in the race, their times today, and difference:

1. Andrew Weaver: 1:04:27 time today: 1:08:49  Difference: 4min 22 sec.

2. Greg Mariano:     1:08:31 time today: 1:10:24  difference: 1 min 53 sec.

3. Matt Deters:         1:09:45 time today: 1:10:55 difference: 1 min 10 sec.

So the course took its toll on everyone and obviously it wasn't just me with a slow time. It also mean, at least to me, that I can crack 1:09 for sure in a race with flat terrain and a few less turns.

Considering how sore and tired I am, I call today a very good race for me, despite my time.

Results 

Course:

PM: 45 min. pool run

Comments
From jtshad on Mon, May 09, 2016 at 12:37:21 from 141.221.191.225

Great run on a tough and crowded course.

From Jason D on Mon, May 09, 2016 at 13:29:55 from 68.80.27.222

That hill does look rather nasty. You get my blog award for "Worst Race Luck Ever." That's a strong time on that course.

I think you'll find you knock out a substantial half PR this fall in marathon training for one of the two races you have. Despite your distaste for the marathon distance there's no better way to run a half marathon PR (at least with the combination of training I have been able to put together)

From Freakitypopo on Mon, May 09, 2016 at 15:23:50 from 128.164.106.27

Thanks! I completely agree Jason. The long progressive runs for marathon training are what's needed to develop the strength necessary for a great half. I think I'll try two halfs this fall and give it a go!

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