I had been scheduled to run the NYC Marathon three weeks ago, and when that got canceled I opted for the Manchester City Marathon. That marathon was a hilly course, where I went 3:04. In the three weeks since Manchester I've been running about 32 miles on 4-5 runs, with one tempo run of 6 miles. Everything else has been easy pace or recovery pace.

I didn't really know how this race would go, but I thought I might have a chance of being around 1:22. However, I think the cumulative fatigue from the marathon three weeks ago and a long season led me to a slower finishing time.

This course was mostly on dirt running trails, so not a real fast course to begin with. It was a course comprised of two five mile loops and a little before and after each loop.

For the first 6-7 miles I was holding around a 6:15 pace, and felt pretty solid when the second loop began around the 7.5 mile mark. I had been running with three or four other runners for the first half, but they dropped off the pace on the second loop, so I was pretty much on my own. The two guys ahead of me were a bit too far to catch, so I tried to remain pretty steady.

I actually felt pretty good on the second loop, but my HR began to drop a bit and my legs just didn't have that snap to them. My pace dropped into the 6:25 range for the second lap, with mile 12 (with a decent hill) coming in at just over 6:30.

I knew 1:22 wasn't going to happen, but I pushed hard to the line, fighting the 15-20 mph headwind in the final homestretch go get a 31 second PR.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/246695355

Not much could have made me faster (other than not running a marathon three weeks ago!)

Walked around a bit and talked to the two guys that finished ahead of me. Got some food, then headed home. It was freezing - low 30's at the race finish and pretty strong winds. My sweat made me shiver, and I didn't even stick around to see if I had received a prize - oh well.


Cumulative fatigue from the marathon three weeks ago and a long season.


In my last four half marathons I've set PR's of 30-35 seconds each time. At that rate, it will take me about seven more half's to get to 1:20! I hope it will come sooner than that, though!