Rex Healthcare City of Oaks Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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raleigh, North Carolina
United States
Raleigh Running Outfitters
38F / 3C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 37m 45s
Overall Rank = 108/1026
Age Group = M30-34
Age Group Rank = 12/153
Pre-race routine:

Ran the course one week prior to the race, under similar race-day conditions (49F start, technical t-shirt and shorts, 24 oz. of water and 8 oz. Heed mix, one gel 15 minutes before starting, a second gel at 50 minutes (just past 6.5 miles). Did the course in 1:40:29 solo. Am shooting for 1:35 flat on race day. Edit: It wasn't in me at the end.


Event warmup:

Well, we almost waited too late to take warmup clothes back to the truck, so I was in a dead sprint to get our stuff (mine and my wife's) back to the truck in time to make the start. Made it back just in time to hear the national anthem, get the rock out of my shoe, and step into the corral between 7:00 and 8:00 mile paces. That was a good fit for me.
Run
  • 1h 37m 45s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 07m 28s  min/mile
Comments:

Chip time: 1:37:45
Gun time: 1:38:21

Splits:
:36 from my start position to the line
1 7:08
2 6:47 (went out too hard...)
3 6:44
4 6:52
5 6:52
6 7:17 (more like it)
7 7:28
8 7:45 (from Cameron Village to Brooks)
9 8:00 (including :30 potty stop)
10 7:43 all along Hillsborough, in a headwind
11 7:52 starting to really cramp up in the calves
12 7:54 pretty much downhill, which shows how much I was slowing down
13 8:26 around RBC, hurting
0.1 0:50 this was all the sprint I could do...

Overall 1:38:21

This was my first half-marathon, and I had to take one full week off training due to IT band injury, so I am tickled with a 131 overall, 12/153 age group, 108/1026 male finish. Ahead of planned goal, a little off the stretch goal of 1:35, but it is what it is.

What would you do differently?:

Actually, work on more tempo runs. Work more on preventing calf cramps (hydration, use Heed the entire run, not just after two water bottles). Have something left for mile 12-13.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around a few minutes. Grabbed an energy bar. Grabbed a small beer from Red Oak! That hit the SPOT! Stretched the legs, kept moving to keep from cramping up further. Went down and found the crew that was out supporting Team Bad News Bears. I was first finisher from the team!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Long tempo runs. Needed to focus more on the hills. Figure out why I had to potty after mile 8 in a half-mary! I went like 4 times before the race, including about 10 minutes before race start.

Event comments:

They ran out of Gu at mile 8, which affected my wife who finished about 45 minutes behind me. Fortunately, I advised her to always carry one extra with her, so she was okay, but that was not part of the plan.

This was my wife's first half-mary as well, and her longest race prior to this had been a 5k. Her longest run in training was 10 miles. I am SOOOO proud of her! After I finished, I went over and bought two 13.1 decals. When she was running from the final mile marker, I jumped the ropes and ran in with her, dangling the decal in front of her. She got a kick out of that, then turned on a sprint that I could not match!

Update 11/5/07: I got moved up a position in my age group from 13th to 12th! Woo-hoo!


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Last updated: 2007-07-12 12:00 AM
Running
01:37:45 | 13.1 miles | 07m 28s  min/mile
Age Group: 12/153
Overall: 108/1026
Performance: Good
Course: Pretty rolling to midway, then some hill climbing up to Davie, then up to Fayetteville St., then up to Glenwood on Edenton, then up Glenwood to Peace, then up Peace/Clark to Oberlin. Small hill on Brooks, then again on Van Dyke, and steady uphill on Clark to Hillsborough. Last hill was around the RBC center, and my calves were shot by mile 11. I went out too hard!!
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %3
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4