Personal Bragging: My 50th Half-Marathon

[Rain Man]

Last Saturday's race (in 42 degree temps in the rain, I might add) was my 50th half-marathon since I started my hobby in June of 2009.

My vital statistics are:

Completed races in 12 states so far (AK, HI, CA, NV, UT, WY, CO, TX, LA, FL, OH, and WI)

Median pace = 10:15 per mile
Median pace in flat, sea level races =9:37 per mile
Fastest pace = 9:04 per mile (Beaumont, TX - flat and sea level)
Slowest pace = 29:36 per mile (Pike's Peak Ascent - 7,800 foot climb from 6,300 ft to 14,100 ft and I was not good at it.)

14 have been at elevations between sea level and 3,000 feet (Median pace = 9:52)
21 have been at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet (Median pace = 10:06)
9 have been at elevations of 6,000 to 9,000 feet (Median pace = 11:08)
9 have been at elevations of 9,000 feet or higher (Median pace = 15:29)

26 have been more or less flat with total hills < 300 ft (Median pace = 9:50). Three were net downhill.
12 have had moderate hills with total hills of 301-1,000 ft (Median pace = 10:43)
6 have had strong hills with total hills of 1,001-2,500 ft (Median pace = 12:10)
9 have had major hills with total hills of 2,500 ft or more (Median pace = 15:29)

The 9 with major hills are the same 9 that were over 9,000 feet in elevation.

3 races were run in the rain and 1 in snow.

I've only fallen once, and it wasn't in the rain or snow. (Tripped on a trail rock.)

24 were primarily on pavement or asphalt
6 were primarily on dirt roads
20 were primarily on trails

I've gone the wrong way on trails 4 times but only twice did it for more than 30 seconds. The worst mistake added 3/4 of a mile.

I've also had 2 10-mile races and a 10K in there, so that's 53 races in 54 months.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Absolutely true.

I mean, I think the longest run I've done that was still fun was 18 miles. Even going up to 20 was just too long.

Fifteen is actually fun, because you get that long endorphin run but you don't torture yourself.

Also, over 15 miles you have to really add back in calories to keep going and every mile you add actually lowers your net benefit from the run.

Half are the way to go. I'm doing a pasadena one this fall and am going to sprinkle in some more over the summer, but last year's LA marathon is the last full one I will ever subject myself to. It's just not worth it, IMHO.

Granted, a person can probably find a study that supports any position, but I read something recently that showed that long-distance running tended to have a negative impact on health once you control for the fact that long-distance runners are more healthy to start with. It found that running distances under 15 miles has a net positive impact, but concluded that marathons have a negative impact. That's sure been my personal experience. I really hurt after long runs.

[TEX]

Congrats Rain Man!

I can't imagine running 50 of them...I JUST competed in my 1st Half Iron Man Triathlon a few weeks back.

Swim - 1.2 Miles
Bike - 56 Miles
Run - 13.1 Miles

I did better than I expected BUT the swimming did get me a bit and it's the shortest discipline... Maybe one day I can say I did 50 Half TRI's but I DOUBT it - ONLY 49 more to go! LOL!

All the best to you and your future events!

[Rain Man]

Anyone want to meet up and do this one in June? I know we've got some Nebraskans around here.

http://www.hastingsmarathon.com/

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Excellent job!

I am doing the OKC Half in 2 weeks, I was planning to do the full but pulled a hamstring in Little Rock doing the full 7 weeks ago. I don't think I will PR but I hope to come in around 1:39.

I am planing to do Hospital Hill this year for some reason. and in the middle of June some friends are putting together a team for a 144 mile relay race from Springdale AR to Springfield MO.

I have never done one of those long relay races and it sounds fun, which in itself sounds crazy.

If you get a chance the Joplin Memorial Half Marathon is a great event. Its on May 10th this year.

I'll be doing Running with the Cows on May 10th...the last race of the Heartland 39.3 series. And I got into the Chicago Marathon, so I'll be signing up for that today. And I'm also doing Hospital Hill...it'll be my third year.

And a long relay race sounds like fun. I suppose you'd have some sort of support vehicle and run a few 10 mile legs?

After this year's road races, I'm thinking of getting more into trail running. I have a friend that does ultras and most of those are trail instead of road.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by TEX

Congrats Rain Man!

I can't imagine running 50 of them...I JUST competed in my 1st Half Iron Man Triathlon a few weeks back.

Swim - 1.2 Miles
Bike - 56 Miles
Run - 13.1 Miles

I did better than I expected BUT the swimming did get me a bit and it's the shortest discipline... Maybe one day I can say I did 50 Half TRI's but I DOUBT it - ONLY 49 more to go! LOL!

All the best to you and your future events!

I wish I could do some sort of TRIs, but I would sink like a rock and not make it out of the water.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by kepp

I'll be doing Running with the Cows on May 10th...the last race of the Heartland 39.3 series. And I got into the Chicago Marathon, so I'll be signing up for that today. And I'm also doing Hospital Hill...it'll be my third year.

And a long relay race sounds like fun. I suppose you'd have some sort of support vehicle and run a few 10 mile legs?

After this year's road races, I'm thinking of getting more into trail running. I have a friend that does ultras and most of those are trail instead of road.

Congrats on Chicago that should be awesome.

Yea on the relays you have a few vehicles depending on how many people. It's 12 miles a piece but its split up into 3 legs each I think. Its going to be interesting as I have never split up 3 runs over that much time but it should be fairly easy. I think its pretty hilly terrain.

Interesting you mention trail running that's exactly what I was thinking of starting later this summer. Easier on the legs and feet.

I have some friends who are doing 50 and 100 mile races this summer. Crazy stuff.

[MahiMike]

Congrats. I've only ran 3 races - all the 15K river run here in Jax. Every time I think about getting in more I always wonder - "why am I PAYING to run again"?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Just read where two runners died at the finish line at a North Carolina marathon.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Just read where two runners died at the finish line at a North Carolina marathon.

Murder-suicide? Or marijuana overdose?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Murder-suicide? Or marijuana overdose?

I didn't read the article , just the headline but I am assuming they were either hit by meteorites or had heart attacks.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

I didn't read the article , just the headline but I am assuming they were either hit by meteorites or had heart attacks.

Heart attacks, I believe I read.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

Congrats. I've only ran 3 races - all the 15K river run here in Jax. Every time I think about getting in more I always wonder - "why am I PAYING to run again"?

LOL I ask myself that during every race. That's partially why I'm thinking of doing more trail running after this year...to kind of get back to doing it for fun rather than entering a bunch of races.

[DaKCMan AP]

Awesome Rain Main. Awesome.

The current gf runs - a lot. She's already done (I think) a full and 2 half's this year. She has more fulls scheduled for June, July, Sept, and Oct along with a Tri in 2 weeks. Her goal is to participate in a race in each of the 50 states.

DaKCMan AP will be participating in his first 5K in 3 weeks.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by kepp

LOL I ask myself that during every race. That's partially why I'm thinking of doing more trail running after this year...to kind of get back to doing it for fun rather than entering a bunch of races.

Trail running is definitely the way to go, in my opinion. It's much more fun.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

DaKCMan AP will be participating in his first 5K in 3 weeks.

The key is to eat lots and lots of ice cream right before you run, and then sprint out of the starting line as fast as possible.