Atlanta Half-Marathon – 2007

Atlanta Half Marathon – 2007

How I Got Here

I did my first marathon in March, ING Georgia. I used Novice I and it got me across the finish line in around 5 hours. After pondering what’s next, I decided to break out “Run Fast” and see if I could improve my speed. I patched together a 5k plan, a 10k plan and a ½ plan (Hal’s Intermediate I) with the Atlanta Half as the goal at the end of the group. The 5k and 10k races both had better than expected results but I did not know what to expect going into the half. One important thing I learned is I can’t do 5 days a week – the body can handle the running but I can’t get enough sleep!

Goals

Based on my training, I thought I should be able to break 2 hours for the first time. When I ran a 13 mile training run in 2, I started thinking about breaking 1:50. That was my stretch goal.

Karma

I’ve done this race twice before (2:05 in 2002; 2:15 in 2005). It’s always been in the 30’s and clear as a bell – just a great race.This year, I was talking it up to people – great weather, great race, blah blah. So, of course it rained – and it was in the 60’s.

The Race

Good race morning – food, bodily functions, etc. Prep felt much easier after having done a marathon.

No rain at the start, although I had my plastic bag rain coat ready. Just as the gun went off, the rain started. By the end of the first three miles I was good and soaked, including wet socks, but then it eased off.

It only took about a mile to get out of the pack. I felt good and I was trying to focus on keeping my cadence high and “feeling” my pace. Mile markers had me feeling on track, although I overcorrected a little after the first mile.

Miles 1 – 5: 41:48 8:21 avg

The second 5 were tougher. I took a gel/potty break at 7 that maybe took a minute but I felt a little off afterwards. This also is where the uphills started. I kept my pace but it felt more like work!

Miles 6 – 10: 44:04 8:48 avg

The final 5k we the rain kicked back up and we started getting gusts of wind. I focused on pushing myself – I tend to leave a little gas in the tank and I didn’t want to do that today. The highest point on the course and a couple rough hills are in the final 3.1 but I figured now is the time to push it out.

Miles 11 – 13.1: 24:59 8:03 avg

Final time: 1:50:48(chip)

I was disappointed for a second (at not breaking 1:50) and then realized it was a PR, it was less than ideal conditions and, more importantly, I felt like I’d pushed myself hard, which was the goal.

Next up

Tybee Island Marathon on February2. Goal is to break 4 and McMillan says I can do it, so I’ve got no excuses,right?

Thanks to Balega for making great socks – no blisters. Hal Higdon, thanks for the training plans and your great message boards for support and advice!