This is my first stand alone run race of any length and it was strange to start without a swim or bike beforehand.

My goal was to run the race as 5 miles slightly below race pace, 5 miles at race pace and then the last 5km as fast as possible.

I think I started a little too quickly, wanted to hit the turnaround just a little faster than 45' - I was a full minute ahead of schedule but was feeling fine and had some people to follow. I was in the top 10 for the entire first half of the race, running steady, form felt solid and not really pushing that hard.

The second 5 miles, I started pushing a little more but wasn't feeling as in control; obviously effort was higher but just wasn't feeling smooth and felt that I was slowing down - looking at the time when I went through 16km I think I was pretty solid but was a little too fast through 16km as the last five I had little left to give.

Finishing through the seaport and back into the park, I felt okay, not fast but was holding my pace pretty well. However, when the course pitched up, I blew up - I had probably given back about a minute to 1:30 from the first half to the second at this point and I gave the remainder back in the last two km (and most up the hill). I just couldn't get the legs going and had the final two people who passed me go by on the hill. Once I cleared the hill, I ran steady to the finish but had absolutely no finishing kick - I was pretty much spent at the end. I missed my goal of going sub-1:30 by a little bit - I think with better pacing I would have nailed it.

Little easier on the first 5 miles - stay a little more conservative through the entire first half of the race.

Just walked and stretched.


Poor pacing.


Solid race - may have to do it again next year to get under 1:30.